Page 12 of Mafia and Protector

“He might be good to you, Jess. At least you will still be near Mother and Jake.” After a pause, she carried on. “I wish I could be near you too. Jess, I miss you so much. I think about you and Jake every day.”

I had tried so hard to keep the tears away over the last few days; however, speaking to Juliana today was too much. I couldn’t say anything as my hot tears fell rapidly.

“Jess, don’t cry. I’m okay, really. And you will be too, I know it. I wish I could be there on your wedding day.”

“I wish that too.” I couldn’t say any more than that through my tears.

“Jess, is something else wrong?”

What could I tell her? She had enough of her own problems.

“Jess?”

“You can’t help me. Nobody can. What’s done is done.”

“Jess, if you really don’t want to marry Rafael, perhaps there is a way out of it.”

I gave a humorless laugh. “As if Father or Emanuel Santino would let me off the hook. Anyway, the engagement contract has been signed, so it’s all settled and there’s no way out for me.”

There was a pause from Juliana, and I heard someone murmur something to Juliana. “I’m so sorry, Jess, but I have to go now,” she said quickly. “I’ll try to call again soon. Take care of yourself, Jess.”

“Happy Birthday, Juliana,” I whispered.

“I love you, Jess.”

“I love you too, Juliana.”

As I hung up the call, I took some deep breaths and tried to stop the tears.

Today was a good day—I got to talk to my sister. Anything beyond that I wouldn’t think about—if I didn’t think about those other things, then I didn’t cry.

***

A few days later, all hell broke loose.

I was asleep in bed when I heard something against my window. I got up to take a look and to my utter shock, found Juliana outside.

“Juliana, what are you doing here?” I said in a loud whisper. “Does Father know that you’re here?”

“No. No one can know but you. Come down to the garden. I’ll meet you by the big oak tree and I’ll explain everything. Bring Jake with you.”

I threw on my robe and sneakers and dashed downstairs. As soon as I reached the garden, I flew into her arms and started sobbing.

“I had to come and see you, Jess.”

“Are you okay, Juliana? What did they do to you? I thought I would never see you again.”

Juliana pulled back and searched my eyes. “It’s you that I’m worried about. What’s going on, Jess?”

I tried to avoid her gaze. “There’s nothing wrong.”

“Jess, I know you too well.” Her voice was gentle. “Please let me help.”

“It’s just wedding nerves. You know how it is—you were nervous yourself before your wedding day.”

“Is it really just nerves about the wedding? I know it’s something more than that. Please tell me, please let me help you, Jess.”

“There’s nothing else, Juliana. It’s been a lot lately. I lost you and there’s been so much tension at home after your kidnapping, then the engagement suddenly happening and before I knew it, I was signing the engagement contract.”

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