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“You know you can still talk to me, don’t you?”
When I didn’t answer, Juliana asked me how Jake was, and I explained he was away for a few days on Società business. I was relieved to change the subject away from me. “Jake doesn’t blame you, Juliana.”
“Please tell him how sorry I am,” she said quietly.
“It’s not your fault.”
“But it is my fault,” she cried. “Everything is my fault, and now you’re having to marry Rafael to strengthen the Società after my kidnapping. You and Jake are my siblings. I would do anything to protect you both.”
We hugged each other again, both in tears by now.
She pulled back and after wiping her eyes, she continued to press me.
Before I could confide in her what had happened, a figure stepped out of the shadows. “What the hell is the meaning of this?”
Our heads whipped round at the sound of the voice.
“Father…” Juliana’s voice shook as she addressed him.
“Jessica—go upstairs,” he ordered.
“I love you, Jess,” she said, quickly giving me one last hug. “Tell Jake I’m sorry. I never wanted him to get hurt.”
“I’ll tell him.”
“Jessica, get upstairs now or I’ll drag you up there myself!” bellowed my father.
I went inside with one last look over her shoulder at me. My father was furious, and dread filled me at the thought of what would happen next.
I couldn’t see my father and Juliana from inside, so I went back to my bedroom. I wondered how Juliana had gotten here and if she was home for good now.
I couldn’t sleep for the rest of the night, however, as my questions regarding Juliana went round and round my head.
***
Juliana stayed at our mansion for another day, although I barely had a chance to speak to her again.
The day after Juliana left, my father summoned me to his office. I knew Father was furious with me.
My father was openly seething. “You should also know that Juliana’s reappearance resulted in Gabriel Santino being shot last night.”
“Is Gabriel going to be alright?” My words came out in a rush. I was already on bad terms with Emanuel Santino; now Gabriel Santino was going to hate me too—after all, the only reason Juliana came was to speak to Jacob and me.
“Yes, of course he’ll be fine.” His tone was querulous. “What I want to know, Jessica, is why you keep attracting all these situations. As if what I’ve had to go through with Juliana wasn’t enough, now you continually shame me—by acting like a whore with your father-in-law and then consorting with your sister when you know she is no longer welcome in our family.”
I flinched violently at his use of the word ‘whore’.
“I don’t know why your sister wanted to come and see you, but you must have encouraged her in some way to come here.”
“I didn’t, Father.” Technically, I hadn’t asked Juliana to visit, although I couldn’t deny that I had been so happy and relieved to see her. However, I wasn’t about to tell my father about my earlier phone call with Juliana. I hoped that I would be able to talk to her again at some point, but Father would take away my phone immediately if he knew about this.
“I don’t believe you, Jessica. You must have encouraged her to come here. For God’s sake, the Capo-to-be was shot because of your stupidity! How do you think this reflectson me, although I presume you never thought to take your family into account before acting like this? Just as you didn’t think about the family’s reputation when you spread your legs in front of the Capo.”
Father’s reference to what had happened with Emanuel made my body clam up with shame.
But there was nothing I could say, so I just shrank into myself as my father continued his tirade against me.
CHAPTER 4
