Betty pulls out a bottle of over-the-counter pain relief and hands me two pills before pouring a glass of water. I don’t instantly feel better — pain relief doesn’t work that way — but by the time I’ve swallowed the pills, the water glass doesn’t feel so heavy. Theworld doesn’t feel like it’s ending. My head and arm still hurt though.
The coffee machine on the counter gurgles, making a full pot of coffee. The glass carafe is nearly full by the time it’s done. Betty places it on a pot holder in the center of a tray before adding the mugs around it. She makes another tray of things like creamers and milk, sugar, and some other sweeteners.
“Is that too heavy for you?” Betty nods to the second tray.
“I’m sure it’s fine.” I smile softly in reply.
It’s agony carrying the tray, but I follow her with it, items rattling on top, back to the living room.
We’ve been gone for maybe ten minutes. Ian is seated in one of the large recliners, and Valor sits on the stone hearth by his side. Royal stands, feet apart, arms crossed over his chest. He watches me enter, and it elicits the same feeling of being watched that I’ve grown accustomed to.
On the other side of the room, Dad’s men are standing with their hands clasped together before them while Dad sits in the other chair and Berto sits on the couch. The clearly drawn lines don’t leave Betty and me much room to pick and choose where to sit, but Betty sets her tray on the coffee table before pouring a cup for Ian and then herself. She sits next to Berto, leaving me room on the far end of the couch, closer to the Cavanaghs than my own family.
Tucked in with the Cavanaghs, I feel safer than I have in a long time. No, I feel safer than I have since I left Valor’s house. It wasn’t that long ago I was here in Cavanagh territory, but it feels like forever when your whole world is uncertain.
Royal is across the room from me, but just having him close, I know I’m safe.
Dad’s phone lights up where it’s sitting on an ottoman, Steffano’s name flashing on the screen.
“The daughter you promised me, that I paid you for, is married to a Cavanagh,” Steffano says like he’s repeating it for the third or fourth time, the implication setting in. “I am flying to America. We will meet in person tomorrow. You’ll explain to me how this happened and how all of you can make it up to me. I’ve alreadyinvested. The money is transferred. This is unacceptable!” Steffano shouts.
I flinch, and Royal nearly starts moving but holds himself back.
“We’d be glad to discuss how this will work out. This is clearly unexpected, and we’ll happily negotiate a fair price for your inconvenience.” Ian sips his coffee. “But given the damage done to Leticia, she will be staying here in our home.”
“Damage?” Steffano spikes that word up as its own question. Like he can’t believe that would happen. “Surely you don’t think I damaged her.”
“No, but she’s bruised up quite a bit and favors one arm,” Betty casually answers, like it’s her place to join the conversation. “She’ll be seeing a medical professional, and we’ll be taking any damages he attributes to her mistreatment as part of payment in this deal.”
Do I look that bad?My arm hurts, but I don’t think I’m really favoring it all that much. I look down at the bruising. It’s significantly deeper in color than I expected, and compared to my other arm, it’s definitely swollen.
“Fine.” Steffano concedes. “I don’t want to do business with the D’Medicis. I’ll only work with the Cavanaghs. Gregorio, you can make this up to me in other ways, and we’ll discuss it after I negotiate with the Cavanaghs. She’s an object of value, and despite her being tarnished, we’ll negotiate for her.”
I want to be disgusted that he thinks so little of me, but what do I care what an asshole like him thinks?
The line disconnects, the phone screen turning black.
Dad glares at me before assessing the room. “This is unacceptable. You should be negotiating with me, not Steffano.”
“Gregorio, Steffano already paid you for Leticia.” Valor says my name less harshly than every other word in that sentence. “You gave up your claim on your daughter. Now we have to deal with the person who actually has a legal vested interest.” Valor stands, rising to his full height. “It’s best you leave. Now.”
Dad goes red in the face all over again, and he stands. “Are you throwing me out?”
“No, we’re telling you to leave, and you’ll do the right thing and vacate the premises. This is supposed to remain civil. Let it be civil.”Ian remains seated, sipping his coffee like there isn’t enough tension simmering to boil water.
“Come on, Dad.” Berto can barely handle looking at him and spits his words with disgust. When he stands, he extends his hand to Valor. “Thank you for your time.”
Dad and I are both slack jawed.Is Berto taking over? Dad will allow it?
But Dad gets to his feet. Making a point of looking anywhere but at me, he snatches up his phone and storms out the door.
Berto gives me one last smile. It’s small and apologetic, but he doesn’t say anything. Then, gesturing to the other two men to follow, he leaves.
The brush of cold air sweeps through the room and takes with it all the tension.
The most surprising part is that Betty laughs. “What a blowhard.”
Ian cracks up and joins in. “I thought he would turn purple with how little he was breathing. Do you perform CPR on someone if they’re actively choosing not to breathe? Or is there something else you’re supposed to do?”
