“We’ll just get the maid to do it. I’m not cleaning it up.”
“Even though you’re the reason it’s on the floor?”
I ignore her question and walk out of the kitchen. The doorbell rings, signaling the arrival of my guests. Alek with his wife, Katya, is on the other side. He practically raised me and Nina after our father died when we were kids. Behind him stands Luca, Nina’s husband.
Luca gives me a tight nod as he enters the house. He never liked me. It’s why he chose Nina as his wife instead of me.
“Susanna,” he says.
“Luca.” He expects me to be on my best behavior but he has no say in my life. He’s not my husband.
My mom, Maria, comes rushing down the stairs. “Wonderful. It’s nice to see all of you.”
“Mom, where are my friends?” I ask. “It’s my birthday party. I don’t just want it to be family.”
“You can have a party with your friends later. I thought we could just keep it to family right now.”
I roll my eyes. “I never agreed to this.”
She pats my arm and doesn’t say a word, knowing it’s easier to ignore me than to give in to me. “So, how is everyone doing?”
Before anyone can answer, the doorbell rings again.
Alek answers it but there’s no one on the other side. Instead, there’s a package resting on the stoop. “Did you order anything?” he asks.
“Nothing,” Mom says with a frown. She opens the box and gasps, dropping the box to the ground. I look inside to see what elicited such a reaction…
Only to discover a human hand resting inside, like a morbid present for my birthday.
Chapter Two
Susanna
Ascream leaves my mouth before I even realize it. “What is that?”
Luca slowly picks it up, motioning for Nina to stay back. His worry for her is palpable. That’s love… something I’ve never had. “It’s a hand,” he states the obvious.
“No shit,” I mutter.
Luca shoots me an annoyed look that makes me flush. “I’m not sure who’s it is but whoever sent it was kind enough to not burn off the fingertips. We can identify who this is.”
Alek sighs heavily. “Are we sure this isn’t a message from Gabriel?”
“He’s been gone for the past two years.”
“I know. But there’s a good chance he’s coming back. We should be on high alert. Take Nina back home. Get the hand tested. I’ll make sure I never let Katya out of my sight. We won’t let Gabriel get to our wives. I promise.”
“Are you sure it’s him?” Nina asks, sounding more scared than I’ve heard from her in a long time. Our world has been safe for the past two years and we’ve all taken it for granted.
“It could be,” Luca says. “I’ll look into it. But I’ll make sure you’re safe.” He cups her face and gives her a soft smile. I avert my eyes. It’s such an intimate gesture that I feel like I’m not allowed to look at it.
“Sorry about your party,” Katya says to me, offering me a reassuring smile. After how cold I’ve been to her since we first met, it’s a wonder how nice she is to me.
“This is more important,” I say. Judging from everyone’s expressions, I surprised them. “What? I’m not that self-absorbed to complain about a hand ruining my party. I know this is more important than… me.” It takes everything inside me to say that. “Go. We can celebrate another day. Besides, the caterer messed up the meal anyway.”
They all leave the house, making the space feel cold and empty. Mom turns to me, resting her hand on my arm.
“I’m proud of you, Susanna,” she says. “For not throwing a fit that your party was ruined.”
