Page 35 of Captured Innocence

“Of course I did. Try it on. You’ve changed in a year. I hope it fits.”

I grabbed the bag, barely able to contain my excitement. Then I looked at myself in the mirror. I was no longer a skinny minny as my friends used to call me. I’d become a woman, which is why Mattia had… A warm flush crept up on my cheeks. I had to shut down my emotions, at least for tonight. “For the better, I hope.”

“You’re beautiful, sis. You should know that by now.”

“Not like you.”

Lucia rolled her eyes. “You are so full of it. Tell me what you think about it. The moment I saw it in the store’s window, I ran in and bought it.”

Grinning, I opened the bag and exhaled. The gorgeous dress was perfect for the evening. “It’s magnificent.” The deep purple was elegant, regal in color. As I held it up, a tiny shiver coursed down my spine. If only I were getting ready for a date with Mattia.

“I thought it would highlight those gorgeous lavender eyes of yours.” She sat down on the edge of the bed, running her fingers through her long hair. She’d been the gorgeous princess her entire life where up until now I’d felt like the ugly duckling. “Go. Try it on. We don’t have much time.”

“I know. I can’t wait until this party is over.”

Before I opted to skip off to the bathroom, I noticed an odd look on her face. Lucia didn’t hide her emotions well. She never had. She’d tried so hard to keep the horrors away, even when we were young, taking me to a safe place and singing to me when my father would go off the deep end, beating Enzo or our mother. But I’d seen the terror in her eyes. She was our big sister, but her heart had broken into thousands of pieces when she’d been barely a teenager.

For as long as I could remember, I’d seen sadness tainting her lovely eyes, her love of someone from a long time ago haunting her even today. I wasn’t entirely certain I wanted to feel so strongly about someone if losing them meant having my soul crushed. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Maybe just tired from the flight. I had to cancel some meetings, Papa insisting I get here in time for the party. I barely had time to make it.”

“You too, huh?” I sat on the bed beside her.

“You know how Papa is.”

We both did. Saying no would only result in something horrible happening.

“Mama looks good today. She was in the garden when I arrived.” Lucia’s eyes lit up briefly. She’d also felt guilty that she hadn’t been able to protect our mother, which was ridiculous.

The subject was one we rarely talked about. Our father’s abuse had broken her heart.

“She barely remembers who I am any longer.” I also felt guilty for staying away, but even my mother had begged me to do so just like she had with Lucia. How many families could say the same thing? “Tonight has nothing to do with my birthday. Does it?”

She shook her head, trying to keep a smile on her face. “You’ve certainly grown up since being forced to live in Paris.”

“I don’t mind being there any longer. Sure, I was terrified at first, but I’ve made friends. Besides, you did.”

“That’s true, but I wasn’t happy being away from home, even as much as I hated it here.”

“Are you happy now?”

Another distraught look crossed her face. “As happy as I can be. I love New York, the vibrancy of the city and the peace I have. Do you enjoy college?”

I could tell she was certain the new life she’d built would soon be ripped away.

“I do. It’s much better than boarding school. Besides, there’s very little reason to return to Italy now that you’re not here and Mama is lost in her own world. Papa won’t let me get her any real help anyway. This just isn’t home here any longer.”

“I understand. New York is my home now. But I did want to see you even if Father insisted I arrive promptly. Trying to get you to New York was like pulling teeth.”

We laughed again but there was a strange tension between us that had never been here before.

“Why did Papa insist you come, Lucia? Do you not know or you just don’t want to tell me?”

She took a deep breath, looking away.

“I’m not a child any longer, Lucia. Let me guess. Papa wants to marry us both off. Doesn’t he? The highest bidder so he can replenish his wealth and grab another portion of power and influence.”

The smile curling on her face brought one to mine. “You are far too smart for your own good. Yes, that’s what I’m assuming is happening. The power of the Five Families is diminishing. At least that’s what I hear in the US.”

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