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Nonno scoffs and waves me off. “And this is what makes your brother special. Come, take this.” He holds out the gift bag Nyla gave to him.
I go to sit and look inside. As I remove the box inside, a knock comes at the door. Papa Esposito pushes into the room and the air around us shifts.
“Dario, I’m ready to take my leave. I think we are done here.”
I push the box back into the bag. I hear what’s not said. We’re leaving.
“Dario, can we talk?”
I snap my head up, but I’m no longer in the here and now. I’m thrown back in time. His voice…it’s the trigger.
Dante had been sad all day. Ever since I found him in his room playing alone earlier. I don’t know what happened and he won’t tell me what’s wrong. I think he got in trouble with Mama.
Gio and Jace went out with their skinny friend, the one with the dark makeup, who’s always around. I think she’s related to Gwen, but then again Gwen treats everyone like family. Beth, Mama’s personal guard is close to Skinny Girl too.
However, after some thought about it, Mama was always nice to Gio’s friend as well. Although this one is the only one Mama really talked to. I wondered why that was?
Maybe I should ask. I headed for Mama’s study to do just that. I had nothing else to do. I’d already taken my bath and put on my pajamas like I was told.
Yes, I want to know if Skinny Girl is related to Gwen or Beth and why Mama seems to like her more than the others. I get close to the study and that’s when I hear the voices.
“Why do you hate my son so much? Why can’t you leave him alone?”
“I’ve warned you repeatedly about the friends he keeps. If this gets back home, you’re going to ruin your family’s name.”
“You speak of things you know nothing about,” Mama says in her angry voice.
I don’t know who the man is. He sounds familiar but I can’t be sure it’s who I think it is. The anger in his voice makes me question who he could be.
“This isn’t what we agreed to. My son was meant to be head of the family. You’ve given more respect to those mulignons in New York. You won’t even take his name and now this. The insult.”
“Is that your real problem? I won’t bow to your son, and he will never have the title of head of my family.”
“Ava, please.” That’s Papa.
Why is he allowing this man to talk to my mother like this? He tells us all the time to protect our women. Why isn’t he protecting Mama?
“You shut the fuck up. You…you’re the reason things are the way they are. You’re a pussy and she treats you like one.”
“I think it’s time for you to leave.” Mama sounds so angry. She doesn’t even get this mad at me and Dante when we’re bad.
“No problem, but know that I won’t stand for this. This isn’t over.”
It sounds like Mama clears her throat. “You should respect who I am and what my papa has decided. If I have to make myself clear, I’ll erase your entire bloodline. I’m a Di Lorenzo by blood, don’t make me prove it.”
“You’re a whore, your son is a finook, and that other little one is a psychopath waiting to happen.”
“Enough.” I know that growl, it’s Uncle Lucas.
“You,” the man roars and scoffs. “You’re lucky to be who you are.”
“And you will be wise to remember who I am. We’re not too far from the other side for your actions to have repercussions. Now leave as Ava asked you to.”
Footsteps moved in my direction. I took off for the stairs to hide. I bit my lip as I flattened against the wall. My eyes were squeezed shut as I held my breath.
“That’s a huge problem. I think it’s time we send word to your father,” Gwen’s voice fills the hall.
“I can no longer trust anyone. I need to go to my father myself.”
“I’ll go with you,” Uncle Lucas says.
“No, I need you here to watch over my boys. Gio, Jace, Dario and Dante are my world. None of this matters if something happens to them. That man has a hard-on for Gio and Jace. They’re not safe around him.”
“I’ll go.” That’s Mrs. Beth.
“Dario, Dario Giancarlo Luca Di Lorenzo.”
I shake my head and focus on Nonno growling my name. He gives me a nod to follow him. I stand, trying to find my bearings.
That memory. It’s so much clearer now. I remember more details. The voice of the angry man, that was Papa Esposito. He was in that room.
I snarl as I brush by him in the doorway. This motherfucker. When I find out the truth, I have a feeling I’m going to need to flay his ass.
