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And when I’m done, my revenge is going to taste as sweet as fucking candy.
Ride bene chi ride ultimo.
Who laughs last, laughs longest.
Volunteeringfor the Child Meets Book program at my local used bookshop is just one of the few things I’ll miss about my current life when I’m married off. I highly doubt I’ll be allowed to do this anymore. It was hell trying to get my father to allow it in the first place.
But I love it.
It makes me happy.
And happiness is hard to come by in this world.
“Okay, you guys!” I say to the group of ten kids sitting crisscross applesauce on the alphabet carpet in front of me. “You can all go pick out three books to bring home this week, and Ms. Evelina will get you all checked out before your advocate comes back to pick you up.”
I smile as they all run around the little used bookstore, and Evelina, the owner, gives me a warm smile of her own just as my brother, Niccolò, comes up and pulls me into his side.
“That was a good one, sis. It felt familiar. You think our parents read that to us before bedtime when we were kids?”
He raises his dark eyebrows, and I roll my eyes, laughing at his joke that should be sad but is just part of life.
Our parents weren’t read-the-kids-bedtime-stories kind of parents.
“Fat chance, big brother,” I say as I shake my head, and we watch the group of elementary school kids run around the shop.
My brother eyes up my boss, something I’ve noticed him do many times before.
Evelina starts writing down each child’s choices, flipping her long blonde hair over her shoulder and kneeling down to each of them, just as a bus driver and employee from their group home pull up. It’s more of an honor system than a real checkout process. She does it out of the kindness of her own heart and doesn’t mention any kind of repercussions when a book doesn’t make it back.
The program has been up and running for two years, and I actually found it through Niccolò, who stopped in here on a whim to grab a coffee. It’s a bookshop, but it also has a small coffee bar, and he saw a flyer about the program needing extra help, told me about it, and I reached out to see if I could volunteer in any capacity the next day.
“You know, you could just ask for her number. You wouldn’t have to keep coming to my volunteer sessions every time if you just did your damn thing and used those boyish good looks of yours.” I poke at Nico, and he frowns, running his fingers through his dark hair. “What?! Anyone can tell you’re practically obsessed with the woman, Nico.”
“Can’t a guy just come hang out with his favorite sis—”
“Only. Only sister.”
“Ms. Giana!” one of the kids calls out, and motions me over to help her pick out a book when the bus driver announces they only have five more minutes.
“You’re getting off easy this time, Niccolò.” I smile and go to the little girl, leaving Nico alone to obsess over my boss.
* * *
Niccolò was called away a little bit before my shift ended, and I promised him I’d call a driver to get home. My father will be pissed that Nico didn’t drop me off before going to handle whatever he’s handling, but I insisted.
Whatever he needed to go do seemed serious. His expression and demeanor totally changed when he got the phone call.
Plus, he never leaves my shifts early. He’s too obsessed with Evelina.
I decide to walk down the block a bit as I call for an Uber, wanting to get some fresh air—I hate being cooped up all winter long. I just wish I wouldn’t have forgotten my coat. I was in a hurry to get to the bookshop in time and somehow rushed out without it, not even noticing. Our heated garage makes it feel like an endless summer.
The air whips at my skin, and I start to regret my decision because of the cold, paired with the fact that this city gets so damn dark in the winter, despite all of the high-rises and buildings doing their best to light up the streets.
I take my phone out to thumb a text to Remi, desperately needing to talk to her about our night at the club, when I’m tightly gripped around the waist and pulled into a dark alley. I do my best to kick and scream and thrash in the arms of my captor—but it’s to no avail.
I’m thrown to the ground, and I immediately curl up into a ball, searching which way is the quickest escape from the narrow passageway. All too quickly, though, the bright light that was shining from a streetlamp is put out by a shadow.
I let out a guttural scream as I realize there are two men now. One has some kind of Halloween mask over his face, and is surely the one who grabbed me. He’s standing only feet from me, wearing all-black clothing and holding what I can tell is a glimmering blade.
