Page 136 of The Strength Of A Woman

No longer able to see them, I scan the people in the house.

My grandparents should be here, shouldn’t they?

It would be odd if they weren’t here. It would also look suspicious.

Quick footsteps alert us that the woman’s back.

She approaches us with a fake smile on her face.

“Giorgio and Sylvia should be here momentarily.”

Callum says nothing, waiting for her to continue.

“Leilani can come in, too.”

She barely finishes saying that when I notice my grandmother’s shiny hair across the room.

A blue dress hugs her body, her grin as conceited as always. Giorgio accompanies her, wearing a gray suit.

They look like such a distinguished couple, yet they are so rotten inside.

A sick sensation nibbles at my stomach, and I almost reach for Callum’s arm, but I refrain from touching him at the last moment.

I don’t feel much better when they approach us.

Sylvia’s eyes move over me before Giorgio glances in my direction, hoping to lock my eyes.

I ignore their curious looks and keep my composure, not letting out a shred of emotion.

The change in my behavior briefly disconcerts them before they move their focus away, and we all follow Varela’s sister into a hallway that leads upstairs.

CALLUM

Next time,I’ll break Mancuso’s neck.

I wanted this reaction from them.

All of them.

And I got it.

They looked at her as if they’d never seen her in their lives. As if she came back from the dead or something.

They couldn’t believe their eyes.

Assholes.

They thought she was too much trouble. Now she’s mine, and they’d better stay away from her.

They shouldn’t even smile when she’s in the room, or bullets will be flying.

On the other hand, she did well.

I thought she’d lose it for a moment. She didn’t like meeting her family again.

Who would?

I don’t like them either. They’re part of the problem, and now they’ll be part of the solution.