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“Did Dad ask you to do it again?” I squirmed away from her.
I wouldn’t put it past Dad to ask Mom to sleep with his current boss. Mainly because he’d done it before. I didn’t know how many times Mom had had to save Dad. But I did know of at least one incident for sure. In the past year, I’d seen enough not to trust Dad when it came to his business ventures.
I thought of Signoria Vittoria asking about my age. Yeah, I was old enough to be sold to the highest bidder. I wished I could say Dad would never stoop so low, but I honestly couldn’t. I glanced at the state-of-the-art kitchen and the shiny marble floors. What did Dad do to earn all this overnight?
“Rory, I’m sorry you had to see that. Walking in on me like that.”
It had been only a second, but the scene was tattooed on my mind. Mom having sex with Dad’s ex-boss in our motel room while Dad had a beer in the parking lot—as my brothers played soccer across the street.
I mostly saw the old man’s balding head and saggy arms and butt. I didn’t see her exactly, but I knew it was her. It was her hand on his right hip while he pinned her against the wall. I shook my head to chase the memory away.
Was this fancy apartment enough to make up for what she went through to get Dad back on his feet?
“Let’s go home, Mom. Dad can stay. And do whatever he wants with this Michael Alfera.”
“This is our time. I promise you’re safe. And I’m about to become a socialite.” She beamed at me. “Our old life in Las Vegas is over. A faded memory.” She cupped my face. “You’re so beautiful, Aurora, like an angel. I didn’t want you there for another second.”
Those words right there broke my heart because Mom meant every one of them. She loved her family. Everything she had ever done or sacrificed had been to save us. Back at the motel, it wasn’t just Dad’s livelihood on the line. It had been mine and my brothers’ too. If Dad finally came up with a solution to repay her for all she’d gone through, I owed it to her to stick around and support her—even if the whole thing gave me the worst feeling. Mobsters had a reputation for reason.
“Okay. I’ll go get ready.” I grabbed my matcha cappuccino and headed upstairs.
Hours later, Mom dragged me out of the building at exactly thirty minutes past three. Even though we were a short cab ride away, she didn’t want to risk being late. Fitting in with Signoria Vittoria’s circle meant a great deal to her. I played along, though I had hopes she’d reconsider before I had to start school in the fall, which was only two weeks away.
“We’re here.” Mom paid the taxi driver in cash and climbed out. “Please do whatever she says. We’re new here. And she knows what she’s doing.”
“I’m here. I’ll be on my best behavior.” I glanced up toward the Chanel sign and the beautiful clothes in the tall windows.
I had to admit, the allure of it all was hard to resist. Even now, knowing that nothing good could come out of Dad’s dealings with these people, I couldn’t help but be excited to be welcomed into a store like this one.
“Signoria Vittoria is waiting by the dressing rooms. I’m Alana.” A woman greeted us at the door.
Mom quickly checked her watch before following Alana through the perfumed aisles of the latest designs.
In the back, Signoria Vittoria sat on a leather chair with a folder in front of her. “Right on time.” She smiled. “I had Alana pull a few dresses for you to try on.” She glanced at Mom, then turned to me, gesturing to the seat next to her. “Sit. Alana has something for you as well, but first, we must tend to our business.”
Mom beamed at me and did a little wiggle with her shoulders before she disappeared into the first dressing room.
“You know? I’m no lawyer.” I lowered myself onto the soft leather. “I’m seventeen. This document isn’t legally binding.”
“If you break our agreement, the police or the court will not be coming for you. It will be us. Do you understand?” She opened the folder and slid the papers over to me. “Take your time reading.”
The NDA was basically a gag order. Whatever my parents discussed at home or whatever I heard at school, I was not allowed to discuss with anyone. In truth, the agreement wasn’t asking for anything bad, like a kidney or sexual favors. I signed on the dotted line because even though Signoria Vittoria made it sound like a choice, it really wasn’t. She wouldn’t have threatened me just now if my silence wasn’t important.
“Now what? Will you tell me what Dad got himself into?”
As soon as I put the pen down, a man came out of nowhere and took the folder from me. I furrowed my brows at him. Was he hiding behind the racks this whole time? I glared at his retreating form as he walked out of the store and climbed into a black limo waiting outside. The car didn’t move after he shut the door. No doubt he was waiting for Signoria Vittoria to join him.
Alana returned and set three glasses of champagne in front of us. “Let me know if you need different sizes.” She motioned toward the second dressing room.
The bubbly was delicious. Back at home, the liquor store around the corner from our house never checked for my ID. I was used to drinking all kinds of booze, but this bubbly wine was like nothing I’d ever had. It sparkled and fizzled and made me feel so good.
“Would you give us a minute, dear?” Signoria Vittoria sipped from her glass. When Alana was out of earshot, Signoria Vittoria continued, “Have you ever heard of the five original crime families?”
Chapter2
Strangers at Tiffany's
Aurora
