Page 74 of Vow of Silence

“Did they tell you what you need to know?” He rests his arm on the chair, propping his head on bent fingers. “Dion told us you took Nastasya with you.”

My heart jumps. Another nod.I did.I lift my forefinger and thumb half an inch apart.

“Hopefully, the little they did share is enough to determine who’s responsible for this.” My father exchanges a look with Mama. “We have our enemies, but I can’t understand what advantage pinning this murder on us brings them.” He tosses his hands, straightening in the seat. “Perhaps it starts a war. Perhaps it doesn’t. Either option gains little for anyone other than Arseni.”

Mama frowns, rolling her jaw side to side.

“He’s mad as a hatter,” Papa concedes. “But he’s not that crazy.”

I nod to agree. He’s unhinged, sure, but both Nastasya and I know who’s to blame. And it’s not Arseni. I swallow hard, weighing the pros and cons of telling Papa here and now that his brother is the one who paid for the hit, yet rational thinking wins the day as always. Like I told Stas, I need hard evidence. The kind of betrayal I accuse my uncle of warrants exile or death; I need to be sure beyond all reasonable doubt.

I need to know he won’t weasel his way out of another damning situation.

“On a much better topic,” Mama says with a thin smile, “I secured the deposit on the venue today.” She interlaces her fingers as she brings her hands together. The click of her rings triggers a thought. “You can let your lovely fiancée know she’ll have her beautiful ballroom.”

My shoulders sag a little with relief. Finally, something good to tell Stas.

“Any progress with where you’ll live?” Papa asks.

I shake my head. I never thought to ask her today if she had any preference. If I had my way, we’d run to the ends of the earth before we set down roots just to get the fuck out of all this bullshit. Although, I’d never be able to stay away long. As much as the politics of who we are drives me insane, I love my parents. I couldn’t keep away, especially as they get older.

“What’s the matter?” Mama leans forward in her seat, beckoning me closer.

I cross the room to where the architects of my life sit in matching wingbacks on either side of a simple table. My muscles protest as I lower myself to the floor, yet I endure the ache of today’s injuries to kneel at my mother’s feet. She deserves the respect.

Her cool touch caresses my face before settling atop my shoulders. “You look troubled.”

Papa leans forward, a frown tugging his brow while he waits for my answer.

I pull the fucking phone out for the thousandth time today and type out my question.

Do you ever wish I’d learned sign language?

“That was always your choice,” Mama assures me. “It may have taken longer than it otherwise would, but I think we learned to understand you just fine.”

“It’s a weakness,” Papa states simply. “A way for your opponents to understand you without your knowledge. A person could see your sign from across the room when they wouldn’t have heard a whispered word.”

I nod. His opinion is one that I share.

“Is it a problem for Nastasya?” Mama asks.

I shake my head.

“Then don’t cause yourself suffering by thinking any further about it. If you choose to learn so that you two may converse privately, we’ll support your choice.” She leans forward and places a kiss on my head. “We always will.”

My father’s ire startles me from the tender moment with Mama. “I wish I’d found the goddamn fucker responsible for your suffering, son.” His fist tightens on the arm of the chair until his knuckles turn white. “Ignazio and Vinny did their best, but I’m sure more could have been done to track the culprit down.”

My mouth flattens into a firm line, and I sigh. There’snothingthey could have done differently. Not when the culprit led everyone on a wild goose chase from the head of theoffensive. What chance did Vinny have when the man at his side sabotaged every effort he made?

It was my choice to stay quiet in those initial months. My fault the crime remains unpunished.

I rise to my feet and run both palms over the top of my head, leaving my arms slung wide while I cup my nape. My parents have no idea of the evil that walks their halls, and I won’t tell them. Until Uncle Naz shows any malice toward them, until I have evidence of his betrayal toward the family, this conflict is his and mine alone. Nobody else.

“Go take a long shower,” Mama suggests. “You’ll feel better.”

I lift my right hand to my left shoulder and pat it twice.When I’m home.

“I need you back here tomorrow,” Papa states. “We need to make the details of Nastasya’s rights as one of our family official. Petey will be here to draft the documents, and we’ll have them sighted before the ceremony.”

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