Page 75 of Sins of the Son

“So what happens now?” she asked.

I puffed out my cheeks as I let out a frustrated sigh. “The fuck if I know. Cesare doesn’t even want to discuss it. He seems intent on murdering the men responsible.” I rolled onto my stomach and looked at her. “You don’t think he was serious, do you? I mean, I know the Cavalieris have a mafia-like reputation in Italy… but that’s all talk, right? It’s not like Cesare would actually go out and murder someone.”

Amara rolled onto her stomach as well and leaned up on her forearms. “Do you want the truth or a beautiful lie?”

My eyes widened. “Fuck.”

“I’ve been thinking about what you said, about my stepfather and stepbrother just disappearing.”

“I meant what I said. Your pieces of shit stepfather and stepbrother deserved whatever they got… but the guys that attacked me back at school?”

“Stop that.”

“What?”

“You know what. Downplaying the trauma. I know you’re embarrassed. It’s why it took you so long to tell me what happened. I know you hate how it affected you and still affects you with the night terrors and all. I know the lack of control drives you crazy, but just stop. Because if the next words out of your mouth are, 'it was just a bloody nose,' I’ll scream.”

“Yeah, but….”

“It wasn’t just a fucking bloody nose, Milana. I may not agree with whatever the men have planned, but between the two of us, let’s agree on one thing… it wasn’t just a fucking bloody nose.”

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. I nodded. “Okay.”

Amara sat up and smiled. “Damn, how did I do? Usually it’s you giving me the boss bitch speech.”

I sat up next to her and leaned against the headboard. “Not bad for your first time. Now that we have that settled, we really should find out what they have planned.”

Amara looked at the closed bedroom door and then back at me. “You know we are literally the very last people on the face of the earth they are going to tell.” She held up her hands and curled her fingers into air quotes. “For our own protection.”

I slid off the bed. “Then I guess we’ll just have to find out for ourselves.” I walked over to her closet. “Where do you keep your black yoga pants and T-shirts?”

Moments later, we were creeping down the back servants' staircase toward Barone’s study, where he and Cesare were drinking and talking.

CHAPTER 26

CESARE

I followed my father into his study and sank into an oxblood leather chair by the fire as he moved to the sideboard to pour us a drink.

Rosa entered with a basket of first aid supplies. She shook her head when she saw my hand. Pulling up an upholstered stool next to the chair, she placed my hand on her lap. "Come hai potuto farlo alla tua bellissima mano? Che vergogna! Una violenza cos! Hai fortuna che non l'hai rotta. Che ragazzo sciocco. Proprio come tuo padre. Che temperamento!"

She rummaged in her basket and pulled out a familiar brown glass jar. Unscrewing the cap, the nostalgic scent of yarrow, basil, and olive oil she released mixed with the burning scent of charred embers coming from the fire. She scooped a generous amount onto her fingertips and smeared it onto my torn and cut knuckles.

I hissed.

She looked up and scowled. “Te lo sei meritato. Un uomo adulto che colpisce i muri. Dovresti vergognarti di te stesso. Quel dolore è come la coda del diavolo che ti flagella la pelle. Dirò una novena extra per te alla Messa di questa domenica.”

My father tried to hide his smile behind his glass as he raised it to his lips.

He failed.

Rosa's sharp eyes caught him. “And don’t you stand there smirking, Don Cavalieri. You are no better. Don’t think I don’t know about all the devilish things you have been doing to that poor innocent girl up there in your bedchamber," she admonished as she wagged her finger at him.

I was taking a sip of Scotch when she blurted out that gem. The liquid went down the wrong pipe. I choked as I tried to regain my composure. Lord, help us all. I certainly hoped our sweet, matronly Rosa didn’t know all the details of what Papà got up to in his bedroom.

Unable to resist, I gave Rosa a wink as she wrapped my hand in gauze. “If that were true, dear Rosa, I don’t think a few extra novenas will cut it.”

There were only two women on earth who could scold my Papà like he was an errant schoolboy and get away with it, my Aunt Gabriella and Rosa, who had been with us since before I was born.

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