by J. L. Drake
“The Capri family put a hit on your uncle years ago. They killed him.”
I took a moment to digest the information and tried to stay neutral on my gut reaction.
“What was his name, and when was this?”
“You don’t believe me?”
“I don’t know you well enough to believe or not believe you, but I will find out if what you say is true before I ever think of judging them.”
She softly said the name and the date, and I typed it into my phone so I wouldn’t forget.
“Sienna,” Vinni popped up looking like he was having a great time, “you promised me a dance, and it’s about that time.” He held out a hand and did a little jig as the song switched over.
“I’ll find you later,” I dismissed my mother.
“Please do.” She quickly dabbed at her eyes then waved me off.
Vinni had moves that I didn’t think were humanly possible. It was a combination of the robot, country, and some kind of worm roll. How he didn’t hurt his back was beyond me. All I did was laugh while he spun me around and made a horrible attempt of teaching me the steps. I considered myself a coordinated person, but Vinni was not.
“Wow, Sienna,” Niccola handed me a large water after the song ended and Vinni claimed another friend as his next victim, “you should win a medal for sticking out the entire song. Most bail, and he doesn’t even notice.”
“It’s his birthday. It’s the least I could do.”
“You’re good people.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“Meaning?” he asked through a long sip of his water.
“I don’t know. I thought having my mother back would be so different. But it’s all dark and mysterious.” I shrugged. “She really hates your family.”
“A lot do.”
“I get that, but why would my mother?”
“What did she say about it?”
“She only alluded to something about a hit that happened years ago.”
“Do you know when?”
“Yes.”
“Did it happen before 1999?”
“It did.”
“In that case, you’ll have to ask Piero. I only could help with the more recent ones.”
“Can I do that?”
“What, ask? Of course. If he can’t share it with you, he won’t, but asking never hurt anyone.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that a lot, Niccola.”
“Any time, but,” he lowered his voice when the waiter came toward us, “Sienna, we don’t ever take a life easily. We would only call a hit because that person deserved it. It is not for the sport of it. So, maybe your next question to Elenora should be, if we did do the hit, why?”
“Yeah.” I chewed on the inside of my lip.
“Just something to think about.” He patted my hand before leaving me.
My head spun, and I felt like I needed some air, so I headed toward the French doors when suddenly I slowed my walk. I watched as Elenora brushed a hand down Francesco’s arm, and his expression softened for a hair of a second. Goosebumps broke out on my body as I continued to study them. I started to walk through the sea of people, the entire time keeping my gaze on them. He seemed to comfort her, and what was even more strange was she was doing it with Oscar nearby.
Could he be…I couldn’t finish the thought. How could I? That would mean my own flesh and blood had been near throughout my younger years. I couldn’t go there.
I stopped mid-step when Elio’s Aunt Noemi came into the room. She froze like a deer in headlights as she glared at Elenora.
Wait. What?
When Elenora spotted her staring, she quickly dropped her hand from Francesco and looked like she’d seen a ghost.
All the noises around me faded, the guests disappeared from my view, and all I could hear was my heartbeat and air rushing through my lungs as I watched the interaction between them.
I felt his eyes on me, and it took all my strength to meet Elio’s worried expression.
“What’s wrong?” he mouthed. I pulled his gaze with mine over to his aunt and my mother, who were now glaring at one another fifteen feet apart.
He was across the room before I could even blink. He leaned over the bar with his back to them.
“What do you know?”
“I’m not really sure.” I was still frozen in place.
“Where’s Vinni?”
“I-I don’t know.” I stumbled over his question.
“Look around,” he ordered as he calmly sipped his drink.
I closed my eyes and tried to focus on what he wanted me to do, then opened them and searched the crowd until I spotted him rocking out with a friend.
“On the dance floor.”
“Good, now keep your eyes on him and only him.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.” I let out a frustrated breath but did as I was told because Elio only got bossy when something was going on.
“Wait, what do you know?”
“I understand enough that you shouldn’t have seen what you just did, so keep your eyes on Vinni until whatever you saw is finished.”
“Why?” I leaned back and studied Elio’s stony expression, frustrated that he had stopped sharing.
“You want to be a part of this life, right?” I nodded as he spoke through gritted teeth. “Then you need to know how to deal with situations like these when they happen. I see what you’re seeing, but like you, I know nothing,” he explained. “Elenora arriving is like a spider spinning a web. It’s catching lots of attention, and flies are getting tangled up in it. So, for now, we sit back and watch and gather as much information as possible, because moving too fast will only scare away the truth.”
“Was that so hard?” I couldn’t help the hurt in my tone.
He lowered his drink and finally looked at me now that Elenora walked away.
“You also need to know how to take orders.” His gaze skimmed my cleavage as his tongue darted out to catch a drop from his bottom lip. Everything inside me coiled tight as the memory of him inside me made my skin heat. “I’ve spent a lifetime keeping this part of my life away from you. It’s not ingrained in me to share it easily.”
