“You look so pretty,” Lily said from her spot on my bed in the guestroom of the Vitiello mansion in the Hamptons. At least, it wasn’t the same room I’d had last time. I had to suppress a shiver when I thought of that day and all the blood I’d seen.
I glared at my reflection. Mother had chosen the dress for me because I’d refused to go shopping with her for my engagement party. It was a surprisingly nice dress, which didn’t make me look like a tramp. I still shuddered when I remembered the slutty dress they’d chosen for Aria when she’d gotten engaged to Luca.
My dress was dark green, my favorite color. I was surprised Mother knew that much about me, or maybe Lily had helped secretly. The skirt was flared and reached my knees. Definitely modest. Maybe Father thought I was bad girl enough and didn’t need a slutty outfit to emphasize that further.
“I don’t know why they bother,” I said. “They know I don’t want to celebrate my engagement to Matteo. I don’t want to marry him.”
“It’s tradition.”
Lily was wringing her hands nervously in her lap. Pushing my own feelings aside, I walked toward her and sat down. She didn’t even look up but her lower lip was trembling.
“Hey, are you okay?”
She gave a small shake of her head. “I know it’s stupid but I’m kind of scared.”
“Of Luca, Matteo and Romero?”
“I’m sorry.”
I wrapped my arm around her. “Why are you apologizing? It’s perfectly natural for you to be afraid of them after what you saw in September.”
She shuddered. “I can’t get it out of my head. I dream about it almost every night.”
Two months since that day, and almost every night she woke me with her screams before she slipped into my bed. “They would never hurt you, Lily. We are girls, they will always want to protect us from harm.” It was laughable that I was singing their praise, but I would have done anything to calm Lily down.
“I know.” She took a deep breath. “I hope I don’t freak out like last time. Father would be so mad if I made a scene.”
I kissed her cheek. “You won’t. I’ll be at your side. And Aria will be there too. Everything will be okay.”
Someone knocked at the door but before I could reply, Fabi poked his head in, his eyes darting between Lily and me. “Are you having a girl talk?”
“Yes,” Lily said at the same time as I said, “No.”
Fabi narrowed his eyes and slipped into the room. He looked too cute in his tuxedo. “Father sent me to tell you everyone’s waiting.” He straightened his shoulders, his little chin lifting a little higher. Fabi had turned ten a couple of days ago and in a few years, he would already start his initiation process. I was glad that I probably wouldn’t get the chance to see my sweet, good-natured brother become a killer.
“You ready?” I asked Lily, who nodded quickly but her eyes told a different story. I understood her only too well.
Fabi tugged at his collar, which looked tight even from afar. “Lily is supposed to come with me, so you can enter alone.”
Lily stiffened beside me. She had clung to me when we’d first stepped foot into the mansion this morning. I wasn’t sure why Luca and Matteo had insisted on celebrating in New York, and worse in the very place where Lily had seen Romero and Matteo torture a Russian, but it was too late now. So far we’d managed to avoid them all. I hadn’t even seen Aria yet.
“No. I don’t care what Father wants. Lily and I will go down together.”
Fabi gnawed on his lip. “Father will be angry.”
I stood, pulling Lily with me. “He’ll get over it.” He wouldn’t make a scene in front of New York. He’d wait with his punishment until we were back in Chicago. Lily, Fabi and I headed downstairs together and Lily’s grip on my hand tightened with every step we took. As we passed the front hall her eyes darted to the back where the entrance to the basement was. She shivered. Voices were coming from the living room and we headed toward the door, our shoes clicking on the marble floor; a floor that had been slick with blood two months ago. I tried to forget what I’d seen that day. I needed to focus on today if I didn’t want things to end badly.
It wasn’t a big celebration, but the most important members of the New York Familia and the Outfit had been invited. I was determined to be on my best behavior today. I didn’t want Father to think I was thinking of ways to escape and up the number of my bodyguards.
The moment we entered the living room, I knew I could kiss that plan good-bye. Lily let out a small sound in the back of her throat, her nails digging into my palm. Father was talking to Dante Cavallaro, Luca and Matteo, while the other men, as well as Aria, my mother and Matteo’s stepmother, Nina Vitiello, stood around them. Father’s eyes narrowed immediately when he saw me with Lily. Fabi quickly rushed toward him and Father scowled at him, probably giving Fabi a lecture under his breath.
Matteo’s gaze captured me with its intensity. He was dressed in black pants and a white shirt.
“Gianna,” Father said in a tight voice. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
Everyone expected me to walk over to my Father, so he could hand me over to Matteo, and I would have if Lily hadn’t started shaking beside me at the sight of Matteo, Romero and Luca.
Her eyes darted to me. There was a flicker of fear on her face. I didn’t want Father, much less anyone else, to know that she was terrified. Father would be furious. Maybe he’d even hit her, and Lily really didn’t need another bad experience. She’d been struggling enough in the last few months.
She was frozen beside me.
“Gianna, stop the nonsense and come over here,” Father growled.
Aria came toward me. “What’s wrong?”
Lily and I exchanged a look. So far we hadn’t told Aria anything, but it would be hard to explain Lily’s strange behavior.
“Long story,” I said. “Can you take Lily’s hand?”
But Father had had enough. He stalked toward me and grabbed my wrist in a crushing grip before dragging me toward Matteo. “I’ve had enough of your insolence.” I almost stumbled on my heels.
Matteo pulled me against him, forcing Father to release me. The look on Matteo’s face bore a remarkable resemblance to the one he’d had when the Russian had kicked me. I was glad to escape Father’s wrath for now and didn’t pull away from Matteo. Aria was hugging Lily to her side and both were whispering quietly. I hoped Aria could calm our sister down. I hated seeing Lily so distressed.
“I know what you did there,” Matteo murmured in my ear once he’d put the engagement ring on my finger.
“And what would that be?”
“You helped your sister.”
I slipped out from under his arm. “I wouldn’t have had to help her if she wasn’t terrified of you.”
Matteo didn’t look sorry. Maybe he wasn’t capable of guilt. “I’ll have a word with her.”
“Stay away from her,” I hissed, but he seemed to find my threatening tone funny, and I blew. My voice rose. I was beyond caring if the others would hear. “And while you’re at it, stay away from me too. I don’t want anything to do with your fucked up world.”
Unfortunately Father heard, and so did probably everyone else in the room, and while Matteo didn’t seem to take my outburst to heart, Father’s scowl promised punishment. I had a feeling Matteo would have stopped him, if I’d asked for his help, but I didn’t want to be indebted to Matteo. I’d rather bear Father’s beatings.
