Page 32 of Little Rabbit

“I’ll teach you,” I promise. “I’ve been training on this stuff since I was a kid. Not to mention, my best friend helped me learn some moves too. She’s a bounty hunter, and her family are cops and former military so she’s spent a lot of time training herself.”

“Another badass bitch,” Sofia says excitedly. “I hope I get to meet her.”

“Me too,” Gia agrees, taking another drink of her wine.

“But what I want to know is what you think about all of this,” Sofia interjects, her tone serious. “I mean, you already said you’re overwhelmed, and I’m sure you have questions, so how about you ask them and we try to answer as best we can. Maybe it will put some of your concerns at ease. Gia and I both grew up in this life.”

I drink some wine and stare ahead of me for a moment. What do I want to ask? I haven’t really had any time to consider that. I’ve been trying to figure out my next move, but now my next move involves trying to keep Alessio far enough away from me that I won’t fall for him. I need to find a way to accept my new reality, including the fact that I have a sister, and that the men in the family are complete and utter assholes. Not to mention, I have to figure out how this new reality for me is going to include my parents, the people who love me and raised me to be who I am now. That raises the question of what kind of person I would be if the De Lucas raised me. Would they have treated me like they did Gia, or would they have warped me into being like them? Just the thought fills me with revulsion. No, I know I would not be like them. Ever.

So what do I want to know?

Finally, after another long few minutes of silence, I turn and ask, “How do you live with it? With knowing what happens, even though you’re not directly involved?”

Gia and Sofia glance at each other. Finally Gia says softly, “I don’t think about it. I can’t. Maybe I’m desensitized to it because I grew up listening to what my family does or did to people. I saw it with my own eyes in some instances. I have to keep it as something separate, especially considering I’m not involved in it directly. Maybe it’s a cop out, but I’ve never had another option, and I never will, considering I’m married to Nico. The only thing I do feel comforted about is that Nico does not participate in sex trafficking.”

Sofia nods. “The Carusos are the same. Honestly, Sienna, it’s going to be harder for someone like you to accept or even get used to it. That’s not any fault of your own. I will say that in this world, women are usually shielded from all that. I know parts of it, but I don’t know the finer details; my family and the Carusos made sure of that. There are other families who think differently, and the women are trained from a young age that they’ll marry to better their families and share secrets. It usually ends up with them killing someone or someone killing them when they find out about the betrayal or their usefulness has run out. It’s cold, it’s evil, but it’s the life.”

“That’s just it, how am I supposed to get used to all that?” I ask bitterly. “I grew up with a family that loves me, but I’ve seen the other side of it. I’ve seen my school friends dying or getting hooked on the shit that’s being sold, or getting wrapped up in the dangerous wars and games that all these organizations are running. How am I supposed to just sit back and say that’s okay?”

“You do it because you don’t have any other choice,” Sofia answers bluntly. I stare at her incredulously. “Look, I could sit here and try to soothe you and say it’s all going to be okay, but it’s not, and I find that a bunch of bullshit and a waste of time anyway. So I’m going to tell you straight. When it comes to this life, it’s hard, it’s dirty, and it’s going to test your morality. But whether we like it or not, this is the world and the way it’s run. There is always going to be a bad guy; there is always going to be someone reaching for the wrong hand to pull them up, that ends up leading them into a life of crime or addiction. But what you need to consider is while you know the other side, you luckily ended up on this side with the people you have. If your family found you first, the things you would suffer would be a million times worse. With us, you have a chance to lead a life that is at least normal. You can still work, or not, if you don’t want to, and you will have people at your back no matter what. You also have people who are putting their lives on the line for you. For both of you,” she adds with a pointed look at Gia.

I don’t reply at first, letting what she’s said swirl around in my head for a few minutes. Mostly it’s her last statement that hits the hardest. “I know Alessio said they are after me, and that one of the De Luca brothers,—Dario, I think—shot at us, but I’m not sure what you mean by lives on the line,” I finally say, narrowing my eyes slightly at Sofia. “You make it sound like they’re fighting a war. All because they want to get Gia and I back to marry us off?”

