Page 83 of Weaponized

I missed Thanksgiving, and I also learned that I couldpossiblysalvage this semester if I do a ton of makeup work over Christmas break. Rowan is here a lot. I’ve woken up to him asleep on my couch a few times this week. My mother has stopped by twice, although I can tell she’s getting restless to travel again. I wish she would. Her hovering makes me crazy. My father, well, he’s been here exactly once.

Da came on the day I was released. He told me that my “break” was over, and he’d be in touch, because it would soon be time to deliver. He needed a ring, an engagement party, and some information about Victor Larozzi’s calendar as soon as possible. I didn’t respond. Couldn’t. Rowan told him that everything was under control.He bought me some time, but I don’t know how much.

I dreamt of Luca while I was in the hospital, before I gained consciousness. I thought he was with me. It made me feel safe. But, when I woke up, and ever since, I haven’t heard from him. I thought I was imagining he was ever at my bedside because I had some weird hallucinations when I first awoke. However, Maeve told me she met him at the hospital and that “he is very scary looking, but also very sad.” I don’t know what to make of that. I know he killed Gianni. I don’t know if he blames me for it.

I miss him. I did everything I thought would bring me closure, and I’m no closer to achieving it than the day I walked out his door. I wish I could go back in time and make different choices. Ones that would have included talking to Rowan and Luca much sooner.

I’m getting out of the shower, slowly, because everything I do these days feels exhausting. I was told that would be the case for a few weeks, but I had no idea how true it was. I see a missed call from Rowan, and then a text.

Rowan: Mom, Da, and I are on our way over. Da thought it was time to pay a visit.

My heart stutters and I begin moving more quickly. I dress, blow-dry my hair, and throw on makeup. I take a little time to fully cover the one bruise that hasn’t completely gone away. It’s a little yellow around my left cheekbone. My nose is also a bit crooked now, and I try to add some contour to fix that. I’m not entirely successful, but it’s better than before.

I’m just putting on a little perfume when the doorbell rings.Here we go.I pull open the door with a pasted smile on my face.

My mother is first inside with hugs and air kisses. “Darling. You looksomuch better.” My brother follows her carrying a box of what looks like groceries, and then finally, my father.

“Good morning, áilleacht beag.” He gives me a perfunctory kiss on the cheek.

I remain still. “Good morning, Da.”

My mother busies herself in my kitchen, unloading the things that Rowan carried in. She begins listing off the food and supplements she brought, telling me how I must eat to avoid getting too thin, asking when I can go back to working out, so I don’t lose my muscle tone. Eventually, my father has enough of her rambling and gets to the point of why he is here.

“Do you know,” he asks me with narrowed eyes, “that I have yet to be introduced to your boyfriend? How is it that you think he will want to marry you if he isn’t comfortable with your family?”

I meet his eyes. “I had planned to introduce him over winter break,” I say with confidence, as though I’m not lying through my teeth. My brother is in the kitchen, in my line of sight, and he stops what he is doing. He comes to join us.

“I see,” my father says. It’s obvious that he doesn’t believe me. “I’m told he was steadfast in the hospital. That’s a good thing. However, I worry that your”—he stops to look me over—“less than stellar appearance may be a drawback. We can’t have that, Gráinne.”

“Luca dotes on her, Da,” Rowan volunteers. “I don’t think her looks are an issue for him.In fact, he is just as starry-eyed as ever.”

My father spins to glare at my brother. “I thought you would be too busy handling the Seamus situation to worry about your sister’s assignment.”

This is news to me, but Rowan shrugs, nonchalant. “The Walsh brothers have him. He won’t be an issue for us anymore—at least, once Nolan Walsh gets some more information from him. And he will. We’ll know soon which wells he was poisoning. When I said it was taken care of, I meant it was taken care of.”

I try to school my features into a pleasant look, as if they are discussing a vacation or the holidays. My mother seems to be rewashing the same dish in my sink repeatedly and is absorbed in the task. I think she actuallylikedSeamus. God help me, I’m already referring to him in the past tense. My father ignores Rowan and returns his gaze to scrutinize me. “You need to do your job, Gráinne.”

“I think we should have Luca and his family over for the holidays. I’ll have Kathleen organize a dinner,” my mother says cheerfully as she moves into the room. I recognize her attempt to placate my father. I nod as if it’s a terrific idea, although my stomach feels like I swallowed a hive of bees.

“Why wait?” my brother asks, and I can’t hide my shock. What the hell is he doing? “If Luca’s not busy, he could stop by, meet you all. I don’t think the holiday timing is soon enough. He needs an earlier opportunity to ask for Gráinne’s hand.”

“I’ve already met him,” my mother says proudly, as though she is important as a result. “He’s a very large young man.Doesn’t say much. Polite enough, I suppose. He—”

“That’s enough, Astrid,” my father chastises her, although I’m not sure what for. She silences immediately. “I like your idea, Rowan. We’re already weeks behind plan. Give him a call, Gráinne.” I’m being instructed. I freeze.

“I can do it,” Rowan states calmly. “I think Gráinne may want to go freshen up in case he’s able to visit. We can’t have her looking like that.” I meet his eyes but I see nothing in them. This does not sound like him. At all.

“You heard your brother. Why are you still standing here?” my father snaps at me. I nod dumbly and turn to walk into my bedroom. I keep the door open so I can hear what’s going on. I can hear my father complaining about the need to get Larozzi’s calendar before “his building” sells. “It will be hard for them to sell a pile of rubble that they’re buried under.” I suck in a breath.

Then, sure enough, I hear my brother make a call, inform the person on the other end that my parents have decided to visit, and ask whoever he’s talking to if they can join us. It can’t really be Luca, can it? I’m waiting to hear Rowan say that Luca isn’t able to make it, when his next words nearly bring me to my knees.

“Turns out, Luca and his brother, Matteo, were about to head out to brunch with their father. He said they would all stop by.”

“Victor Larozzi? Hmmmm, that’s good, son. Very good. I need to ensure he sees us as family. No time like the present to get the ball rolling.” I swear to God, my father even sounds like an evil villain. I have no idea what my brother’s playing at. But, he knows as well as I do that Victor is perfectly aware of what our father did to his sons.I don’t know if he told Luca and Matteo, but I can only guess they are also aware.

I feel nauseous. If they really are showing up, it has to be Rowan’s way of putting them within striking distance. I’m not sure I can bear to see Luca look at me with contempt again. Yet, he sounded so calm when I was in the hospital, so loving. I’m not sure if that was real or a dream.

Gráinne

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