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My hand rests on the console while my fingers tap an agitated beat against the leather. Luca takes it and kisses the back of it, his eyes never leaving the road. We drive, hand in hand, heart in heart, darkness in darkness.
Chapter 27
Carina
Thirteen Years Old
DearDiary,
Today was the most hideously horrible day in the history of all days. EVER. I will never, ever recover.
I don’t even want to think about it. But I have to tell someone, or I will keep it bottled up inside and I’ll just die. So, you’re it.
The Marzanos and the Valachis and the Romanovs and the O’Hanlons were all over for some super important gathering. It’s always so obnoxious when everyone is together…like, we kind of hate each other, to be honest, but everyone acts all polite when the women and kids are around. It’s so stupid. Like we don’t KNOW.
We all know.
Anyway, Ivan Romanov and Enzo got to messing around, and one of them knocked into me and I fell into that stupid fountain in our driveway, the one with the crane. I’m lying there in the water with that stupid dress Mother made me wear up around my thighs, when Ivan Romanov’s sister starts pointing and laughing at me because APPARENTLY, I STARTED MY PERIOD for the first time ever, and there was blood in the water. Like, hemorrhagic fever, no hiding it, I’m bleeding out, blood in the water.
And she was too obnoxious to just shut up and help me…NO, she had to be a bitch and make it really obvious to all the boys and everyone what was happening.
I have never been so embarrassed in my life.
Francis, God love him, looked at Ivan and told him if he didn’t punch his sister in the face, he was going to do it. Ivan grabbed her by the hair and dragged her off somewhere. Lulu Valachi took me inside to my mother, and between the two of them, they got me fixed up, but OMG. I might as well die now.
I hate that fucking crane.
Thepulseinmytemple is pounding when Luca pulls into the driveway of the Palisades estate. I flick a look at the concrete crane dancing in the fountain that sits in the circular driveway.
“Stupid bird,” I grumble beneath my breath, pushing open the door as soon as Luca pulls the car to a stop. I always hated that fountain and that bird with its skinny legs.
“Carina, wait.”
I stop, half in and half out of the vehicle. Men are already standing about, ready to escort us. Several of their hands rest on the weapons at their sides. “What?” I struggle to keep the impatience from my voice.
He waits until I meet his eyes. “We do this together,” he reminds me.
I look at him for a moment, then give him a clipped nod. “Together.”
He climbs out, and we walk up the stone staircase toward the front entrance. One of the guards reaches out and opens the door as we approach, letting it swing open.
Inside, Marco Vitale, my father’s second-in-command, stands with an impassive expression at the entrance to the hall leading to Father’s office. He inclines his head as we enter. “Carina. Mr. Marzano. How may I help you?”
“I need to see my father.”
“I’m afraid the Don is dealing with a matter of some urgency. Perhaps I may be of assistance?”
“That’s the matter I’m here to see him about. This isn’t negotiable, Marco. Tell him I’m here.”
My father’s second presses his lips together and sends a speaking glance to one of the soldiers in the foyer. He steps forward and gestures at Luca, who lifts his arms without looking at him.
“A pat down, Marco?” I curl my lip. “Rude.”
The soldier removes two guns from Luca’s jacket, and Luca tips his head ruefully. “I wasn’t going to use them.”
I start to raise my own arms, preparing to be searched, but Marco jerks his head toward the hall. “Go ahead.”
Inwardly, I shake my head. I don’t know whether to be insulted or elated that they never considered me to be enough of a player to search me for weapons. Sal never underestimated me like that. He never confused womanhood with softness or stupidity.
