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It’s only when everyone is gone, and we’re crossing the cemetery that I ask, “Who was that?”
She doesn’t need me to tell her who I mean.
“His name is Vito Luciano. He’s an old friend of mine.”
Everything is instinctively clear in my head. No need to use your brain when your gut tells you the truth.
“Mom, did you…did you—”
“Ask the head of a criminal family to find dirt on your dad because I wanted to ruin his career?” She pauses, clearly checking my reaction. When she deems she can trust me, she continues. “Yes. As I told you before, I hated the man. I promise you on my life I had no idea how Vito was proceeding about it.”
Shocked, I swallow heavily. Xi was asked to kidnap the daughter of a Senator by the man himself. That girl was me.
My mother asked a mafia man for info on my dad, Vito asked Xi, and Xi used me.
We’ve come full circle to the insanity of the lives we live, the intricate bonds between the billionaires of Stoneview and the crime families around us.
Xi and me? We’re just pawns in bigger games.
“Why?” I ask with a strength I’ve come to understand is a new part of me.
“I wanted to divorce him. He didn’t. Your father was a master manipulator, and there was only one way out. I waited until you went to college, thinking I could keep you out of it. I was wrong, and I’m sorry.”
I give her a tight-lipped smile. “I forgive you, Mom. I would have done anything to get rid of him too. In fact, I have.”
“We have our whole lives for you to forgive me truly. For everything.” She wraps an arm around my shoulders and walks me toward the gates.
Just like in the movies, I notice a tall, dark shadow leaning on a tree at the back. Too far to have heard anything from the funeral, close enough to keep an eye on me.
Xi looks handsome in a black suit. It doesn’t fit who he is, but he is beautiful, nonetheless. His arms are crossed over his chest, strong muscles threatening to crack the seam of the suit jacket. He must be freezing without a coat.
“I’ll meet you at the car,” I tell my mother. Her eyes follow my gaze, and she nods.
I take my time walking to Xi, delaying the inevitable.
“Hey,” I finally say, facing the giant in front of me.
“Hey.” His voice is the same as it always is, devoid of emotions. They seem to be stuck in his eyes, swirling with the different shades of brown—Tiger’s eye stone.
The first thing that comes to mind is fixing my mistakes. Something unfixable. “I’m sorry about Zara.” His sad eyes meet mine. That’s the last thing he was expecting. “Billie told me. And I want you to know that had I known…had I been able to grasp how dangerous it was to withhold information from you, I wouldn’t have. You were right, it’s not my world and I knew nothing. I’m sorry you felt you failed her. I don’t think you did.” When his confusion starts being clear on his face, I add, “I think you live in a place torn by a war you can’t control, and you can’t save everyone around you.”
He takes a deep breath, his eyes dampening. When he swallows, the tears disappear without having had a chance to fall.
“How have you been?” I ask.
“I should be the one asking you that question,” he chuckles dryly.
“Do it, then,” I snap a little too hard. I can see he likes it, the determination in my voice.
“How have you been?”
“Better than I thought,” I admit. I pause, taking him in, breathing in the familiar scent of his cologne mixed with the hints of turpentine. “But I miss you.”
His eyes darken with sadness. “I miss you too.” Another heavy pause, during which he pushes off the tree and takes my hands. “Alex,” he rasps. “I want you to know that I’ve officially left NSC.”
My eyes widen, my mouth falling open.
“You were wrong,” he adds.
