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“Elio, what’s happening to us?” Her words hurt, and I wanted to explain, but I also needed to know more. I had too much respect for Nonna to ignore her warning. The doubt that had taken root inside me was confusing. It had never been there before with Sienna, ever.
I loved her. She was my everything, but I had to question if what I felt was important. If she couldn’t see that for what it was, then she had some things to work out as well.
My phone buzzed again, and this time it was Niccola saying we needed to leave. I slipped back into dark mode and slowly let her go.
“Elio?”
“Don’t question me, Sienna.” I headed for the door before I heard her whisper.
“But yet you question me?”
A part of me cringed at her words, but I had a job to do.
“I’m saying it one last time.” Piero closed the door to his office. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Yes, I do,” I whispered, feeling lost. I turned to nod at Donatello, one of thecaporegimesbehind the machine. “Please start.”
“State your name.”
“Sienna Marie Giovanna.” I locked eyes with Piero as the questions were asked. I was giving them bare, raw truth. It was painful, and this had never been asked of me, but I still felt like it was the only way to totally clear myself and prove I was no threat to anyone. When I first brought up the idea to Piero, he had said a definite no, but I finally got through to him that it was necessary, and he had grudgingly made the call. Now, here we were in his office, so I could prove my loyalty and regain the trust of the ones I had come to love.
“Have you told a secret about the Capri family to anyone?”
“No.”
“Have you ever shot someone?”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever killed someone?”
I hesitated as a flashback gnawed at the fragile edges of my memory.
“Pass.” I didn’t know for sure and certainly wasn’t about to lie when I was here trying to prove myself to them. Donatello looked at Piero, who nodded for him to keep going. I knew we’d address that question again later.
“Have you ever…” As the questions continued, I shifted my brain to power down a few levels and relished the hurt that smothered my chest. I was answering the questions, but they didn’t really register. They came to my consciousness, then I deleted them from my memory after each was answered. I wasn’t sure how much time passed before my focus was pulled back to the room.
“Sienna,” the man’s tone suddenly changed, “is there something that you know that the Capri family should know?”
I blinked for a moment and thought about the story my mother told me about Noemi’s past. I dismissed it, as it wasn’t dangerous, and it was not my story to share.
“No.”
“We’re finished.” Donatello stood and handed the printout to Piero, who scanned the report with check marks.
Slowly, I removed the sensors from my skin and stood with a heavy heart.
“Sweet Sienna,” Andrea came up and took my hands, “why did you do that?”
“Because.” I sniffed lightly, happy it was over. “He doubts me.”
Both of their faces fell as I turned and left them standing in some discomfort.
I pulled my purse up over my arm and headed outside to see if I could find that bicycle Vinni had told me about a while back. As I stepped out the door, I found the man in the gray suit again, standing next to a beautifully polished and very old car.
“You’ve been watching me.”
“It’s my job.” His face was set in its usual stone. “Ms. Sienna, I’m Abramo, your new driver.” He opened the car door and stepped back. I hugged my purse tighter. “I’m under strict orders,” he stood very straight as he spoke, “so, if you’d like to walk, I’ll drive behind you. If you’d like to run, I’ll drive behind you. However, given how hot the day will be, I’d think you might like to drive.” He waved for me to get in.
