Page 68 of Don't Let Go

“Paolo’s cousin came by, saying I was needed for a job. He flashed a gun at me and kept looking inside the house. He said if I didn’t come, he’d hurt the girls. I didn’t want Carmen or Lizzy in danger, so left with him. I know it was stupid. I know I’m lucky to—”

She hit the steering wheel with her palm. “You’re not just lucky. Do you have any idea what they were doing? You could’ve been killed or worse.”

I could’ve been sold.

Numbness took over my body. All my nerves were in overdrive.

“I’m sorry, Mamma. I didn’t mean to put myself at risk like that.” Tears rolled down my face. I felt like a little girl in trouble for breaking my mamma’s favorite vase, but this was much more serious than anything in my entire life.

“I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you. I barely kept myself together after your papà, and that was only for you kids. I can’t lose you, Aurora. I can’t lose my…” her voice broke. A single tear rolled down her cheek. I hadn’t seen her cry since my papà’s funeral.

I buried my fingers into my hair, pulling at the roots as I rocked back and forth in my seat. “I don’t know what to say.”

She took a deep breath. “Never do that again. Don’t open the front door for anyone, and always ask me first.” She reached over and squeezed my thigh. “I’ll always come to help you, fiore mio. I can’t be everywhere, though.”

I nodded. “I understand. Lesson learned.”

She patted my leg and put her hand back on the steering wheel. “I was on my way to clean up a hit when you texted so we have a pit stop before home.”

I sat up in my chair, trying to put on a brave face. “No problem. I could use the distraction.”

Thank God my mamma was able to save me, but she was right. I could’ve died. If Vincenzo would’ve walked a few more feet and saw me. If he dragged me back to the others, I might have never seen my family again. I was so ashamed of myself. Why didn’t I listen to my gut? Why did I allow myself to be pulled into a lie and be manipulated like that?

One thing for sure was it would take me a long time, if ever, to forgive myself, and now I was always going to question my decisions.

I also had no idea what to say to Tyler when I faced him. He'd have questions, and I couldn’t tell him the truth. I almost showed him my hand a few days ago, revealing the secret of my family being involved in the mob. That I needed to be saved from so many things, so many monsters, so many sins. What the hell do I tell him?

29

Tyler

When I got home after the game, Rory refused to eat dinner with the rest of us. She wouldn’t come down for anything.

I glanced up to where her room was while sitting at the table, pushing my food around with a fork. What the hell is going on? Sofia cleared her throat, drawing my attention. “Aurora has a stomach bug. She’ll be fine,” she said, before sipping her red wine.

A stomach bug and that crazy text for help didn’t go together. That was a square peg trying to fit into a round hole.

All I could do was nod and continue eating my spaghetti. Carmen and Lizzy seemed blissfully unaware of things, but Sofia, Franco, and Lorenzo kept exchanging looks as if they knew more than they were letting on.

I got that vibe a lot around here.

At night, I sat outside my window on the little ledge, hoping Rory would come out and join me like she had many times before.

She never did.

The next morning, I bumped into Rory on her way out of the bathroom. She smiled at me with that dazzling smile and sidestepped out of my way. “It’s all yours,” she said.

I took her hand, running my thumb gently over her knuckles. “Are you okay? What happened while I was at the game?”

Rory shrugged, her eyes darted behind her. “Nothing much. I needed a ride. Got into a bad spot.” She took her hand from me, clutching her makeup bag and hairbrush too tightly. “Do you want breakfast? I was thinking of making strawberry pancakes.”

What was with her being shifty and changing the subject? It was like she was in the CIA or witness protection.

“Yeah. I’d love some,” I said softly.

“Okay, cool. I’ll see you down there then.” She turned and disappeared into her room.

It was all normal talk and laughter at the breakfast table. Sofia, Franco, and Lorenzo were already gone for work. Lizzy teased Carmen about her new hair color. She had tried to dye it blonde last night but it came out more orange than anything else.

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