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“Thank you, Gloria. This looks lovely.” I grab a seat and pile my plate with fresh fruits.
“Not to be rude, Aunt Gloria, but what the actual fuck is going on here?” Neo gestures between the older woman and me.
“Neo, language. We aren’t heathens, despite your attempts to become one. Holly is my daughter. If I want to offer her breakfast, I will.” Gloria puts Neo in his place. I smirk at him from across the table. “Did you drug her or something?” he asks me.
“What? No! Of course not. Don’t be stupid. It really doesn’t suit that pretty face of yours.” I wave my fork in his direction.
Reilly, who has been otherwise silent, chokes on her toast. “Woah, hold up, Hol. That was badass. I approve.”
“Thanks.” I smile.
“What time is Father Thomas arriving?” I turn to Gloria.
“He should be here in about thirty minutes.”
“Okay. After the service on Saturday, I’ll be going home for a couple of weeks. I would love it if you’d come with me.” I look over to her pleadingly. For some reason, T wants me to get his mother out of New York.
“Oh, I’ve never been to Australia,” she ponders.
“I know. Theo told me. So, I would love to take you. Well, actually, we’ll be taking one of the Valentino jets.” I look to Neo. “You can arrange that for me, can’t you? Oh, you’re also coming along, apparently.”
The intense stare Neo sends my way has me squirming in my seat. I have no idea what he’s searching for, but I know when he finds it. “Fucking idiota!” he yells.
“Neo, stop! Just get the bloody jet organized and pack your boardies. Oh, and we’re taking some of the men you have around here. I’ll give you a list of which.”
“Holly, show me where the little girl’s room is.Now.” Reilly stands and waits for me at the doorway. I follow her, not that I have any idea where the bathrooms are in this house. She grabs my arm and starts pulling me down the hallway.
Sonnie steps out of the shadows like a damn ninja. “I need you to remove your hands from Mrs. Valentino,” he says, blocking her path.
She opens her mouth to reply, but I beat her to it. “Sonnie, this is my sister, Reilly, in case that wasn’t obvious. I’m fine.Really.No need to worry.” He glances between us but doesn’t move. “Look, I really am fine. We’re just searching for the bathroom. Can you point me in the right direction, please?”
“If you’re sure, Mrs. Valentino. Right down that way, third door on the left.”
“Great, thanks.” I take hold of Reilly’s hand and tug her through the hall. Once we’re in the bathroom, I copy Theo’s actions from last night and turn on all the taps. I have no idea why, but I do it anyway.
“Okay, who are you, and what have you done with my sister?”
“I’m still the same me, Reilly.”
“No, you’re not. You’re way more confident. You’re… I don’t know…different. Though, not in a bad way. But what I find most intriguing is the fact that you’re not sad today. You’re not grieving like you were yesterday. What’s changed? And what the hell is going on here? What’s with the men in suits? It’s like we’ve walked into a bad mafia movie.”
“Okay, first off, I don’t know why I’m more confident. Maybe it’s Theo brushing off on me or something. Second, and this is really important, Rye. You can’t tell anyone. Not even Bray yet. I don’t want him freaking out.”
“Pinkie swear I won’t tell.” She wiggles the digit at me, and I roll my eyes.
Then I lean in and whisper, “T isn’t dead. He was here last night.”
Reilly looks at me skeptically. “Okay, I believe that youbelievethat. Sometimes grief can do weird things to our brains.”
“No, Rye, I’m serious. I’m not crazy. Look. Last night when we were… busy.” I blush. “He bit my ankle.” I show her the prominent indentation.
“Okay, say he’s alive. Where is he, Hol? And why are we pretending he’s dead?”
“That’s the other thing. The Valentino family, they’re the mafia, Reilly. That’s why there’re men in suits everywhere. T is kind of… the Don.” I shrug.
“Shut the front door. Holly, swear to me on Dylan’s grave that you’re not having me on. You did not seriously marry a bloody mob boss. My sweet, innocent, good-natured sister did not go and marry into the bloody mafia,” she squeals.
“Shh, keep your voice down. You can’t tell anyone. I wasn’t even meant to tell you. Please, Reilly, promise me.”
