“Is it money?” my father asked suddenly. “Do you need money?”
Brando stepped away from me, coming closer to my father. My father rose, straightening his shoulders. I had never seen him look so broken and hurt, apart from when Elliott died.
“You’re right, sir,” Brando said, not daunted by my father, rising to the challenge, accepting all wrongdoing. “I am her husband. And I have failed her.”
“Is it money?” my father asked again.
“No, sir.”
The cup in my hand suddenly seemed like a loaded weapon. The only one I had to stop this absurdity. Luca Fausti. Stone. Now my father? I wouldn’t have it! I flung the cup at the wall. Travis flinched, caught by some of the exploding fragments and hot liquid, but he didn’t move.
“How dare you!” my sister stood, pouncing.
“How dare me? This ismyhome! I can do what theeffI want!” I suddenly felt drunk on power. This time, no matter what I did, she couldn’t run back and tellMatiand have her send me away.
“You’ve always been nothing but a spoiled brat! Just because you both have finally been exposed for what you two are, a paiddancerand herpimp, you’re going to start throwing things. Just like old times.”
“Charlotte Jolee!” my father snapped at her.
I took slow steps toward Travis, who still seemed to be drunk. He swayed, watching me warily, but with hooded eyes.
I sniffed around his lips. “Ah.” I laughed. “At least my husband doesn’t go out looking for a good time, and paying top dollar for it too. Isn’t that right, Travis? How much did you have to pay to watch me dance? Over a hundred thousand dollars, I believe? So you could come back and force yourself to sleep with the snake in your bed.”
“Scarlett Rose!” my father’s voice boomed.
Brando took me by the arm and pulled me away. He sent Travis a murderous look before he did.
“Dovolj!” my mother shouted, shocking us all. “Enough, I said!” She stood, straightening her gown and her flawless hair. Her voice was steady, but her body trembled. “I did it!” She stabbed a finger at her chest. “I sold her to that man.”
“Mati!” Charlotte gasped. “Don’t lie for her!”
“Go to your room!” my father ordered, not even bothering to look at her.
She picked up her biscuits and went, head held high, but I knew she wasn’t going far. There was no chance in hell that she’d miss this.
My father stared at Brando for a moment before turning to face my mother. “Is this true, Pnina?”
“Yes,” she said, sticking her chin up. I couldn’t help but see me in her then. The first true glimpse of something she had given me. “Nemours, the man who organizes the dances, he came to me and we made a deal. Before Scarlett was married to Brando, when I still had power over her legal affairs. He lied to me. I fell for it. As I am sure you are aware, he is persuasive when he wants something.” She went on to tell him the complete story.
My father fell into the chair halfway through, hands clutching his head. My mother had Eunice grab her bag, which she dug through, presenting him the forms, her signature in place of mine.
“Brando Piero,” my father said, releasing his hands. He turned his head a fraction, so he could look Brando in the eye again. “I’m sorry, son. Do I still have the honor to call you that?”
Brando nodded and swallowed hard. My father meant a great deal to him. He had never treated him like the rest. Not until tonight. Despite the tension, instead of the situation causing a crack, it caused a fiercer bond. At least on my father’s part.
“You have always protected my little girl.” He gave my mother a scathing look. “And apparently my wife. A man of honor.” He threw a glance at Travis, who still stood with his back against the wall, not a word uttered. My father stood, holding out his hand to Brando. They shook, and my father pulled him in, hugging him. After releasing Brando, my father knocked Travis on the shoulder and pointed toward where his wife supposedly was.
Snatching the contract from the table, my father slowly walked to his room, like a man that had lost all control of his legs but somehow knew the steps.
My mother stared after him, a blank look on her face.
“Mati?” I whispered.
She shook her head. “It will be fine.” The response came automatically. She turned to go but stopped when she was face to face with Brando. A look passed between the two of them that I couldn’t transcribe. He nodded. She touched him lightly on the shoulder and then followed behind my father.
Eunice’s appearance, scrambling to pick up my mess, snapped me out of my stupor.
Brando put a hand to her shoulder and helped her up. “Leave it,” he said. “I’ll take care of it.”
