Page 10 of Tilly
“I don’t remember,” I lie, because I know exactly why he’s asking, and I refuse to be responsible for any amount of bloodshed.
“Why would they assume you were a streetwalker, exactly?” This question comes from my Zio Theo.
I look at him and smile as a single shoulder lifts into a half shrug. “No idea.”
Zio Matteo laughs. “Okay, obviously, I’ve had the charges dropped, and we all know she’s innocent. So let’s just cool our heads and calm down a bit.”
“Calm down? Try having your daughter arrested and then tell me to calm the fuck down,” Dad grunts.
“Oh, it’s coming. Don’t you worry your pretty little mayoral head about that.” Zio Luca laughs. “No way his daughter is going through life without ending up in her own pair of silver bracelets.”
“Fuck off. Aurora is a fucking angel.” Zio Matteo shoves at Zio Luca’s chest.
“Okay, well, as great as this whole family reunion’s been, I’m kind of tired. So can we continue this at Sunday dinner?” I suggest.
“Yes,” my mom says at the same time my dad says, “Absolutely not.”
“Romeo, let’s go.” Mom stands from the sofa and grabs my father’s arm.
He takes a step before pivoting his glare back on me again. “Wait… Where did you sleep last night? It obviously wasn’t here.”
“At a friend’s,” I tell him.
“What friend?” he counters.
I blink at his question. Darn it, I’m a terrible liar, but no way am I going to tell my father I spent the night at the Gambino house.
“Romeo, leave her alone.” Mom is quick to come to my defense. “Come on, we’re leaving. Tilly, I’ll call you later, after you’ve rested.” She kisses the top of my head.
“Thanks, Mom,” I whisper.
“Okay, we’re going, but this conversation isn’t over, Matilda Olivia,” Dad huffs.
Oh shoot, he’s mad. He used my full name. He only does that when he’s mad. I nod my head and wait for all of them to leave. Except they don’t all leave. My nonno stays behind.
“Tilly, you know you can talk to me. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you,” he says.
“I know, Nonno,” I tell him. Because I do know that.
“Want to tell me where you were last night, then?”
“Not particularly.” I shrug while twisting the fabric of my shirt between my fingers. It’s a nervous habit.
“Why?”
“Because there are some things a girl doesn’t need to share with her father or her grandfather,” I stress.
“I don’t like it. I don’t like that you’ve grown up to be a beautiful young woman. But you have, and Nonna says I need to accept that.”
“Nonna is a wise woman.” I laugh.
“Yes, she is.” He leans forward and kisses my forehead. “I love you, Tilly.”
“Love you too.”
I swipe up my phone, click on the video chat icon, and dial Kinsley and Rosa. They both answer like they’ve been waiting for the call.
“Thank god you’re alive. What the hell happened last night?” Kinsley is the first to get a word out.