“Because they are,” Sofia replies. “Or will be. Another thing you’re going to realize pretty quickly is in this world, women are a commodity. We’re used to strengthen ties and alliances, and to barter for territory and power. Wars are often fought for that power, and we get thrust directly into the line of fire because we’re merely collateral to get what they want. There were three men promised Gia’s hand, four if you count Nico. Two of them dissolved their contracts once they realized all the double-crossing that was going on. None of those offers were for a love match. They were to strengthen power, to gain control over someone else. They couldn’t have cared less that Gia was going to be married to some of the most brutal men in the world. It was a boon for them; more connections mean more power, more fear to leverage to keep people in line or get what they want.

“The one man left over has found out about you, and since he missed out on Gia, he’s going to come after you hard. He’s a bastard that will kill anyone who stands in his way for any reason. Honestly, he’s probably thinking he’ll kill Nico too and just take Gia, and you’ll be an extra to sell off when he’s done with you. Or he’ll keep you for when he finally gets his heir and kills Gia.” Gia’s face goes deathly pale at that. “I’m sorry for scaring you, darling, but the more you know, and the more you understand, the more prepared you are.” She takes Gia’s hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze. “Nico will never go down without a fight, and if he was going to fall, he would make sure you were protected so well that none of them could touch you. Alessio will do the same for you, Sienna. Hell, any of the Carusos or Cattaneos will. Because a war is exactly what’s coming, and you two are the main targets. For everyone else, it’s just an excuse to have open season on their enemies.”

“Because with them out of the way, their territory and everything else they have will be free for the taking,” I summarize grimly.

Sofia nods. “Precisely. That is why Alessio wanted you here so quickly. Here, you can be protected. Many have tried to take down the Carusos, and so far, all have failed. But that’s not by happenstance. That is because Pietro is one of the most feared Dons in the world, and he’s trained his sons and my brothers to be exactly the same way. Because eventually, they’re all going to marry and have children, and he doesn’t leave anything to chance.”

“Why couldn’t he have just explained all of that to me?” I ask in exasperation. “Maybe then I wouldn’t have tried to run. I thought it was just that Alessio wanted to force the marriage contract and stop my family from doing all that shit to me. I figured it was a favor to Gia.”

“In part, it was. But you, Sienna, have revived their plans of domination simply by discovering your existence. Now that they know about you, I don’t think it will be long before they realize there could be more of you. And they might not be as lucky as the two of you.”

“You think we have more sisters?” Gia asks, clearly shocked.

“Anything is possible,” Sofia shrugs. “There is also the chance of cousins. Didn’t your uncle have a wife?”

“Yes,” Gia says with a slow nod. “I met her twice from what I can remember. She never left the house much and only accompanied my uncle when it was absolutely required. She was quiet, and I think Giovanni beat her constantly because she was always bruised, or her lip was split. She died not long after Emilio was born, I think.”

“So you might not know if she was pregnant or anything?” Sofia asks.

Gia shakes her head. “When she was there, I was banished, but I usually stood outside the room listening so I could hear if they talked about me, or maybe my mother. And whenever I saw her, she was wearing tight clothes so unless she was really newly pregnant, then I wouldn’t say she ever was when I saw her.”

“If I was snuck out, I feel like your aunt might have been able to manage it too, if she went to your mother for help,” I muse. “I almost hope we can’t find them and that no one else can either. Let them have their lives, if they do exist.”

Gia nods. “Yeah, I know what you mean. But that’s another thing you’ll figure out quickly. If they want to find someone, they will stop at nothing to do it. And our family is crazy enough to make something up to get what they want.”

“That’s not an us problem,” Sofia cautions. “Leave all that at the door and let the guys handle it. There is no point in stressing over it. We focus on the present. And right now, that includes us figuring out where Sienna is going to sleep, and then training to make sure that we are prepared. Because as much as I say that we can rely on the men, you never leave it up to them one hundred percent. You should be able to handle yourself no matter what.”

“Amen.” I grin. “Which is exactly why we need to get started. If there is a war coming, I’m not going to leave anything to chance.”

Sofia grins. “Alright, then let’s go find you a room. We’ll meet up again in the morning. To make sure we have the space and time, we’re going to get up early. You going to be able to drag your ass away from your sexy husband?” Sofia teases Gia.

Gia flushes, but she grins. “Probably, but knowing him, he’ll try to follow me.”

“Just tell him you’re meeting up with me,” Sofia replies.

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