Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“Doubt it. I just love singing nursery rhymes and cleaning toilets way too much to walk away.”
I’m drained six hours later. My back hurts from stooping down and picking up little Jennie and chasing after her little sister, Tracie. Those girls were adorable but an absolute handful. I could tell their mother needed a little break, though, and it was my pleasure to give those girls a little normalcy for a few hours. We went for a walk, got ice cream, watched a movie together in the rec room, and did some crafts. My fingers are sticky with glue.
“They’re gonna saint you one of these days, you mark my words,” Jacque says as I head out through the small front lobby.
“Doubt it. Pretty sure only good people get that honor.”
“You’d be surprised!”
I wave and step out into the late afternoon. It takes a second for my eyes to adjust to the sunlight. I look down and pause, surprised to find my brother Adriano leaning against a car parked halfway down the block. He waves at me as I slowly approach.
“I thought we agreed to no rides?”
He shrugs slightly. Adriano’s a big guy with dark hair and our father’s sharp looks. Most girls thought he was handsome growing up, which always drove me crazy. He took over as the Don of the Marino Famiglia two years ago, and he’s been growing the organization like crazy ever since.
Life’s been prosperous for this little mafia crew.
Which is good and bad. Mostly bad for the world, but great for us.
“I thought it’d be nice to spend some time with my sister.”
My eyebrows raise. “The Don himself, gracing me with his presence? I always thought you were too busy.”
“Never too busy for family.” His smile is charming, and I almost believe it.
“Seriously, Adriano, what’s up?”
“Can’t I just want to see you? And we can leave it at that for a little while?”
“Look, if I’m going to get punched in the face, I want to get it over with. Don’t draw it out. Why are you here?”
He sighs and gestures at the car. “Get in. We need to talk.”
“Business or personal?”
“Let’s call it both.”
That leaves a stone in my gut. I hesitate and glance back toward Grace House. There are so many women in there, too many if I’m honest, and they’re all suffering in their own ways.
While my life is easy. I have a personal suite in a massive mansion and plenty of money to buy me whatever I need. I’ve been given a lot of leeway over the years and basically allowed to use my time however I want without any obligations to the Famiglia. It’s an extremely rare privilege in this life, and I’ve taken advantage of it for a while.
But for some reason, I feel like that’s all about to change.
Chapter 2
Bianca
Adriano shuts his office door and gestures for me to sit.
I linger near the bookcases. It’s funny how this place is the total opposite of Kate’s little closet. The director of Grace House does extremely important and good work for the women of Philadelphia, but she operates on a shoestring budget and gets by on scraps.
While my brother, a vicious and brutal mafia Don, lives in absolute luxury.
Everything is polished, expensive wood, rich leather, and plush rugs. Family photos line the shelves mixed in with old books that never get read. Paintings hang on the walls, simple landscapes that would cover Grace House’s operating budget for a decade. There’s a fireplace, dead and cold now, and a drink cart near Adriano’s enormous executive desk.
He lowers himself into his big armchair and watches me. The perfect image of the powerful Don. Tattoos peek out at the edges of his collar and sleeves, and there’s not a single hair out of place.
“I’m gonna be honest,” I say, trying to smile but finding it hard. “The way you’re looking at me is freaking me out.”
Adriano’s stare doesn’t soften. He steeples his fingers in front of him. “You know I love you, right?”
My eyebrows raise. “I mean, I assumed, but I don’t think you’ve said that to me since we were kids. Did someone die?”
“Nobody died.”
“Are you dying or something? Or, god, don’t tell me something’s going on with Lucy and Alessia?”
“My wife and my child are fine.” His lips twitch. “Would you just sit your ass down, Bianca?”
I take a chair and perch on the edge. “Better?”
“Not really.”
“How about you tell me what’s going on, and maybe I’ll relax afterward.”
“You won’t.” He glares at me. “Fuck, I hate this.”
“Adriano.” I stare right back at him, starting to get annoyed. My heart’s pattering quickly in my chest. Knowing my family, this could be anywhere from a minor inconvenience to a massive global meltdown. “Either start talking or I’m going to kick your ass like I used to when we were younger.”