Page 36 of Captured Innocence

I tried to stay away from politics, but I wasn’t immune to them. I couldn’t be. With my hacking skills, I’d taken a few interesting jobs that paid decently and had allowed me an inside look at various crime syndicates. The various Cosa Nostra branches were not well liked throughout the world.

“We won’t need to agree for Papa to try and force us into a contract.” I watched her face provide the truth. The way of the old regime. I didn’t care what I had to do, that wasn’t going to happen to me.

Lucia lifted her eyebrows. “We might not have a choice, but I plan on ensuring that you can at least finish college. Perhaps by then things will be different.”

“Wait a minute. What did you do?”

“I’d done nothing yet, sweet sister, but I refuse to allow you to be hurt by this insanity. I am going to volunteer to be wed to whoever our father has in mind.”

My thoughts drifted to Mattia. “What if he’s a member of the DeLuca family?”

She immediately burst into laughter. “That’s not going to happen. Not a chance in hell.”

“What if there is?”

Lucia’s mouth twisted. “The two sons are horrible. That I won’t agree to.”

“Mattia isn’t.” The two words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

“What are you talking about? Don’t you dare think either Mattia or Tommaso are decent men. You’re far too innocent.”

“I’m not innocent, Lucia. And I can take care of myself.”

“Maybe you can, baby sister. Get dressed. It is your party whether Papa thinks so or not. There are presents and a cake. Even champagne.”

I’d never seen her so sad in my life. “You know something else that you don’t want to tell me.”

She hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip. “Members of the Five Families are here.”

“That’s why Mattia arrived.”

“Mattia? Did something happen between the two of you?”

I wasn’t very good at keeping my foot out of my mouth at times. “What do you mean by something?” A warm flush had already started creeping up my neck. I hadn’t planned on telling her anything. I’d known she’d hated the entire family, not just the patriarch, but she’d never told me exactly why.

“How the hell do you know him?” she demanded, which was also out of character.

“How could I not know him? He travels to Paris from time to time. He’s all over the news in Italy. You know, an eligible bachelor and all?” When a flash of anger crossed her face, I was shocked.

“Stay away from him,” she insisted. “He’s bad news, Sophia. I mean it. That entire family is horrible.”

While she’d rarely talked about what had happened so long ago when I was very young, I’d heard enough about a horrific fire at the old barn on my father’s estate to know she’d lost someone she cared about. A boy she’d once considered her knight in shining armor. I’d put the pieces together without her having to tell me. That’s why she’d never found anyone special. “Is this about D’Artagnan? Is this about the fire?”

Exhaling, Lucia moved toward the window. “I thought you’d forgotten.”

“Of course not. D’Artagnan meant the world to you.”

“He did. His death was… neither he nor his family deserved to die. It was cruel and tragic. Horrible.” She remained quiet for a few seconds. “Mattia was there. That night.”

“What do you mean he was there?” I tensed, my pulse instantly quickening.

“I tried to get help for Dar’s family, but no one would help me. But I saw several soldiers who worked for Franco DeLuca. They tried to hide from me, but I know what I saw. He was there.”

“That’s not possible. Why kill D’Artagnan and his family?”

“I don’t know why. Papa certainly has never said anything about what happened. All I knew is that I wasn’t going to allow them to die. I was determined to help. When I went back to the barn, I watched someone blocking the exit.”

“Who?” I already knew the answer, at least one that she wanted me to believe. I was sick inside, confused and angry.

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