Page 22 of The Fates We Tame
“You think the Mafia has the edge over the Irish?” the one with shorter hair asks.
The one with longer hair flexes the fingers on his right hand, then forms a fist before repeating the motion. “Last night would say so. Cillian isn’t going to go down without a fight though. It’s rare for the five families to come together like this.”
I feel a little sick at the thought. Is my father and the Sicilian Cosa Nostra part of this? I wonder if knowing the truth would make me more or less fearful than I am right now.
“Hey,” says a pretty woman with pale skin and kind eyes. “Did you need something from in here?”
I shake my head. “No. It’s fine. I just wanted to wish Theo happy birthday, but I can do it later.”
“Oh, come in. We brought him cake. I’m Rae.”
My hip and leg ache, and the movement and warmth of the pool help. “I should go get on with my swim. It’s?—”
“King,” she says to the devilishly handsome, if a tad sinister, man standing next to her. “Tell Switch to get over here.”
King nails me with brilliant blue eyes that contrast to his tan skin, then walks away.
“Honestly, it’s better if I?—”
She grabs my arm before I finish. “Red velvet or chocolate sponge with vanilla cream?”
It’s ten in the morning, and I can already see there are at least five bottles of alcohol open. But there are bikes outside. I hope they aren’t planning on driving anywhere soon.
Or maybe they’re planning on staying here all day. I can’t imagine what Dawn would say about that.
Theo appears before me, and he’s wearing a leather vest like the others that saysSwitchon it. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is, but he looks uncomfortable.
“You shouldn’t be in here, Sparrow.”
I feel myself shrink inside. I know I shouldn’t be. “I’m sorry. I just…well…happy birthday.”
“Sparrow, huh?” The man next to us wears a name badge that saysClutch. “You been through the wars too, kid?” he asks.
“Not so much a war as a duel between me and my car versus a tree. The tree won.”
Clutch laughs at that. “I like you,” he says.
“I very much prefer that to the alternative.” I turn to look at Theo. “I’m sorry for showing up uninvited. It was rude.”
“It’s okay,” Rae says. “We brought plenty of food. Stay and have some. Theo told us how strict they are about nutrition. One day of treats won’t hurt.”
I want to stay with my whole heart. I want to talk with people who aren’t my family. It’s the closest I’ve ever been to a party that I can remember. There’s a vibration to the energy.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a collection of such goddamn perfect women either. They’re all different shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common.
They’re all pretty.
Someone jostles me from behind. Two bikers.
It’s an accident, but I can’t take that much weight on my left side, and I feel my leg collapse as I crumple to the floor. Fear spirals through me, the move happening in slow motion. Flailing out my hands, I reach for something to brace my fall. Theo rushes forward to try and grab me. A slow shout from Rae.
The absolute silence when I hit the corner of a side table before falling to the ground with an ungainly thud and a cry of pain.
Tears sting my eyes.
There’s a muttered curse.
I just want to die. Or at least crawl away and hide under a rock or something.
