“I’m so happy you’re back with us,” she says before she pulls away from me to look at Nina. “I’m Gabriella Falco. Welcome to the family, Nina.” She smiles at Simi, then looks at Nina again. “I’ll be in touch so we can get to know each other better.”
Nina only nods, her shoulders curving forward while she holds Simi tighter.
“I want down, Mama,” Simi says.
“Not, now,milo moe,” Nina whispers, her voice hoarse. “It’s not safe.”
“Raya,” I say to get my sister’s attention. When she comes to me, I tip my head at Nina. “Will you show them to the guest room beside mine. I think Nina would like to rest after the long flight.”
“Of course,” Raya replies, already giving Nina a comforting smile.
My eyes touch on Nina’s. “Take your time getting settled and unpack.”
“Okay,” she whispers obediently.
I wait for them to disappear up the stairs to the second floor, then smile at my loved ones. “Shit’s been a bit crazy.”
“I bet,” Uncle Dario, Rosie's father, says. He comes to pat my right shoulder. “Talking about shit. You’ve looked better. Are you okay, son?”
“Yeah. Just banged up.”
Everyone takes a moment to exchange a few words with me before they slowly start to leave.
“Just so you know, I’m going to work on getting implants for you all,” Rosie mentions as she walks toward the elevator.
A couple of us groan because once Rosie gets it in her head to do something, we have no choice but to go along.
“And how much is that going to cost me?” Enzo asks as he wraps his arm around her shoulders.
“Hah. Christiano will be footing the bill,” she retorts.
“Lucky me,” our capo dei capi grumbles.
My parents hang back, and once it’s only us, Mom asks, “What can we do to help?”
“Just give me some time with Nina. She’s…traumatized is a too light word.” I shake my head. “The shit she survived…”
“And what about you?” Dad asks. “You went through hell as well, Georgi.” When my lips part to tell him I’m fine, he levels me with a scowl. “Don’t even try to play it off as nothing. I can see it in your eyes. Something happened that you’re not telling us.”
I suck in a deep breath, then admit, “You’re right.”
Mom gasps and gives me a very worried look.
I glance away from them as flashes of Nina being pinned down and raped bombard my mind.
The helplessness I felt was crippling.
Clearing my throat, I say, “I can’t talk about it. Ever.”
“Jesus.” Mom covers her mouth with her hands, her eyes wide with fear.
I take hold of her and pull her into a hug while locking eyes with Dad, and knowing I have to give them something so they’ll stop worrying about me, I admit, “It was something I was forced to watch. I’m physically fine.”
I see the moment Dad puts two and two together. “Fuck. Now I understand everything.”
“What?” Mom asks, pulling away so she can see our faces.
“They hurt the woman in front of him,” Dad tells her.
