Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
I knew of three people who handled both the drug and sex trade business out of Cartagena and all of them were dead. Masseria, though? It seemed impossible, considering, but if that was the case, it meant my father knew about it, it meant the Costellos knew about it. It meant that it was only a matter of time before shit hit the fan. I looked up at Gabe, catching the concern in his eyes. Not very often, but sometimes it really did feel like looking in a mirror.
“At what time does your flight leave for Italy?”
“Nine in the morning. You coming?”
“I might.” I took my cell phone out of my pocket and dialed Lorenzo’s number first. He was the one I was closest to. He and Rocco, but Loren had been my mentor, and he was Gio’s brother-in-law. It was only right that he gave Gio the news that his father was still alive.
33
ROSIE
“My Rosie!” Dad pulled me into a tight hug that I returned. I smiled against his shoulder. God. He smelled like fried food, like home. I squeezed him a little tighter.
“You’re thin, Papi.” I pulled back. “Too thin.”
“Can you believe they didn’t serve platanos in jail?” he asked. “Don’t worry, I’ll get my weight up soon.”
I laughed and turned to Santi, hugging him next. I pulled back and looked at him. “You know you were dark without the dangerous sun rays, right?”
“Vicky isn’t and I wasn’t going to let her tan her ass in front of every guy on spring break.”
“Of course,” I rolled my eyes and walked over to help Dad set food on the table. “How was meeting her family?”
“Great, actually.” He grinned. “Her dad’s fucking loaded. He has a crazy estate in Mexico City.”
“What does he do?”
“What doesn’t he do?” Santi chuckled.
“That sounds . . . ominous,” I said.
I set down the bowl of red beans and we paused the conversation to settle into our seats and for Dad to say grace. The minute he was done, I picked up a toston.
“He’s not into anything illegal, if that’s where you’re getting at,” Santi said. “At least, not that I know of.”
“Speaking of illegal activity,” Dad said. “I heard you’re dating Dominic.”
If he’d thrown something at me, I would have been less shocked than I felt at his words. “Where’d you hear that?”
“It doesn’t matter where I heard it,” he said. The tone in his voice made my stomach clench. I didn’t dare meet his eyes. “I don’t like him for you.”
That made me look at him. “Papi.”
“He does dangerous things, Rosie. Unforgivable things.”
“Really? When did you start believing gossip now?”
“I stopped considering it gossip when Anthony Costello threatened me because of your relationship with him.”
“What?” I breathed. “He went to the bodega again?”
“Sure did.” Dad pursed his lips and went back to his food.
A part of me wished he’d been so spooked by Dominic that he’d just stopped going there, but Dad’s bodegas were in Costello territory, after all. All it would take was for Anthony to start spreading rumors about me and Dominic, and he’d turn everyone in the neighborhood against us. That was how these people did things. They divided the city into squares and infiltrated them until everyone in them was bleeding out, money and actual blood.
“As far as I’m concerned, Anthony can rot in hell,” I said after a moment.
“Let’s hope he doesn’t take us with him when he does,” my dad said. If he wanted me to lose my appetite, he’d succeeded.
“Who’s Dominic?” Santi asked.
“The boy your sister is never going to see again,” Dad stated.
I laughed; it was unamused, though. Dom wasn’t a boy, and I wasn’t a little girl, and there was absolutely nothing funny about this situation.
“Dominic De Luca?” Santi asked, frowning.
“Yes.” Dad’s voice was short.
“He’s your boyfriend?”
“He’s a friend,” I said, shooting my dad a look.
“Friend.” Dad scoffed anyway. “He’s a thug.”
“You didn’t think he was a thug before.” I raised an eyebrow. “You loved him and Gabe.”
“He wasn’t a thug back then.” He scowled. “You need to stay away from him.”
“That’s bullshit.” I bit into another toston. I wasn’t even hungry. I was angry-eating now.
“Roselyn.” Dad slapped the table.
Santi and I flinched and went silent. Dad had never lifted a hand at us, but he didn’t have to. Our defenses went up the moment his voice did.
“Sorry,” I whispered.
“He has a reputation,” Santi said quietly. “Dominic De Luca, I mean.”
My gaze flashed to his. “How have you heard of him, if I didn’t even know he lived in this city?”
“You probably haven’t heard about him since you always stay in your lane.” Santi’s smile faltered. “Maybe Dad’s right about this one.”
A knot formed in my throat. I swallowed hard, but it remained. I looked down at my plate. I’d stopped eating and went back to playing with my food, my fork pushing the rice and beans from one side to the other. Having two of the most important men in my life not accept the third like this hurt, even though I knew they weren’t wrong to worry. Who knew what Dad had heard about Dom from the people around the neighborhood. It couldn’t have been anything good, which was the only thing holding me back from standing up and shouting how in love with Dominic I was. The only way they’d change their mind was if Dominic showed them who he really was. Well, who he was with me.