Page 55 of Where the Wind Whispers

He didn’t.

He kept walking.

Right out of the dining room, around the corner, and out of her sight.

Violet sucked in a shaky breath.

Then she heard his shout, ringing loud and cutting deep.

“Ottenere la cagna fuori,” he had said.

Get the bitch out.

She had heard his threats—veiled as they were—loud and clear just a second ago.

However, she didn’t think she had heard him right at that moment.

“Come on—move,” Caesar ordered.

Violet felt his hand pushing on her lower back, but she was still staring dumbly in the direction her father had gone.

“I don’t …” She struggled to find the words to say.

Caesar was still pushing her forward. “We need to move before he changes his mind, Violet.”

Changes his mind.

Right.

Violet caught sight of Carmine over her shoulder as she was led out of the dining room, still holding her torn dress together to keep some sense of modesty. Her brother hadn’t moved, not once. He still sat at the table, arms crossed and a scowl etched on his face.

It was as if he didn’t give a fuck.

Not about her.

Not about his father.

None of it.

He only cared for himself.

Violet had come to learn that was just the Gallucci way.

It was the only way someone could survive in their family.

“Stop pushing me,” Violet snapped at Caesar as he shoved her harder down the hallway toward the front door. “I’m walking just fine on my own.”

“Walk faster. I didn’t lie. I actually do have a fucking plane to catch.”

“You’re still a bastard.”

Caesar smiled. “This isn’t news.”

“Here.”

A blazer landed on Violet’s lap in a heap. Caesar never took his gaze off the road as he drove through Amityville, heading toward the city.

“Put it on and cover up,” Caesar said.