Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 73663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
I look up, surprised. “You did?”
“I was waiting for you to tell me the truth.” He shakes his head and opens the door. “You never did.”
Then he leaves. I’m alone in the room, a mess of fear and sadness, and all my tangled emotions course through my body, threatening to tear me into pieces.
Chapter 33
Renzo
Stefania looks miserable. Not that I can blame her. Nobody wants to come back to their childhood home, especially not under circumstances like these. “I can still go to class, right?” she asks, leaning back on her bed. “I think I might throw myself off the roof if I’m really stuck in here.”
“You can still attend class. I’ll have guys watching you—”
She jabs a finger at me. “This better not be some elaborate excuse to keep a closer eye on me while I’m in school.”
I smile slightly. “No, it’s not. I promise, it’s not some old-school, sexist Italian thing.”
“Good.” She grins back. “I didn’t really think so.”
I walk over and sit at the edge of her bed. She cocks her head, studying me for a second, before sitting up with her back against the headboard. “So what happened? With you and Maddie, I mean. Things have been… weird.”
I glance away. She’s right about that. Stef came home last night, and the house has been tense since then. The soldiers are waiting for the violence to start while my family’s been falling apart.
This is everything I’ve been dreading.
“She’s pregnant,” I say and while there’s a spark of joy deep down in my chest, none of that excitement creeps out.
“That’s good, right?”
“She lied to me about it.”
“Oh.” Stefania shakes her head. “I’m sure she had a good reason.”
“She didn’t.”
“Did you talk to her about it?”
“A little bit.”
She sighs and punches my arm. “Idiot. You have to actually listen too, you know. That’s part of having a conversation.”
“What’s there to say? She found out she was pregnant and never told me. I figured it out on my own.”
Stefania mimes choking me. “You can be the most stubborn, shortsighted man in the world, you know that? For someone who really cares about the people in his life, you’re frustratingly obtuse.”
“Go ahead and explain things to me then, since you’re so wise.”
“Maddie likes you. Actually, I think she probably loves you. If she didn’t tell you about the baby, she has a good reason. I don’t know what that reason is because I’m not a normal girl that got dragged into this mafia hellscape, but I’m sure she could explain it to you.”
I glare at my sister. “This house isn’t a hellscape. It’s very well maintained.”
“Talk to her, Ren. Please.”
“I want to.” I look down at my hands. “But things are about to get hard. Much harder than she anticipated. I wouldn’t blame her at all if she were having second thoughts, and I’m not sure if I can handle that. Besides, you know how important honesty is to me.”
“It’s the pillar of the family,” Stefania says, rolling her eyes as she recites the refrain our father drilled into our heads. “She’s new to all this. You have to give her some slack.”
“I want to. Trust me, I really do. But if I let myself get distracted by her in the middle of a war, what will happen to everyone else that relies on me? What if you got hurt? What if Mom did? I couldn’t forgive myself.”
“You’re doing the best you can. No, seriously, you’re doing better than Dad would’ve. He was a fucking selfish prick, but you’re not. You’re a better Don than he ever was.”
I wave her away. “We both know that’s bullshit. Jasha never would’ve tried something like this if Dad were still in charge.”
“Who knows? Who cares? You’re here now and it’s your responsibility. So go upstairs and talk to your wife.”
I push off her bed and stand.
Every part of me wants to do it. Stef’s right, I need to get over my anger and hurt, because my pregnant wife needs me right now.
“I’ll think about it.”
“That’s stubborn-asshole-speak for you’ll delay until it’s too late.” She throws a pillow at me and I duck as it speeds over my head. “You love her. Just stop being such a prick and tell her.”
“Since when did you have it all figured out, huh? I’m the adult in this room, you know.”
“Yes, I’m aware, Don Rossi. It just happens that I’m the only member of this family with a modicum of emotional awareness. Meanwhile, my four brothers stomp around grunting like cavemen.”
“I am offended by your characterization.”
“Go talk to your wife and leave me alone.”
I hesitate for a second. “Thanks, Stef. You’re a good one.”
“No shit.”
I leave, shaking my head.
Chapter 34
Maddie
Stella’s hand rests lightly on my arm as we walk through the garden together.
It’s a beautiful day. The temperature’s perfect and it isn’t too humid for once. Stella marvels at the flowers, stops every few steps to study a plant, and chats happily about gardening. I mostly listen since I don’t know a thing about growing stuff, but she seems happy, and that makes me happy.