Page 64 of Mafia Virgin (The Kings of Italy)

Emma

The texts came in just as I finished catching up on my statistics classwork that afternoon.

GIGI

Emmie!

I need a favor

Gia was supposed to be readying her newest collection to show in November. I had no idea what she needed, but I knew it wasn’t good. When my twin called me “Emmie,” I knew to be wary.

I picked up my phone.

Hi! What’s up?

GIGI

remember that white jacket u got on that trip to LA

the one from Fred Segal

Yes, I remembered. The jacket was currently hanging in my closet back in Toronto.

The one you wore to a party and got beer on?

GIGI

the beer didn’t stain, ffs

but yes that’s the one

I need it. Can you ask Papà to overnight it to me

I stared hard at my screen. That was going to be difficult to manage, considering I was in Sicily and she thought I was in Peru. And our father wasn’t exactly capable of overnighting anything.

But I hated this for another reason. My sisters always put me in the middle. Instead of dealing with our father and their issues themselves, they made me deal with it.

“Emma, tell Papà I’m studying with a friend.”

“Don’t tell Papà where I really went, Em.”

“I’m taking this bottle of whiskey. If Papà asks, you don’t know what happened to it.”

Constant covering and lying for them. I knew my sisters had valid reasons to be upset with Papà, but it wasn’t fair to always rely on me to maintain their relationship. If they knew he was dying, would they rush to repair it? Or would they feel regret? Sorrow? Happiness? I honestly didn’t know.

I looked down at my phone as my twin texted again.

GIGI

Hello?

Why?

GIGI

it’s not worth explaining

long story involving a seamstress that can’t understand the way a jacket hangs

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