“But look at how much I listen when you do.” I held my dirty expression for another beat then pushed off the bar. I stopped short when my mother suddenly appeared in front of me.
Jesus.
“I was hoping we could spend a little more time together.”
“I’m willing.”
She looked at Elio then back to me. “As long as I’m not interrupting anything.”
“Not at all.” Elio smiled warmly then left us alone.
“Do you mind if we step outside?”
“Sounds good.” I followed her outside and along a small path that led us away from the music and constant chatter. Crickets chirped happily, and tiny fireflies flickered through the sunflower fields. As dark as the mafia life might be, there were many aspects of living here that were absolutely stunning.
“I love these.” She brushed her finger along the petal of a six-foot flower that stared up at the night sky. “These and white roses are my favorite.”
“Me too, but I like red roses.”
“My mother always had a dozen red roses on the dining room table.” She lowered her head. “She died a few years after we left.”
“Do you have any photos of her?” I was so desperate for something from my past.
“Just one.” She cleared her throat. “I wish I had more, but I didn’t have much time.”
“Why did we leave in such a hurry?”
“Sienna—”
“Please,” I closed my eyes and felt the burn of tears coming on, “you may have the painful memories of knowing everything, but I have the painful hole from where those memories should be. I know that something big happened. I know this because a mother doesn’t just abandon her daughter then show up randomly half a lifetime later. I’m not asking for it all right now. I’m only a
sking for something to ease the lonely ache that grows inside of me.”
“I wish you would stop saying I abandoned you, Sienna,” she finally said as we continued deeper into the field. “I thought you were safe. I was led to believe you were safe. You had a roof over your head, food, clothes. I wanted you with me, but I couldn’t, so I made sure you at least had all you needed at the time.”
I stopped in my tracks, shocked by what she said.
“All I needed?” I wanted to shout, but I also didn’t want to have another fight. “What I needed was my mother. I needed to know who I was and where I came from. I feel like a blank canvas with the edges all smudged and pinched at the seams. When I was a child, there were times I could barely hold it together. Then you finally show up with the key to my past and judge me for who I have surrounded myself with.”
“I’m sorry, Sienna.”
“I don’t want your apologies, Elenora, I want you to be my mother.” That hit home for her because her mouth shut and her chin quivered. “Give me something,” I whispered. “Prove to me you want this.”
“I want to. I really do, but there is so much, and I need time to figure out how to protect you.” Her eyes narrowed in on mine.
I felt like I might just open Pandora’s Box and I wouldn’t be able to stop it.
She hesitated. “You’re looking for the truth about your past from me, Sienna, but perhaps you should open your eyes and look to the people you now call your family.” She slowly took her hands and placed them on my shoulders and turned me toward the Hill House. “Quiet secrets lay in places where you might think you’re safe. Perhaps with those you love.” An icy chill raced up my spine.
“Sienna.” Niccola suddenly stepped out from between a row of sunflowers, as if appearing from another dimension. He eyed my mother with a cold expression. “Wyatt’s looking for you.”
I stared at him for a moment, trying to gather myself. “Okay, I’ll be right there.” I turned to my mother. “I need to go.”
As I began to make my way to the house, I felt a strong urge to look up. When I did, I stopped short as a man, dressed in a gray suit, stood close to the wall. He was watching me. I couldn’t bring myself to smile or say anything to him as I brushed by him. I just blinked, startled by the intensity of his stare. The lights from the party caught the pin on his lapel, and I squinted to see a gold crown. I tried to shake off the unwanted chill both from him and from my mother’s words.
“You look pale,” Wyatt commented as I joined him. “Are you all right?”
“Never better.” I shook my head at him, not wanting to get into it right now.
As the night went on and the world’s biggest birthday cake was devoured, I found myself out by the pool on one of the big puffy lounge chairs with a few friends of Vinni’s. Wyatt was laughing so hard at one of the guys he was turning red while I savored the moment that my best friend got to meet, live, and party with some of the most important people in my life.
“Pssp, Nic!” Vinni raced out of the guest house with his shirt open. “There’s a girl in my bed.”
“Yes, there is.” He laughed.
“I didn’t do that.” He suddenly grinned ridiculously at Niccola. “Did you do that?”
“Happy Birthday, little brother.”
“Best brother ever.” He mauled Niccola’s head. “Well, I should get back.”
“Good plan.”
We all laughed when Vinni nearly missed the door and clipped his shoulder on the frame.
“Well, Vinni’s got company tonight. What about you, Sienna?” One of the guys, who had been really nice, leaned forward.
“Nope.” Niccola shook his head. “Not happening, man. Nope, nope, stop talking.”
“Why?” He shrugged. “She’s hot, and she said she was single earlier.”
“This is so awkward.” Wyatt covered his mouth.
“What’s awkward?” The guy looked around, not at all feeling the vibe.
“As flattered as I am—” I paused as Elio sat down next to me and wrapped an arm around the back of the seat.
The guy stared at him then leaned back and raised his hands for a moment then let them settle nervously on his thigh.
