My eldest sister is a journalist. She's been researching crime families for years now. She knows exactly what happens under the surface.
"I don't think anyone knows him like I do," I say. “And I know that despite the world he belongs to, he’s a good man.”
I’m aware that Dante is listening to everything I’m saying.
He hasn't said a single word, though. Not since I made the love confession.
My sisters ask a hundred more questions. I tell them everything I can, excluding the things about his private life.
"He can be trusted, Chloe," Max says. “We did a background check on him. He’s been getting rid of vermin in the underworld for years now.”
"I just don't like that my baby sister is involved with a mafia man,” Chloe says.
Briar nods vehemently.
"Um." I glance at their chosen partners. Chloe's husband is part ofthebiggest Italian mafia family. And Briar's partner is a scary RussianPakhan.
"It's different because you're the baby of the family," Briar says. "We're allowed to be overprotective."
"I don't know what else to say." I shrug. "He makes me happy. And I choose to be with him."
They still don't look convinced, but they drop it. Little Aiden won't stop eating the macarons I got them, so we order room service before he stuffs himself with the sweets.
My sisters and I sit on the balcony. We talk about everything and nothing at all. It's beenyearssince we had this. So much has changed.Wehave changed.
And before I know it, it's dark outside.
I still haven't heard from Dante.
And I can't help but overthink it all. Maybe it's just a contract for him. Maybe I misunderstood everything between us.
Maybe I was a fool for letting myself fall in love.
"Mommy. Aunties. Come." Aiden drags us all toward the bed.
He makes us watchThe Little Mermaidwith him. He shushes us every time we try to speak while it's playing. And whenever there's a song, he demands that we belt the lyrics out loud with him.
As I watch the two characters on screen fall in love, my mind keeps pulling me back to Dante.
He hasn't said a single word.
It could be that he's just busy with work. But it's strange that he stopped speaking right after I said the words.
I love him.
It's the truth, but it's also scary.
Aiden falls asleep in my arms halfway through the movie. Briar is expecting a baby in a few weeks. My sisters ended up having their own fairy-tale romances, but maybe I wasn’t destined for that. Maybe girls like me should just be happy with what we get.
"Will you spend the night here?" Chloe asks.
I swear I hear a low growl from the earbud I’m still wearing.
"I should probably get going," I say.
"Stay for dinner," Briar says.
"I'm not hungry," I say. It's partly because we had a big lunch, and partly because the thought of my feelings going unrequited makes me feel heartsick.
