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“We both know what happened when we last did that, Luce.”
I couldn’t help my snort. Eduardo was very easy to manipulate. He was not very good at fucking, but at least he was not selfish. That was hard to find in these mafia men. I was actually sad when my father executed him.
In truth, a guard on my door nowwouldstop me. I was not as young and stupid anymore. I was definitely not willing to fuck a guy twice my age just to get out of the house. I didn’t use sex for favors anymore. I just had it for myself, but they didn’t know that. I was not sure if they would see a difference anyway. In their eyes, I was going to be a slut for eternity.
I had had enough of this argument, especially with this much of a headache. “Why did you wake me up, Mama?”
“Elsie has a play date. You said you wanted to attend those.”
That actually woke me up. “I’ll get ready quick,” I said, going to the bathroom. I took the quickest shower and brushed my teeth during it.
When I emerged, my hair dripping, my mother was still in my room, laying out clothes for me. “I don’t want you to dress inappropriately. Play-date is with Lili Rossi. I am trying to make some good impressions on her mother. A betrothal between her son and your sister will be well.”
I wore the dress she chose for me without question since it was conservative but not too ugly. My face also twisted with confusion at her words. I had five half-sisters, but they were all married. “My sister?” I asked, confused, and turned my back to my mom.
She helped me pull up the zipper. “Yes.”
For a few seconds, I remained silent, but then it hit me. “Elsie?”
“Hmhm.”
I turned so fast my neck almost snapped. “What do you mean betrothing her? She is only four.”
“I am not marrying her off, Luce. Many already dislike me because I am not Italian, and since I cannot find you a match, I wanted to focus on Elsie. I want to give her a good life. Rossi family is nice. She will be happy there.”
They had two sons, and I knew the older one was getting married in a few months. That left their younger son. “He is fifteen years old, Mama!” I couldn’t contain my anger. Elsie was not going to be forced to marry a guy eleven years older than her. At least not while I was still alive.
“It is much less than the difference between your father and me.”
“And you have the happiest marriage, huh?”
“Luce!” she said harshly. She hated when I pointed out how miserable her life was.
I quickly put on my shoes. “It is good that I am coming to the play date,” I said. “Because I am not letting anyone betroth Elsie. She will get married in the future if she wants to.”
My mom shook her head, and despite all her anger and annoyance, she looked sad. “You are not the one who can decide that, Luce. It is your dad and me.”
Over my dead body.“I will always be the one who decides when it comes to Elsie. Try and stop me if you want.”
“Did you have fun today, Elsie?” my father asked during dinner. It was a good sign. He was not always in a good mood when he came home, but tonight he seemed calm. He usually initiated a conversation with us when he was in a good mood.
Elsie jumped on her seat sweetly, and I couldn’t help my smile. She was the cutest little thing. Her dark hair and dark eyes were the same as my mother and me. Everybody said we were like carbon copies, but I could see the differences in Elsie. Her eyes were rounder than ours; her skin was a bit lighter, her hair was thicker, and many small things she didn’t inherit from her mother’s side.
It didn’t matter. She was perfect.
“Somuch,” she answered and did a small dance without getting up.
When I looked up, I saw both my parents had warm smiles. Despite their distaste towards me, they loved Elsie so much. It was the only thing that made me grateful towards them.
“Amazing,” my father praised her. “And I heard you didn’t upset your mama this time. As a reward, I bought you cake.”
Her dark eyes shined with appetite. “Cake!” she yelled with so much love.
Elsie was an easy kid for the most part, but she really didn’t like being separated from her friends. She got bored at home. I was the only one who played with her, and even though I did my best, I was still an adult. She wanted kids her age to play with, so when we went on a play date, she never wanted to come back. She almost always cried.
Not today, though. Today she was such a good girl.
I was proud of her for not crying, but I was also sad that she was not surrounded by friends. Being the daughter of the Don was also affecting her in that matter. It was not okay for her to be friends with everyone, even though she was only four.
