I studied him, absorbing everything he said. “Why aren’t you married?”
He chuckled. “I don’t need the liability.”
“What does that mean?”
He shrugged. “We’re surrounded by volatile men who will always try to get one up on you, but if you don’t love anyone, they can’t use anyone to get to you.”
The memory made me wonder what sort of future my sister would have. Would Romario De Lucca love her and turn her into a liability one of his enemies could capitalize on? Or would she be home mothering his children while he spread his seed all over town like most of the mobsters I knew? They say you never really know how many kids a mobster has until his funeral.
But, since none of my musings would cheer Abriana up, I decided to lie through my teeth. “Father doesn’t have a mistress.”
She gave me a sideways you’re-full-of-shit-and-we-both-know-it look. “You’re right, he doesn’t have a mistress. He has several… a fuckin’ harem. You know the old man doesn’t like to get attached. I don’t know what they see in him, either. Mamma can barely stomach him, and she has to.”
I put a finger to my lips and reminded my sister to keep her voice down. We’d both be in danger if Father or any guards looking for favor overheard us. “Money can be a powerful aphrodisiac,” I whispered.
Abriana rolled her eyes. “Not that powerful. Goddamn pulsating cockstorm sperm lord.”
I loved Abriana, but at nineteen, she’d never had to work a day in her life and had grown up behind the protection of Father’s soldiers. A spoiled brat, but also a good girl—learning creative swear words had been the extent of her teenage rebellion—I had no idea how she’d make it as a mobster’s wife. Nor had I ever heard anyone use the term “cockstorm” before. I had to give her points for her creativity.
“You’re not thinking of taking a… a mister, are you?” I asked, trying to lighten the tone and keep her from running her mouth some more and getting us both in trouble.
“A mister?” She choked out a laugh. “Like a male mistress? As nice as that sounds, I’m not suicidal, Dom. The family doesn’t care about any of this women’s rights shit. Our dear ol’ daddy already pulled me into his office to grill me and make sure I’m still a virgin and won’t shame our family on my wedding night. Like any man would touch me, knowing who Father is. He gave me a full-on lecture about my duties as a wife… and oh, I’m well aware of the consequences if I dishonor him. We both know that even if Romario De Lucca beats the shit out of me, there won’t be a soul on the planet who can help me.”
“Bri—”
“I’m serious, Dom. You know I’m right. He could be a drunk who rapes me every night before visiting his whores, and who will care? Will Father? Will you and Mike swoop in and rescue me?”
“I—”
“No, you won’t. You can’t. Father needs the support of the De Luccas, and he would sacrifice every single one of us to get it. You know it, I know it, Michael knows it. Even Mamma knows it. But none of us can do a damn thing about it, because it’s what’s best for the family.” She spat. “Again, I hate this family.”
“Don’t talk like that, Bri. Especially not here. You know Father will flip out if he hears you.”
“So? What can he do now?” She snorted. “For the first time in my life I’m actually valuable to him. He’s not gonna hit me this close to the dinner. God forbid his allies find out what a monster he is.”
“He’s in a difficult position,” I defended.
“I wonder if you’d be so understanding if he was ruining your life.” She squeezed her knees to her chest.
I didn’t know what more to say to my hurting little sister, so I gave her a hug and said what I could. “I’m sorry, Bri.”
She wriggled out from under my arm and stood. “Yeah, me too.” Then she headed back into the house.
CHAPTER FIVE
Annetta
IGOT THE job!
Even as I exited the bus to head in for my first day of work, I still couldn’t believe it. The shock kept going as I tied on my apron and scrubbed my hands. Afraid Frank would be the one training me, I was pleasantly surprised when Brandon greeted me and led me to my station.
“I’ll be working with you today,” he said. “If you don’t remember where everything is from your crash-course interview, just ask.”
“Are you my boss?” I asked.
He chuckled. “Hardly.”
“Is Frank?”