I smiled at him in sympathy. “Gentlemen, I’ve been through a lot this past week, and sleep is the number one thing on my mind at the moment.”
“Understood.” The guy gave a glance at Elio then cleared his throat and stood. He sputtered an excuse and hurried off toward the house.
It wasn’t long before we all were saying goodnight and heading up for some much-needed rest. Who knew what tomorrow would bring? But my experience as a reporter had come to the surface over the past few hours, prompted by all I’d observed tonight. As off as I felt, I was ready to hone my skills and do some digging.
I stripped out of my dress and slipped on a gray silk robe, easing onto a chair that was placed to look out over the hills. I kicked my feet up on the chair next to me and watched some guests pile into their cars. I saw their lights as they wove along the winding roads and disappeared into the dark night. The moon peeked out from behind the clouds, and as I relaxed, I wondered what in the world I had witnessed tonight between my mother and Aunt Noemi. I tapped my nail on my lip as I let my mind run through all the possibilities that it could have been about.
“Hey.” Elio was standing in the doorway, and his gaze positively burned as it dragged down my body to where my robe had fallen away from my hip. “I just wanted to check in before my meeting with papa.”
“I’m good.” The heel of my shoe dug into the fabric of the chair, a dead giveaway I was lying. He stepped inside the room, closing the door behind him. His hands were in his pockets as he approached me, but as he got closer, he reached out and dragged a finger from my ankle up to my knee and down between my legs, brushing over my arousal. He moved behind my chair, brushed my hair back, and started to gently rub my shoulders.
I moaned at how good it felt.
“No matter how bad this gets,” he whispered, “we always have us.” I nodded, unable to speak. I needed to hear that. “I’m sorry I can’t stay.” He kissed my neck.
“I’ll be here if you can.”
“Leave the heels on.” He chuckled before he left me, slipping out of the room just as silently as he had appeared.
Morning came, and the sun shone brightly through the window. Wyatt had left to chase another story, and there was a part of me that wished I could have joined him on the assignment. I loved being a journalist as much as he did, but my own leads were about to take me in a very different direction. Right now, my attention needed to be here.
My thoughts wandered back to last night. I had hoped Elio would come to me, but his father’s meeting must have gone late because he never returned. My need for him was strong, but sleep eventually overcame desire, and I needed that too. It was a new day, and I wanted to get digging on my mother and what she had told me, not to mention Mariano and what he was up to.
After a long shower, I slipped on a sun dress and headed downstairs where I found a very hungover Anna wearing sunglasses and one hell of a scowl.
“I know that look.” I gave her a sympathetic smile as I waved at Donte, who was prepping something green in a blender. “Can I get you anything?”
“If I wanted your sympathy, I would have asked for it,” she muttered hatefully. “Donte, for God’s sake, are you growing that fruit for the smoothie or what?”
Donte rolled his eyes and smirked as he turned up the blender to full speed. Anna groaned and covered her ears at the shrill sound of frozen fruit being roughly puréed.
I handed her a bottle of aspirin from the cabinet, but she swatted my hand away, sending the bottle flying across the room.
“I said I don’t need your help, orphan girl!” My mouth dropped open at her words. “Don’t give me that innocent look. I’ve been on to you since you arrived here.”
“Ms. Anna.” Donte shook his head with disbelief.
“You’re the help
, Donte. Know your place.” She slipped off the stool and stuck a finger in my face. “I have been part of this family since they arrived here a decade ago. Elio is mine. Mariano is my good time.” Stale bourbon poured out of her pores. “I will not let some alley cat from the streets come in here and screw it all up. I know all about you and your rise to success, but the truth is, your parents didn’t want you, and guess what, everyone here is just being nice because you had your face on a magazine cover. Do you really think Andrea and Piero are okay with who you are? Open your eyes, Sienna. This family has an image to uphold, and having some orphan hanging around doesn’t look good for their reputation.” She pointed over my shoulder. “So, there’s the door.”
I shook my head as her words cut through to my lifetime of insecurity. How could she say something so incredibly hurtful without even knowing me? I wanted to snap back something witty, but sadly, the word “orphan” rocked me off my game.
“I believe you were going to go pack?” She flicked her wrist at me and snatched the jug from Donte before sitting back down at the island.
“Right,” I muttered with a nod. “Got it.”
I turned on my heel and came face to face with Francesco.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I swallowed back my emotions, “I just need some air.”
“Ms. Sienna,” Donte called after me, but I was too embarrassed to face him.
“I know when they’re going to move their next shipment. It’s in three hours.” I handed my father Stefano’s notebook. Our meeting had started late as we had waited for Francesco, who eventually cancelled on us. It wasn’t lost on either of us that it was the first time in twenty years he had missed one of these meetings.
I had been in my office in town all day making calls and preparing for our oil shipment to arrive. I needed things to go smoothly this evening. I had spent considerable hours trying to connect with Stefano’s mind before I was able to work out how his notes were kept. “It’s the day, then month,” I explained.
“This could be old.”
“It’s not. My guess would be he has one for each year. Flip the front cover and look at the spine.”