Page 55 of Body of Trust

I roll my eyes at the misogyny. “When can my mother see him?” I ask the doctor.

“He’s still in the intensive care recovery ward. When he wakes, we’ll allow two visitors at a time.”

I take a seat by Sienna and watch as my family hugs and laughs like they just won the lotto. From this vantage point, I look at the people I hold close to my heart. A mix of families, unrelated by blood, who make up one bond.

Not everyone works in sanitation. We have men’s clothing distributors and attorneys. Cement pourers, and home contractors. One uncle even owns a McDonald’s.

The women are warm and welcoming. They’re invested in their children’s education and who they marry. And then there’s the food. These women cook for ten when there’s only four at the table. Food, a manicure, and a prayer will fix all your problems.

There’s a reason I never thought of my family as odd. Everyone should be as lucky as I am to have so many people in their life.

I turn to Sienna, my best friend and cousin. She’s looking at our family too, and I wonder if she’s thinking the same thing I am.

“Do you think there’s something odd about our family?” I ask.

She turns to me with a tilted brow. “Your father just came out of surgery for being shot in the gut. Yeah, our family is crazy. And totally awesome.”

“Were you surprised he was shot? I mean … gunfire and bodyguards, fathers who hide away, and mothers who keep secrets. Does any of this faze you?”

“How could it when it’s what I’ve grown up with? All I know is this life.” She shrugs, and I curve my brows. “You figured it out, didn’t you?”

“That our fathers are mafia crime bosses. Yeah. How long have you known?”

“My father has never been as good as yours with keeping family business away from his kids. Mine is raising me to marry someone from the five families. I’m literally being bred to be a Mafia wife. That’s why I’m out dancing all the time. Once I’m married off, I’ll be making babies and lasagnas and keeping all the secrets. Your father doesn’t want the same for you.”

“How did you know this all this time and not tell me?”

“Because it wasn’t my place to. That’s the Evangelista way. Our family discussions stay at the dinner table. Besides, I always felt your dad wanted you to have an out. To keep you protected. You’ve always had a job, ever since you could get your working papers, but you’ve worked everywhere but at one of the family businesses. That means he wanted you away.”

“I know it’s a good thing, but I’ve been battling with this anger about being kept in the dark.”

She places a hand on mine and smiles. “He was keeping you in the light. Bright and looking forward. Trouble is, you made your way to the dark side like the rest of us. Our parents can only do so much to keep us out of harm’s way. Sometimes, we find it on our own.”

“Or it comes barreling into a restaurant with guns blazing,” I say sarcastically.

She laughs. “That too. It’s going to be fine though. I promise. It always is.”

“You’re telling me this sort of thing has happened before?”

She scrunches her nose. “What’s spoken about at the dinner table stays at the dinner table.”

I nod in understanding. Her knowing everything and more makes me feel a little better. At least now I have someone in the family to talk to.

“Thanks, Sienna. You’ve made me feel better about this for the first time in days. You’re a good friend.”

She hits me in the side. “I’m your cousin, bitch. And we’re totally going out. I need a drink.”

“No way. I’m staying here until the doctor says my father’s woke up.”

She rolls her eyes and then leans in to kiss my cheek. “Do what you wish. Especially if you’re doing it with Jesse!” She waggles her brows, and I shush her. “You owe me so many details. Lots and lots of dirty ones. Like how I found you in a sheet in your kitchen.”

One of the aunts looks over at us. I give Sienna the wide-eyed stare of death.

“Fine! Tomorrow, I’ll call and tell you. Just keep your mouth shut, okay?” That gives me enough time to fill in the blanks, especially with details that don’t have to do with Jesse being an agent.

We say our good-byes, and I hang back in the waiting room. My mother leaves to go downstairs and fill out paperwork. Gia goes with her for support. I stay and wait for more news from the doctor.

“Excuse me.” A nurse gets my attention. “Are you family of Raphael Sorrentino?”