“I want to be there with her.”
“I want you to stay out of family business.”
“My sister is my family.”
I shook my head, my tone harder when I spoke. “Your sister is in over her head, and I want her out of it too. Can I trust you to stay here, or do I have to bind you?” I needed her to know this conversation was over.
She glanced at the restraints, perhaps remembering how easily I could do just what I said.
“You make me really mad,” she said.
“Mad I can handle. I just need you safe.”
She nodded.
“I need to have a shower. Stay.”
“Can I at least call Izzy?”
“That’s okay by me.” I tossed her my phone and walked into the bathroom to have a quick shower before everyone got there. It was going to be a long night.
I wasn’t surprised when Dominic didn’t show up.
I also wasn’t surprised to find Lucia making her way down the stairs, dressed, clumsily working her crutches.
My father and Roman stood in the foyer watching her, my father looking at her with tired eyes rather that the contempt he normally showed. I walked up to her with a look that said I’d deal with her later, but when I tried to take her crutches and carry her down, she refused.
“I’m not an invalid. I just need to get used to these. Besides, my ankle can take a little weight.” She flinched as she demonstrated putting a bit of weight on it.
“Pigheaded.”
I walked the steps with her to make sure she didn’t fall. By the time we got down, Natalie walked into the house with a sleeping Jacob in her arms.
“Father, Roman, why don’t you go ahead into the dining room.”
They both nodded and left. Everyone was tired.
Rainey went to Natalie and took the bag off her shoulder. I’d woken her to prepare a room.
“Natalie, I’m sorry to keep you and Jacob up so late, but I thought you’d be more comfortable here,” I said.
“I’d be most comfortable in my own house,” she said, glaring at my father’s receding back.
Lucia giggled, then had the presence of mind to cover it up with a cough.
“This is Lucia,” I said. “Lucia, Natalie. And my nephew Jacob.”
Jacob stirred, opening his eyes then closing them again. I watched how Lucia looked at Natalie and saw Natalie with renewed eyes. I’d known her for so long, and she’d been so much like a sister to me from day one that I sometimes forgot how attractive she was, even with her long dark hair wound into a bun, wearing no makeup, and dressed in an old pair of pajamas.
“Nice to meet you,” Lucia said. She then peeked at Jacob. “You probably want to get him to bed.”
“And me too. It’s nice to meet you. Salvatore’s told me about you.”
They both glanced at me.
“Should I be worried?” Lucia asked.
Natalie smiled and shook her head. “Not given the way he looks at you,” Natalie said with a wink.
“Why don’t you go up with Natalie and help her get herself and Jacob settled,” I said to Lucia. I then pulled her in close. “And this time, stay up there,” I whispered, squeezing her ass so she knew she’d pay if she came down again.
“Fine. I don’t want to be around your father anyway.”
I didn’t offer to help her upstairs this time. She’d refuse anyway. Instead, I went into the dining room and closed the doors.
“Where’s Dominic?” I asked.
“Don’t know,” my father answered.
“I thought he’d come home,” I said.
“Why would you think that?” my father asked.
“Because I talked with him. He was at Isabella DeMarco’s house.”
My father’s lips tightened. “What the fuck was he doing there?”
It wasn’t my place to tell him about Effie. I’d let Dominic do that when he was ready. Strange. I realized just then how difficult these last five years must have been for my brother. He’d abandoned his child and a woman he’d at one point cared about all out of fear of my father’s disapproval, his wrath. He’d wanted his acceptance, his approval, as much as I had. Maybe he still did. He was as much a puppet to my domineering father as I was.
Roman cleared his throat.
“Why do I get the feeling you two know more than you’re letting on?” my father asked.
“Let me make a call. I think I may know where he is,” Roman said, standing.
“It’s important he’s here,” I said. “Critical, actually.”
He nodded and made the call. My father and I waited in awkward silence until Roman returned. Rainey knocked and entered with a tray holding a bottle of whiskey and several glasses. I poured for everyone and sent her to bed. She’d need to be up early to greet the remainder of our guests. It was only a few hours before they got here.