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“A sexually frustrated woman is more believable. And two,” he hovered over me, and I could smell my arousal on his breath, which it was oddly intoxicating, “just remember who belongs down there and who doesn’t.”
“Screw you,” I snarled.
“Oh, Sienna,” he groaned pressing his erection into my belly, “anytime.” He smirked then went back to his scowl. “Grab your stuff, and let’s go.”
“Sienna. Sienna.” A sudden shake had my eyes blinking as I fought to hold on to the memory. Ugo was by my side, looking frantic. I shook the memory off and gave him my attention. “You have to come. Your mother’s in town, and I can’t hold her back anymore.”
“Oh, shit.” I rubbed my head, knowing my day was only going to get worse from here.
I glared at the man who stared at me from across the dingy bar and wished Ugo had chosen another place to meet. This place was on the outskirts of town, and the smell alone would have kept most people away. The table was sticky, and the chairs made me think I’d have to burn my dress after we left. I used a napkin to try to brush some of the crumbs from the surface, but they only stuck to something that had been spilled earlier.
“Elenora,” Oscar stood next to me like the loyal bodyguard he was, “they’re here.”
Sienna looked better than I expected, which meant they hadn’t been too hard on her yet. I knew it would only be a matter of time before they’d wear down her spirit and suck her dry of any life.
“Mama,” she greeted me as she approached.
“I’d stand, but I’m afraid my dress wouldn’t come with me.” I raised my nose at the place and made a face.
“No need for that.” She eased into the chair and looked for a clean spot for her purse. She settled on her lap. “How have you been?”
“Don’t.” I wasn’t in the mood for games. “I’m so furious with you I can barely sleep.”
“Well, nothing like ripping the bandage off.” She glanced at Ugo, who hadn’t dared to look at me.
“You didn’t give me the courtesy of knowing what you were up to before you made such a horrible decision, so why should I play nice?” I shrugged, still annoyed that my own flesh and blood would think so little of me.
“Mama,” she said calmly, “I wasn’t trying to go behind your back.”
“But you did.”
“Wow.” She shook her head and looked up at the ceiling, “no one ever questioned my actions back when I was growing up and trying to survive, but now I have to run my every move by you and everyone else?”
“No one said life was fair,” I muttered in frustration.
“Oh, trust me, I’ve learned that countless times already.” She held up a hand when I went to cut in. “It took me almost dying for you to tell me my father was dead, and then I had to be abducted before you told me who I really was. I’m so tired of having to piece clues together to figure things out when everyone else around me knows my truth.”
“Don’t be dramatic, dear. That’s water under the bridge at this point, and it’s not the reason I’m here. This little charade of yours…”
“Mother,” she cut me off, “this little charade, as you call it, is going to be our best way out. It was my decision to go to the Coppolas, not just for answers but to also make one of the biggest moves that a syndicate has ever seen. So, you can sit there and be upset all you like. I’m living at the Coppola house for the time being while I gather as much information as I can.”
“It’s just not safe.”
“No, it isn’t. But I’m smart and know how to play the game, and I’ve already learned a lot of things about myself, which I’m tired of waiting to find out from you. By the way, I’ve also learned some powerful information about you from Nonna Rosa.”
“Nonna Rosa knows nothing about me.” I leaned forward with my face twisted to be sure she knew that woman was wicked.
“Nonna Rosa had your brother killed. It wasn’t Piero. She knew you liked Francesco, and she blamed the murder on the Capris to make sure you wouldn’t leave Theo for him.”
I pressed my hand to my chest in frustration with what was happening here. The evilness that draped over that family was slowly seeping into my child.
“Did she admit to you that she pulled the trigger? Did she actually say she killed Angelo?”
“No, but she told me the story—”
“Why can’t you see the writing on the wall, Sienna?”
“What?”
