Page 15 of Rise
“Antonio?”
“Yes, Mrs. Romano?” I turn my head to look at her from her spot in the doorway.
“Do your best—” she starts but shakes her head and stops herself abruptly.“No… don’t do your best. Do what you have to. If you care for thisfamiglia… if you care for my Natalia… find her before it’s too late.”
I push away the possibility that it might already be too late, the same way I’ve done every day since she’s been gone. Natalia is alive.
I still feel her.
“I do,” I say. “Natalia and this family mean everything to me.”
As the wordsfill the air, I realize how much the truth betray my feelings for her when I see Mrs. Romano’s face change. Her eyes narrow and she studies me as if scrutinizing my reply from where she stands. When the time comes, I'm going to have to answer for what I did before they took her. I won't be able to hide the fact that I'm in love with Natalia. When Mrs. Romano and the boss find out, they’re sure tobelieve I betrayed them too.
Just like the Pinuccis.
When that happens, I don't know how much farther I’ll fall.
But like the boss often says, that’s another problem for another day.
Today’s problem remains.
“I go now,” Nonna Romano says. Her softer, kinder, sweeter voice returns, giving me some hope.
Maybe things can go back to normal.
Maybe I’llprove my worth again.
Rebuilt my reputation.
Redeem myself.
As soon as I bring her granddaughter back.
“See you back at the house,” I answer.
“Yes. Later tonight. I have to call Mauro before evening mass.”
The muscles in my back tense up at that simple mention of the big boss’s name. Ever since Romano refused to follow one fucking order from that man,our operation, our entire existence, it was all sent into a tailspin of chaos. Nonna Romano continues to appeal to him and negotiate, but why? It hasn’t improved anything for us. Deep in my gut, I still feel there’s a chance he’s behind Natalia being taken. Nonna insists that Mauro is her flesh and blood, her cousin, and that he’d never use an innocent member of his extended family to enforce hisorders. But there’s too much of a coincidence. The Pinuccis on their own couldn’t pull off Natalia’s kidnapping. Someone is behind it. Someone big. Someone with far-reaching influence.
“What more does Mauro want from us?” I ask her, my voice low but clipped. “As if he hasn’t done enough.”
“Nothing,” Nonna Romano replies. “He doesn’t want anything. I have to keep talking to him. I’venever begged for much in my life, but this is different. My son can’t come out of hiding until Mauro agrees to forgive my son’s disobedience.”
“But didn’t your nephew follow through and complete the order Mauro gave? It should be over and done with.”
“No. It doesn’t matter. It doesn't change the fact that my son refused to follow orders. He is going to have to answer for his defiance.I begged and pleaded with Mauro. I offered many, many concessions to make up for what my son did but Mauro is a stubborn man. He is from the old world, where they believed in consequences. Mauro feels that he must make an example of my son. He says that if he doesn’t, it will happen again within the organization. Everything will eventually fall apart if there’s no order. I'm working very hardto change his mind. I won’t give up. Too much is at stake.”
“How are you so sure he’s not behind what happened to Natalia?” I’ve asked the question before, and Nonna Romano has shut me down each time.
“He’d never touch my granddaughter. Never. That’s not how he operates.”
“He threatened your son,” I remind her.
“That’s different.”
“Natalia would be strong leverageto force Romano’s hand.”
“Never. And if he lost all his decency and took Natalia, he wouldn’t keep it a secret. We’d all know it. And he wouldn’t stop there. No one would be safe. But that’s not how Mauro works. It’s not possible. It must be the Pinuccis. They’re the ones behind it. I’ve never trusted that greedy family. They have no honor. Money is everything to them. I told my son, buthe didn’t listen. I told him.” She looks off in the distance as if reminded of something. “Money can never buy loyalty. The Pinuccis have always put money ahead of family. Lorenzo’s father was the same way. Can’t trust those scum.”
