Page 70 of Isle of Pain

“I haven’t called them yet. It’s up to you. As much as Petrov is bad for business and his organisation needs to be dismantled, this is personal for you.” He turns his whiskey eyes to mine. Damn, he’s intense. “Both of you.”

Before we can continue, a baby cries in the distance and Lana sits up straighter, her brow furrowing. We all turn to the noise, but Nico’s already leaving the room like his ass is on fire.

“What’s Ember doing here?” Lana asks Giulia, an edge to her voice that would breed fear in the heart of grown men. I know her too well. That’s her threatening voice. It’s cold and calculating. Her eyes have hardened and she follows after Nico.

The entire party moves towards the living room where a woman in a wheelchair holds a bottle out to Nico who takes it, before he sits down and feeds Ember. The woman’s dark bob and severe features contrasting with warm honey eyes is the portrait of Andrea. It isn’t hard to deduce who she is, then she introduces herself as Catalina Capaldi. I dip my head respectfully and shake her outstretched hand. “Ignore me,” she starts. “I’m sure you have more important business to tend to.”

“Giulia, what is this? Where is Marie?” Lana asks, more frantic this time.

“Marie isn’t here,” Nico says without looking up. His piercing eyes are set on Ember and he holds her tight to his chest.

“Where, Nico?” Lana repeats, her tone hostile but he ignores her, absorbed by his task.

The energy around the room swerves and changes to cold and unrecognisable. There’s nothing gentle and familial about the way Andrea stands next to his brother and mother, or how Giulia orients her body in front of them like she’s picking theirside. I let my eyes move from them to Lana and Lisandru. Her fists are clenched and he’s holding her shoulders, but not in support, almost as if holding her back, his jaw tight, teeth grinding.

“Babe—” Giulia starts but Lana holds up a hand. These two are even closer than Lana and I have been, tied by blood and something uniquely theirs. They have a kinship, a bond that can never break. Yet, it’s like I watch in slow motion the moment a fissure appears.

“Don’t fucking lie to me, G.”

“Marie’s in rehab.”

My eyes flick back to Giulia with surprise. I never thought that’s a sentence I would hear.

“What? Since when?” Lana explodes, and fear takes hold because this little family reunion could go nuclear very quickly if Giulia doesn’t answer properly.

“Since last night,” she answers and has the good sense of looking stricken. “She needed help.”

“And you didn’t think to call me, then?” Lana yells and it startles Ember who starts to cry in Nico’s arms. He rocks her softly, murmuring words I can’t hear and kissing her little head. “I need to take care of my niece, and you need to tell me where she is.” Lana stampedes toward them but both Andrea and Giulia step in front of her. Lana recoils and gasps.

The fissure cracks wider in the silent room, only punctuated by the infant’s cries.

“What are you doing? If Marie is in rehab, Ember needs to be with her family. And I need to go see my sister.”

“Sheiswith family, Lana,” Giulia says.

“You…”

“What? I don’t count? Marie came here after Lisa’s death and stayed, because she felt safe. How many times have you tried to call her?”

“Don’t you fucking dare say shit like this, G,” I tell her because I’ve had about enough of people trying to make Lana feel guilty for taking care of everyone around her and still coming short. That woman is holding an Empire by the strength of her teeth, a rock for her mother who cries herself to sleep every night grieving her dead daughter and a missing one, while doing everything in her power to make women feel safe everywhere and finding my husband so we can bring him back to us. All the while dealing with her own PTSD and nightmares. “Lana’s here for everyone and you fucking know it.”

“Oh yeah?” Giulia scoffs, then turns to Lana. “Did you know your sister was an alcoholic? Since she was sixteen?”

I shake my head. That can’t be right. Sweet Marie wouldn’t do that. She’s surrounded by family. Loved, cherished, protected. Lana’s mouth hangs agape. When my eyes collide with my brother’s, he shakes his head subtly and I take a step back, letting what needs to happen next be, without interfering.

“I know you’re dealing with a lot, babe. Trust me, I know. More than you realise.” Giulia’s voice wavers at that and I have to wonder what she’s been through to share that kind of kinship with Lana. She approaches and clasps Lana’s hands in hers. “But Marie wasn’t well. And she trusted me, Andrea and Nico to take care of Ember, whether you like it or not. I won’t let her down, now. I hope you understand.”

“No, I don’tfuckingunderstand,” Lana exclaims, her ire pouring out of her. “First, my own sister hides the fact that her twin has cancer and might die. And she fucking did! And now, she’s an alcoholic and let my niece in the care of…”

Giulia doesn’t let her finish and I’m grateful for it, because she’s not thinking straight. Pain will make you say shit you regret. I don’t want that pain on her.

“Shut up, Lana. Don’t finish that fucking sentence. We’re her family. Just because she isn’t my sister in blood doesn’t meanI love her any less. And Ember, she’s not yours. She’s Marie’s, who’s an adult and trusted us to care for her.”

Lana’s shoulders deflate. Her throat bobs, unshed tears brimming under her eyelashes, and her head shakes with disbelief. “I need to see her,” she says but it comes out uncertain. I hate to see her like that.

“She can’t have visitors for the first three weeks,” Catalina says, diplomatic and caring. “And, Lana. I don’t know you, so you’ll excuse me for saying this. I’m not sure if you should be her first visitor when she can receive people for the first time. She’s been through a lot.”

My friend simply nods, head bowed in defeat. “Can I ask whyyou?” I’m not sure if she’s asking Giulia but it’s Nico who answers.

---