Page 67 of Unlock My Heart

Fabien leans over and gives me a peck, eliciting an “Eww” from his sister.

He disappears, and I smile politely. “First family dinner. How am I doing?”

She frowns. “Okay, I guess, even though you don’t speak Italian.”

“Fair enough. Could you tell me where the bathroom is?”

“Yes.”

Silence.

“Where is the bathroom?” I try.

“Out that door and down the hallway.” Al points.

“Thanks. Be back in a minute.”

“Make sure to wash your hands for two minutes,” she corrects me.

“Two minutes,” I amend, trying not to laugh.

I follow her directions and enter the hallway, but the sound of Fabien’s voice flittering from a partially open door has me pausing.

“You’re not marrying a whore,” Fabien’s mother says with derision, and angry tears well in my eyes.

“She’s not a whore; where’d you even get that?” Fabien says hotly.

“A little birdie told me⁠—”

“So Michele was the ‘urgent’ call? Since when does he report to you about family business?” Fabien’s words are punctuated with fury.

“You buying a whore isn’t family business; it’s a family embarrassment,” his mother snaps.

“Sienna’s not like that; she’s a student⁠—”

“Did you or did you not pay five thousand dollars for her?”

“It’s not like that⁠—”

“Let me speak to my son alone,” a frail male voice sounds.

“Of course, Vitto, my love.”

The sound of heels click-clacking has me ducking behind the wall.

Her words resound with the beating of my pulse between my ears.

Whore.

Whore.

Whore.

Whore.

A moment passes before I sneak around the corner.

“You heard your mama. But if you want to keep this girl as your goomah, that’s your business.”