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Raphael grins. “I don’t need you to introduce me, Mama. I’ll introduce myself.” With that, he leaves my side to join the children playing in the orchard.
“I should help with the food.” I smile at Alessandro.
Alessandro shakes his head and raises a hand. “No, it’s okay. I told Katya that I wanted to speak to you. Let’s go for a walk.”
I watch as the other family members gush over Raphael, and I smile, looping my arm through my cousin’s. “What do you want to talk about?”
“About you. Why did you leave New York? It was so sudden, and Zio Sonny says he’s too ashamed to tell me. Is it because you got pregnant?”
“Basically,” I sigh, “I got mixed up with the wrong people, got sent away, and then found out I was pregnant. My father is mortified by it, and although he loves Raphael and loves me, I don’t think he wanted us to come back.”
Alessandro nods. “Who was it?”
“Please don’t ask me that,” I say quietly. “I have shamed our family enough.”
He squeezes my hand. “It’s okay. I have some other news for you, though. There’s a position for a chef opening up at the bistro on Fifth Avenue. I’ve told them to hire you for the position. Zio Sonny says you finished your chef course in Italy.”
I smile softly. “You don’t have to take care of me, Alessandro. I’ll get on my own two feet.”
He doesn’t acknowledge what I said. “I’ve also arranged for an apartment for you and Raphael nearby. Arianna has arranged a small car for you. The apartment has its own parking spot.”
We stop at a bench in the middle of the orchard and sit together as the children run around us. “You’re too good to me,” I say quietly.
“You’re like a sister to me.” He leans over and kisses the side of my head. “I will always take care of you.”
Raphael runs past, and Alessandro stops him. “Are you making friends with everyone?”
Raphael nods excitedly. “Yes, Zio, everyone is being very friendly. I’m having a lot of fun.”
“Good, you’ll probably make many friends at school then too. Do you like New York?”
Raphael beams. “I love it. Did you know my father is from New York? Mama says when I’m sixteen, she’ll tell me all about him.”
I blush slightly and usher Raphael along, “Go play. It’ll be lunchtime soon.”
Raphael runs off, and Alessandro helps me up as Dominic approaches us. “Kira, it’s so good to see you.” He kisses both my cheeks.
“Remember when we convinced you to ride Nonno’s one goat?” Alessandro chuckles as we walk together.
“Or that time we said you couldn’t go to a party with us, so you told my father we weren’t at church but at Marilyn’s house playing spin the bottle,” he says, laughing.
“The four of you were just trouble,” I tease.
“Oh, and the three of you weren’t?” Alessandro asks. “You and your siblings were just as naughty as we were.”
We walk back to the tables to sit down and enjoy lunch together, reminiscing about what we got up to as children.
Chapter 2 - Miguel
It’s two in the morning, the hour of poets and gangsters, especially in New York City. You’re either one or the other—there is no mingling in those worlds. The crime lords of this city have no tolerance for the arts other than to use them to cover up illegal business dealings.
Entertainment is our game, the Rossi game. We run casinos, movie production studios, art galleries, and anything in-between.
My driver pulls into the back lot of a quiet industrial area. We don’t own many warehouses to move our products, but the few we have are well isolated. I step out of the car and button my suit jacket. I look around warily, ensuring no unwanted eyes see me walk into the building.
I always have to be on my guard.
“Don Rossi,” the guard greets me, buzzing me into the building.
