Page 26 of Mending Our Chance

I looked around the unkempt apartment, at the dirty table linens, the dusty end tables, the unwashed dishes piled in the sink, and then back at the sick woman who had collapsed into a chair instead of having the energy to fight me back. “Maybe the patriarch was evil, but maybe we are too,” I said softly.

“You will end up just like them: cold and dead inside.”

Thinking about the lively, genuine front my brothers had put on the other day at the sports bar we’d visited for a supper and chat, I knew that if I had a best friend in my court, it was possible that I could stay out of the darkness too. The twins had each other, but there was one man who was proving to be a capable and steadfast friend. “No. Marcus won’t let that happen.”

Too weak to glare me down on her feet, Gianna lashed out from her chair with blazing eyes, “You did not go to him.”

I lifted a brow. “Not only did I go to help him, but I also ended his catastrophe of a company and started it from scratch. He’s my business partner, Zia.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You’ve fallen for him.” Auntie Gi hung her head.

I started for her, about to embrace her and tell her it was different this time, but she bit out, “You couldn’t keep your legs closed then! Why would I expect you to keep your purse closed for him now, too?”

“How dare you!” I straightened, tossing a chair out of the way and considered throwing the table too. My hands clenched into fists at my sides as I frowned at her. “Marcus didn’t know he was hurting me the first time. I thought having sex with him would make him keep me around. But I never explained myself. So that is on me. This time will be different. I am going to talk to him and lay out exactly what my expectations are for a new relationship. Marcus won’t hurt me again. Last time I was stupid and didn’t listen when he said we had no future, but this time, I’m going to be smart.” I gulped a lung full of air before adding, “And I think you should talk to your brother. I know I will be making a call to him sooner rather than later.”

“Oh grow up, nipote. Did you ever stop your daydreams to consider he is the stupid one who will hurt you again.” Gianna’s bitter barb was partially self-directed, leaving me unsure of the ‘he’ she was referencing.

I had needled the dragon inside her, because these were things we never spoke of—our faults from the past. My Aunt Gianna might love bemoaning her brother’s piss poor treatment of her, but she never looked in the mirror at her actions and she was finding this discussion hard to stomach because I was not only making her look at her reflection, but I was bringing a kickass floor to ceiling mirror before both of us and making her take a good hard look.

“He won’t hurt me,” I whispered, thinking of the two men that my statement could possibly apply towards.

“Such a naïve, little—”

“The twins thought this business venture was a great idea, Zia! When I told them, they approved of Marcus!”

“Those brothers of yours are demons!” Gianna crossed herself. “Leave them be.”

Tired of hearing every single male in my life berated, I snapped, “My brothers aren’t that bad. Besides, it takes one to know one, strigga!” Gianna’s mouth fell to the floor at being called a witch and I pressed my advantage, “If you would give them a chance—”

“Never!”

“Well, I am!”

“You are stupid to trust men, puttana.”

Hurt ricocheted through me. I might have messed up with Marcus, but that did not make me a whore. With hurried steps, I turned to leave, but I couldn’t help calling over my shoulder, “I would have hoped you’d be proud of me, Zia. Guess that wasn’t what you wanted.”

---