Page 108 of Doll's Eye

But it does give me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside.

Chapter fifty-five

Massimo

On our third day here, we’re all gathered in the pool area and patio. Some are in the pool, including my gorgeous wife, and some are lounging around, enjoying the beautiful weather and scenery.

I’ve never seen my siblings or my mother so happy and blithe. It has been ingrained from birth to believe in the supremacy of blood ties, but why? Witnessing Alessia's family dynamic revealed a deeper truth. Authentic kinship is built on connections that run deeper than genetics. It's an intangible connection, a profound bond.

As soon as Vita joined us, late as usual, she’s been edgy and almost acting paranoid. Nonstop looking at her phone and all around, sometimes gazing up at the sky as if she’s waiting for something to happen.

“Massimo,” Vita calls my attention. “I was hoping I could have a word with you and the family.”

“Now?”

“Yes.” She tries giving me a smile, but it’s forced. “You, Sarita, Ezzo, and Mamma. It’s important.”

I’m immediately suspicious. “Why now?”

She frowns, but she’s more thrown off than offended. “Um, because it’s just urgent. I have something I need to tell you guys right now. Can we please go inside to discuss it?” she rushes out and looks around again. “It’ll only be a minute.”

I scrutinize her intently, sensing an ulterior motive. Deciphering her hidden agenda becomes my pressing priority. “Massimo! Chopper coming in!” one of my guys shouts.

My gaze snaps sharply back to Vita as she gawks at me with tide eyes. There’s no time for questioning as I hear the chopper in the distance.

Jumping to my feet I shout for everyone to go inside and take cover as I run towards Alessia. She’s already swimming towards the edge of the pool and I bend down to yank her up and out as soon as I can reach her. I yell at her to get inside and help Sarita and my mother out as well, pushing them towards the house.

The chopper is in sight as I run behind them towards the house. Bullets rain down, hitting the pool water and the patio stone. I bolt inside through the doors, and we’re all diving to take cover.

Spotting Alessia, I run towards her on instinct as the bullets come flying in through the estate shattering everything left and right. Alessia dives around a corner behind a brick wall and I follow her to wrap myself around her. She clutches my shirt as we brace ourselves and wait for the firing to stop.

Eventually, they do, and the sound of the chopper fades away. I cup Alessia’s face in my hands, and her head snaps up. I start quickly inspecting her to make sure she isn’t hurt, and I find her doing the same to me.

Once I see that she’s unharmed, my head begins turning in the direction of everyone else, and so far, no one is hurt.

My search lands on Vita, huddled against the wall in a quivering ball with an ashen expression. She looks haunted as if she’s just seen a ghost.

Yesterday…

I watch as Alessia loops arms with Sarita on one side and Ezzo on the other to walk around the estate. A smile stretches across my mouth seeing her happy like this. She pivots her head to smile back at me and send me a kiss.

“You’re kind of pathetic with her, you know,” Vita murmurs with a petulant tone.

“And you need to grow up sometime, Vita.” She and I stop to face each other. “We all had shitty parents. The same shitty parents. No one else is crying out desperately for attention. We’re doing what we can to make up for the past. Either get on board with it or hang back.” I go to walk away then stop again. “And your blatant disdain for my wife needs to end today. We would have let you rot in California if it weren't for her.” I turn and walk away from her, so tired of her shit.

It was our father who tried to kill Alessia and her family, yet she’s forgiving of that. Vita is hanging onto a grudge for our father, and she needs to let that shit go, or she’s out. If it’s between my sister and Alessia, it’ll be Alessia. No question about that.

I kiss Alessia on the forehead and go to step away, but she stops me. Pity clouds her eyes, confirming her grasp of the situation. My wife’s perceptiveness so often goes overlooked. She reluctantly relinquishes her grip, freeing me to manage the crisis.

Standing over Vita, it pains me for the little girls she once was and still is deep down. As someone fifteen years her senior, I should have taken on a more paternal role. None of us got the parents we needed, but Vita needed that support, and no oneprovided her with it. I take full responsibility of that failure, and now I must bear the repercussions of it.

Her eyes come up to meet mine with tears already streaking her face. “I just—I—I’m sorry, Massimo.” It’s her confession. I was hoping that in some other way, it wasn’t her. That her paranoia was really mine.

“The attack with the Russians at the Bonetti’s.” It’s always been a mystery who really helped place a rat inside.

“I wantedPápaback.” She cries harder. “They were just supposed to free him. No one was supposed to get hurt.” Tears and snot are now both running down her face.

“Oh,bambina,” Mother coos, and she goes to comfort her, but I block her with an arm.

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