And still, I couldn’t help but shower him with my gratitude, even throwing my arms around him for a hug. “Thank you, Father. Thank you. That’s the best birthday present in the world.”
His laugh was warming and he patted me on the back, yet as always, his body remained still. I’d learned a long time ago he wasn’t a fan of physical affection.
When I pulled away, the awkwardness between us was the same, but the tension felt higher.
“On one condition, Rafaela. There could be a time you are called upon to do your duty for the family. You’re already aware of this. However, I wanted to make myself and my position clear.”
“Yes, Father.” Any disagreement at the point and my excitement would turn to anger.
“Good. I do think expanding your horizons will be beneficial.” He stopped short of saying in finding the best suitor for his needs.
“I do as well. I have homework, Father. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not.”
Without waiting an extra second, I moved toward the door. Suddenly, I felt his presence behind me.
“Rafaela. I understand you had an incident in the vineyards this morning.”
There it was. That bastard Marco had found a way of exposing the connection with Kazimir.
“Golden was startled. She heard a noise and found herself in briars. One of your workers helped free her, scarring his skin in the process.”
“Is that all?”
I turned to face him, realizing that I wasn’t leaving the room until I confessed my sins. “Marco was an absolute jerk, trying to suggest one of your workers is a monster. Completely inappropriate.”
My father seemed surprised that I’d challenged him.
He took a step closer and I didn’t like the smile on his face at all. “Rafaela. You are a very intelligent young woman. You’ve known since you were very young about certain dangerous aspects about the business I’m in, the very business that affords youthe opportunity to go to such an expensive university as well as every other trinket you’ve received in your life.”
Trinket.
The girls in the world of the Cosa Nostra were merely tossed trinkets. “I understand.”
“Do you? I hope you do. Now, the man who did such a nice deed is indeed a monster. He’s done some terrible things in his life, murdering indiscriminately. Women. Children. The horrors are abominable. His hands are covered in blood, my sweet daughter. If he were to get his hands on you…” He shuddered as if terrified I would be hurt.
I knew better.
As if my father hadn’t ordered similar atrocities. While he’d been too important to get his hands dirty through the years, ordering his men to murder and destroy, his hands were permanently stained in blood. I couldn’t help myself, furious that he was faking the danger.
“You make it sound so personal.”
Very briefly, he looked away. “More than you know. You will stay away from him.”
“He was kind to me, Father, when your men wouldn’t dare try and help Golden. In my eyes, he’s no more dangerous than anyone you employ. Especially Marco.”
Yes, I’d crossed an imaginary line, but I didn’t expect my father’s harsh reaction. His backhand pitched me backward and against the wall. Shocked, the ache to my face and jaw was nothing to the realization my father had hit me.
Horrified, I snapped my head toward him while tears filled my eyes. In that moment, every bit of love I’d felt was on the line.
He seemed flustered at his reaction, his usual calm demeanor shaken to the core. Maybe he was expecting me to shout or beg him for forgiveness. When I did neither, he shook his head. “Don’t you understand the kind of danger we’re under every day of our lives? Don’t you know the number of people who would do anything in their power to infiltrate our world, our home? There were some monstrous people out there, daughter. All I want to do is to protect you.”
The expressiveness he used wasn’t typical. My silence wasn’t either.
We were at a standoff, a line crossed that I’d never believed would happen.
The hard stare we gave to each other was a small battle I refused to lose. He was the first one to look away, his expression shifting into exasperation as he rubbed his jaw.
