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“Dad?” Rosa says, turning.
CHAPTERTHREE
Emma
I distantly note how terrified I am.
It’s like, ever since the surreal appearance of the half-naked man, I’ve become evenmoredetached. That should be borderline impossible since I already live with such distance between me and my feelings.
Now, my heart is thudding, and my palms are pouring sweat.
Leo Esposito walks slowly across the room, his contrasting eyes penetrating me. The blue is an ocean of rage, anger at being revealed, and the brown is a deep forest, like maybe the place they’ll bury me.
He stops at the edge of the rug that covers the hardwood floor of the entertainment room. His mood doesn’t match with the bright overhead lights, the large TV, the virtual reality set, the pool table in the corner, none of it.
“Dad?” Rosa says.
The twitch in her voice causes more fear to spear into me. She sounds like she’s afraid he will leap on me any second. Also, distantly, I notice something else. I quite like the idea of him leaping on me in a different world, where those intense eyes are filled with desire and not whatever this is.
“I’m sorry you had to see that,” Leo finally says in his deep, husky voice, looking at his daughter. “It was a mistake that never should have happened.”
“Who was he?” Rosa asks.
“I can’t give you the details. I’m sorry, but he’s a very bad man. He’s done evil things to children and women. You don’t need to worry about him.”
“Why was hehere?” Rosa says.
“A mistake,” he growls.
Rosa glances at me, and then so does Leo. I’m wringing my hands in my lap as if trying to dislocate my fingers.
“He never should have been here,” Leo goes on. “You were never supposed to see him.”
“Dad, I knew that sort of thing…”
She trails off, looking at me. Maybe it’s unfair, but it just makes me so mad. She looks as if I haven’t figured it out yet. I should’ve guessed years ago. I’ve been naïve. Anger is easier to feed than sadness, regret, and all that stuff. Look at me. Here I am, trying to sound like a Jedi.
“It happens because you’re a mob family,” I almost yell, with way more anger than I intended. It’s like everything has balled up until this moment, and now I let it all out.
The corner of his lip twitches, a glint passing across his mismatched eyes. It’s like he’s calculating, and for a wild moment, I imagine he’s wondering what use he can make of me in the bedroom or life. Not that I’d be much good at either, but I’d try with him.
“I’m sorry,” Rosa says, crossing the room and sitting beside me.
Our friendship’s at a level where she doesn’t need me to explain. She can look at me and figure out why I’m so mad.
“Of course, you guessed,” she says, taking my hand. “Now what, Dad?”
We wait for Leo’s answer. I try not to let my eyes roam up and down his body, especially to his clenched fist.
Remember the shrine. That’s it, all those photos of Angelica. When she was young, maybe my age, she was an angel with a gorgeous figure and the goddess’ hair to match, not awkward and curly like mine. He lights candles for her every single day. He still loves her. He’s Rosa’s dad and a crime boss, as if I need more reasons not to think about inappropriate things right now.
“Dad?” Rosa says, turning the word almost into a plea.
Now she swims with the fishes, I imagine him saying in an old-time accent, and the thought almost makes me lose it completely. That would convince him I’m insane, giving me a good reason never to talk.
“That depends on you,” Leo says, staring at me.
“Dad, can you sit down? You’re being intimidating.”
