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“She loved him?”
“She was terrified of him. Their relationship was arranged by her father. He knew what my father dabbled in and wanted to dip his hand in the pot. Too bad he didn’t know there was a viper in that pot and not a genie.”
“Sounds like you had it tough growing up.”
He shrugs. “No worse than others. You had it pretty bad, too. Jasmine has mentioned how you were treated by your stepsisters.”
“I never understood why they were so mean to me. When I found out that my father was remarrying, I was upset. But then he said that his bride-to-be had two daughters and I thought that maybe God was trying to make up for taking my mom from me.” I huff. “The joke was on me.”
“Did you ever ask them why they were such little shits toward you?”
“Once. They said it was because I ruined their lives. I think they really believed it, too.” I pause. “Last night, Dru and I were getting along so well at the fundraiser. But today she was back to being her terrible self.”
He pulls me closer. “Do you want to talk about last night?”
“I’d rather not. Besides, I’m sure you got the short version from the doctor in the emergency room.”
He doesn’t answer, which confirms my thoughts.
I say, “Tell me about your childhood. Who raised you after your parents died?”
“My uncle and aunt. The same uncle who killed my father, to be exact.”
“Was that weird for you?”
“I was scared the first night at their house. My aunt pulled me to the side and swore nothing would happen to me. Said that I would understand when I was older.”
“Understand what?”
“That my father was a monster and had to die. She wasn’t wrong.” He rubs his beard. “They were decent to me. When I was old enough, my uncle took me under his wing and showed me what it meant to have power. More importantly, he taught me how to be a fair ruler.”
“Is that how you got to the position you’re in now?”
“That’s debatable.”
“Why do I feel like there’s a story there?”
He smiles. “I came to the States when I was fifteen with my uncle and aunt. They knew Elsa, the woman who used to run New York, and she wanted their help. I thought that meant I’d get to help, too, but all she saw when she looked at me was a young, dumb kid. Had to bust my ass off to get a lick of respect from her, and there were days I didn’t think it would ever happen.”
“But it did.”
“It did,” he agrees. “I saved one of her daughters after another one was killed. That was when she knew she could trust me.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Why the Mafia?”
“Why not?”
“It’s illegal, for one. And dangerous.”
“Worried I’m going to die? I’m touched.”
“I mean it. Why the Mafia?”
“It’s in my blood.”
