Page 2 of Innocent Union
My blood boils. “That is it!” I stand up and lunge over the table, trying to grab her, but she jumps back just out of my reach.
“Stop it!” Mom shouts. “Mia, you know better than to act this way.”
I smooth my hand down my shirt. “Lucia just knows how to get under my skin.”
“I know. But you need to be better. You’re twenty. Ready to be married. Don’t act like a child, please.”
I sigh and grumble under my breath.
Mom turns to Lucia. “And you. You need to stop harassing your sister. You were always so sweet, Lucia. Where has this attitude come from?”
Lucia shrugs, crossing her arms.
“I can tell you,” I say. “Puberty. She’s becoming a teenager, and it’s making her insufferable.”
“You weren’t exactly the sweetest of teenagers yourself,” Mom remarks.
“I didn’t say mean things to my sisters. I admired them all. Why do you hate me so much, Lucia?”
“I don’t hate you,” Lucia says.
“Really? Because it sure seems like you do.”
Mom stands up and slams her hands down onto the table. “Enough. Just … enough. Lucia, go to your room.”
Lucia’s jaw drops. “Why do I have to?”
“Because you’re still a child in this household,” Mom replies. “And Mia needs to get ready for the suitors visiting today. I don’t need you ruining it for her.”
Lucia glares at me before storming out of the room.
“That girl needs to check her attitude,” I mutter.
It’s my mom’s turn to shoot me a look. “Mia, I need you on your best behavior today. It was hard enough finding men who would be interested in marrying you after what happened with Cecilia, but Antonio and I worked hard, and we have a few who are interested. So, please, please, please be good today.”
My normal instinct is to say no. But I’m not going to squander my chances at a good marriage match. That’s the only thing a Mafia girl is good for—a marriage alliance.
If I marry well, then I’ll make my entire family proud. Emilia, Gemma, and Francesca all did their duty and married well, providing our family with more strength and power. Antonio did the same with Nina. Cecilia was the only exception. Marrying Theo, our family’s bodyguard, didn’t offer our family any more power or prestige. She defied the rules. A year ago, I supported her because I wasn’t thinking about my future.
But now I’m faced with my future today, and it’s looking less than good because of what she did. It’s not fair she gets to go off with her hunky, bodyguard husband, leaving me with the scraps. I just know the men my mom and Antonio scraped together probably aren’t the most desirable. I know it. They know it.
Cecilia isn’t here, though, for me to complain to her about her actions. She’s off with Theo, happy and in love.
“Mia, go change,” Mom says, drawing me out of my mind. “You need to look presentable and”—she squinted at me—“dirty PJs don’t cut it.”
I look down at my rumpled shirt and sweatpants. “They’re not dirty, Mom.”
She waves a hand, motioning for me to leave. To my mom, a wrinkle out of place is considered dirty.
I head into my room, purposefully ignoring Lucia’s bedroom. I am not in the mood to get into another altercation with my baby sister.
I pick out my best day dress—it’s purple with a flared skirt and short sleeves. I try to do something with my hair, but it’s too thin and never holds a curl, so I just leave it down and hope for the best.
When I come back downstairs, I find Luca gone (probably with Lucia plotting ways to embarrass me) and my mom alone in the kitchen.
She looks me over and nods. “A good dress choice. But, Mia, you should really let me buy you more green dresses. Green is your color.”
“No, it’s not, Mom. I hate green. I’ve told you this before.”
