“There wasn’t any sleeping involved but, yeah. It’s best if I don’t say who.” I snort loudly through the phone, reveling in Sofia's revenge. “God, don’t tell a soul, Frankie! You don’t have to tell me I’m wicked. I already know it.”
“I think I like your wicked side,” I say, giggling. “Does this man want to marry you? Is that why you want to break the betrothal with Carlo?”
“What? No! We’ve not spoken since he left Vegas, and I don’t want to be his wife. I wanted to get even. I thought I might throw it in Carlo’s face on our wedding night. You know how the Sicilians are about the bloody sheets. But as I was heading back to my room afterwards, I started thinking about a marriage based on hurt and lies that way. I always dreamt of something better.”
Tears creep back into the conversation, and my heart cracks again. Sofia had been in love with Carlo, or theideaof Carlo, for two years. Even after getting revenge by giving her virginity to another man, she was still deeply wounded.
“I’ve been spoiled all my life. I’ve been a selfish girl at times, too. Maybe I still am but, tonight, Dad made it clear I’ll have to marry Carlo. There’s no escape.”
She’s trapped and so is he. There’s no breaking the betrothal now. Unless…
It would mean changing Ronan’s plans. A lot. He won’t like it, but I have faith he’ll try if I beg. It might mean setting fire to my own dreams, but I love each of the girls like a true sister and, sometimes, our sisters must come before our dreams. If Sofia can escape, she’ll be free of the marriage she doesn’t want.
And Carlo will be her jilted groom.
I remember his offensive offer to make me his whore. I remember the way he stirs things in me no other man does and how much guilt I suffer because of that. He deserves to suffer this humiliation.
Drawing a deep breath for courage, I ask, “What if there was a way I could get you out of it?”
11
Francesca
“This is bullshit, Frankie.”
“Please, Ronan? Mom refuses to come to New York with me.”
“She arranged the audition for you. Why wouldn’t she-”
“Her agoraphobia gets worse every year. It was a telephone call to an outsider who doesn’t know of our disgrace.”
“It’s notourdisgrace, goddammit. How do I get that through both your heads?”
“If you take me while I’m there, how are we to ever get her out of Reno? We’ll find another way for you to get us to Boston.”
“Another way? You think opportunities to take you are something I snap my fingers and invent? Even if Enzo’s men aren’t the best, you are guarded around the clock. And New York’s a helluva lot closer to Boston than Nevada. No, if you’re left behind, they'll suspect you. It’s too much for you to risk over some girl who doesn’t like her intended.”
“That girl is our cousin, and I know you’ve not forgotten that. You risk much as well, Ronan. But, someday, I hope we might live as a family again…”
Making sure the guard isn't coming, I allow myself to shed a few tears. He’s pissed, saying he knows I'm acting, but it still works, and he agrees to help. Plus, he knows Mom and I are kept safe, and there’s no way I’m leaving our uncles’ protection without her. Now for the hard part…
***
It’s been days since I was able to eat more than two bites, and my nerves are stretched so thin a car could backfire and end me. The audition alone would’ve been difficult to face. This is a whole other level of stress.
“Frankie Donnelly, please?” the gentleman in the tan coat calls from the front of the theater. This audition meant so much to me a short while ago. Now, it’s only window dressing for a larger act.
Twisting my lucky hair tie around my fingers, I stand. Sofia brushes my hand as I pass along the row of theater seats, neither of us capable of speaking. We’ve been close since we were little girls but especially the past three years. This might be the last time I ever see her if Ronan gets her away and I never manage to escape. My throat tightens with emotion. I have to focus or else I won’t be able to perform.
I look into Caterina’s worried brown eyes next. She doesn’t know the exact plan, just that there is one.
“Break a leg,” Armando says, affably. I try to summon a smile but can’t. He’s Alessio’s best friend and here as Caterina’s guard. He’s always been kind to me, even after our disgrace, but he’s a Made Man of the Trio and much more dangerous than his charm and good looks suggest.
I make it to the end of the row, hurriedly putting my hair up and gasping for air when my lucky hair tie snaps like a bad omen. I've had it for years. I always wear it when I sing in front of others.
“Francesca,” a warm voice husks from behind me, confirming all my good luck is gone. He must’ve stood after I passed Sofia’s seat and followed me to the aisle.
I reach down for my silver hair tie, huffing, “They’re waiting on me.” I’m glad I sound more annoyed than like someone shitting bricks right now.
