Page 27 of Sins of Bliss

When I open them once more, I see Papà and Guilio emerge from Papà’s office from over her shoulder.

My eyes meet my middle brother’s across the room.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” Guilio muses as he walks over. “I’d ask if you were healed enough to hug, but I can see Mamma doesn’t care if she re-injures you, so I won’t either.”

She lets me go so Guilio can pull me into a hug. As he does, he claps my shoulder affectionately. My brother's welcome is warm, but from behind him, Papà scowls.

Guilio releases me, and I step toward Papà with my hand extended, nervous for my reunion with my father, as though I’m a small child again.

His eyes drift down at my outstretched hand, and he shakes his head. “You take off without a word, cut contact with your entire family, get yourselfshot, tell us not to come while you’rein the hospital for more than a week, andthenyou have the audacity to extend your hand to me?”

My head drops with the shame of his words. I’m embarrassed by my actions, though I’ve had a reason for each one. I’m about to apologize—what else can I do—when he takes my hand and uses it to pull me toward him into a hug.

Papà is a little shorter than I am, about four inches. He rests his chin on my shoulder. “Don’t ever do that to your Mamma and me again. Do you understand me?” He exhales a shaky breath, and I can feel the stress in his shoulders through his hug.

“I won’t, Papà. I am here to stay.”

“Good,” he says, squeezing tightly again. Then he releases his grasp, stepping backward to look me in the eye. “Your injuries?”

“Healing. I feel much better. Not perfect, but getting there.”

“Excellent. I’ll take a look at them later.”

“Thank you.” I tip my head in a nod. “Where is Federico?”

“Out,” Mamma supplies. “He has a girlfriend now. They’re inseparable.”

“And Lorenzo?”

Guilio’s eyebrows shoot up when I use our cousin's full name.

“Right here,Sylvester.”

Whipping around, I see him standing in the doorway—he must have just arrived. His arms are crossed over his chest, which is accentuated by the white button-down shirt he wears. Clearly, my cousin has increased his gym routine since I’ve been gone, and I can’t help but wonder if it has something to do with the Paladinos.

When I left, he was in the thick of the feud, trying to gather information to take them down. He’d been jumped by a few of their men when he was caught snooping.

Seeing Enzo stirs anger within me that’s been lying dormant. He was the last person I saw before I left Manhattan—he’dsought me out to interrogate me about my relationship with Vinnie, and ultimately helped force my hand in leaving.

He was partially responsible for my abrupt departure—a piece of information I know he’s kept to himself. “Ciao, cugino. I was wondering if you’d be a part of my welcome committee when I returned home.”

“I’m surprised you have returned home,cousin.” His voice drips with sarcasm, thickening the tension in the air between us.

From my peripheral, I can see the change in the posture of the family who surround us. Curious eyes are watching, and Enzo knows it too if his smirk is any indication.

I hold my tongue, biting back the words I want to say to him. There will be another time and place.

Storing the anger away, I smile at him. “Sì, it was time. Although Ridgewood was humbling. You should visit there sometime.”

Sensing the disdain, Mamma steps forward and places her hand on my shoulder. “Son, are you hungry? The kitchen is a mess from dinner preparations, but if you are hungry now, I can create a lovely brunch. How does that sound?”

”It sounds great, Mamma, grazie.” I toss another look at my cousin, my eyes narrowing as I follow Mamma’s lead.

Enzo’s annoyed scoff echoes through my parents' foyer.

As I walk, my phone vibrates and I slide it from my pocket, seeing Sully’s name and message.

Sully

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