Page 70 of The Freedom in Captivity

“You will be getting a new stepmother,” Dad announces in the most offhanded way at dinner one night.

That’s the second surprising action he’s taken today. The first being the fact he joined Yasmine and me for dinner, except now I see why. It was to divulge this news.

“What?” Yasmine practically squeaks, dropping the steak knife in her hand.

“What?” I echo. “Is this why you’ve been gone most nights lately?”

Dad throws me a scathing look. “Yes. Don’t worry, she’s not replacing your mother. I don’t love her. But she’ll be good for the household. Comes with two daughters too, both around your ages.”

Two new sisters is secondary to the importance behind his words. He doesn’t love a woman he’s marrying, so why is he going forward with it? Why now, only months after they met?

That was before I knew any of the facts.

In my peripheral vision, I catch Nico sharing glances with his younger brother through my speech, and if I’m causing the underboss to falter, I’ve won.

Making his next question expectant: “What do you want?”

“When you go for him, keep her out of it.Iwas my father’s soldier, not her. She’s innocent. I want her safe.”

Nico’s jaw ticks again, but this time, it’s less subtle. He peeks back to his father, then toward Della, the debate swirling through the room, keeping me on edge. I’m ready to fight his denial if I need to.

Yasmine has nothing to do with our father’s actions.The day Dad said we needed to escape Montreal and head across the country, Yasmine was more concerned about messing up the progress on her Bachelor’s degree than anything further. She was confused and I let her be right up until my final hug with her when I begged the universe that watching them drive off wouldn’t be the final time seeing her.

“Fucking sake,” Nico grumbles. “This agreement feels awfully familiar. Deal.”

After a very long stare, in which I ensure he doesn’t back out of the agreement he’s just made, I accept it with a tip of my head.

It’s in that second, Ifeelevery hit again.

Every curse.

“Fuck, Rozelyn, you haveno ideathe pressure.” The slap that followed that one.

The time he slammed my hand onto his desk. I think he meant to hit it himself and forgot he was gripping me. No matter, since the agony was enough to make me shut down again.

I’ve gotten very good at shutting down. Ignoring the physical aches as they got buried beneath the emotional pain.

This is for you, Dad. For everything you’ve done. All the evil. All the—

A final breath fills my lungs.

“White Rock, British Columbia.”

I pause, letting it sink in. Everyone seems to share a look. Nico continues to glance to his brother, a silent conversation occurring between them until he nods once quickly, his gaze on the girl by Rafael’s side.

I’m sure the documents they’ve dredged up on the Haynes point to B.C., but they have no idea what’s really there.

Stefano De Falco, Boss of the opposing Montreal mob family—false.

Me, mafia daughter—only fifty percent on Mom’s side.

We were both a persona Dad adopted. A guise. A character he played while working toward the larger picture

“There’s an institution there,” I continue when it seems like they’re prepared for more. “An academy. You guys are the mafia. You might rule the crime, the underground dark spots of this place, but they control thecountry. They’re inside every level of government. They manipulate everything you could ever imagine. They’re huge.”

There. I said it. It’s out.

My breath remains steady and calm, opposite of the harshness I was preparing for as I officially betray Dad.

---