But my hunger for my siren won’t allow that.
10
Francesca
When Carlo came to the house, I thought of Sofia first and felt rage.
Then, when he asked to view the garden, I was certain my betrayal was known somehow, and I was about to die.
The last thing I expected was that offer.
He’s an absolute bastard. His mistress? I would never.
Didn’t he just offer you everything you've dreamt of?
I know he’s got the influence and wealth to help me, but my goals never involved submitting to a powerful man’s lust.
Burying my face in my pillow, I scream in frustration until my phone rings – another unknown caller. I stare at it wondering if it’s truly safe like he promises before my heart demands I answer. “Hello?”
“Hi, I wanted to rent the pavilion at Mayberry Park for tomorrow at noon,” my brother replies.
“I’m afraid you have the wrong number, but there’s an access point for water tubing nearby, I hear.”
The line goes dead, and I may be soon if anyone discovers I’ve been secretly meeting Ronan.
Orders from the Tribunal came after my father eluded their justice - no Donnelly male was to be left alive. But my brother escaped, and the botched hit was never admitted out of fear of Uncle Silvio’s wrath. If he found out about that deceit, he would go on a rampage. If NewYork believed he purposely hid it from them because Ronan’s his nephew, there could be war again.
At the airport that day, we’d exchanged a dozen words at most by the baggage return before he'd asked for my number.
You’re alive?
Don’t tell Mom yet.
What-
I’ll get you both out.
Since then, we’ve met three times after calls to my phone from unknown numbers - quick, seemingly random encounters with a stranger lasting a few minutes at most. It’s a good thing the guards don’t care enough to question why I’m suddenly interested in running trails away from the house when I'm not much of a runner and even the fittest ones prefer to sit in their car than exercise with me. If I ever meant to turn rat, they’d be screwed and could only blame themselves.
Ronan says he’s formed connections in the BRG. He says he can get us safely to Boston. He still doesn’t want Mom to know about him yet, both of us agreeing she might not survive it if she got him back only to lose him again. I love my big brother, but I’ve been on pins and needles ever since. I can’t even talk to the girls about it. I can’t involve them in my deceit, and the guilt of hiding it is eating me up.
My phone rings again, making me jump. It’s Sofia, and I feel guilt for other reasons. Ihateher fiancé. So why does his touch make me burn?
“Frankie?” Her broken whisper makes my heart crack. God, did Carlo go to her after he left here?
“What’s wrong?”
What’s wrong isn’t as bad as I feared though it’s bad enough. Uncle Silvio lost his temper again tonight in a big way, and Sofia understands at last that no one is letting her off the hook with this marriage. “Maybe I deserve it,” she sniffs.
“No, you don’t. Carlo cheated on you.” Carlostillwants to cheat on her. With me.
“I was a fool to believe the things Mom told me, Frankie, about love at first sight. I know what our men are like. To them, whatever happens before the wedding isn’t even considered cheating.”
“It doesn’t excuse him, Sofia.”
“Maybe not but… I got even.”
My mouth falls open as she explains. Perhaps I had my own set of rose-colored glasses when it came to my perfect, golden cousin. “You slept with someone the night of the Seconda?” I whisper, completely shocked. “Who?”
