Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Kira
The mafia women’s function – held at the Ritz hotel – has always been the bane of my existence.
It’s fun to gossip with the ladies but I always leave feeling annoyed at all the catty behavior.
However, it’s a good chance to see Irina and Natasha.
Ever since Enzo touched me, I’ve been antsy and restless.
My ankle is fully healed now so I don’t need the crutches, which is good since Irina and Natasha won’t report back to their husbands about what happened between me and Enzo.
When I enter the tearoom at the hotel, I immediately spy my friends seated at a table… with Francesca and Gianna there.
What the hell?
I keep my composure as I head over to the table. “What are you doing here?”
Francesca huffs. “That’s no way to speak to me.”
“I thought you were going back to Connecticut.”
“We did but it’s not a long drive to New York. Gianna and I like to come into the city from time to time. I didn’t know that was a crime.”
“But this is a get-together for Bratva women. Not ones that belong to the Italian mafia.”
Francesca sneers at me. “Well, considering you’re a part of the Italian Mafia now, I don’t think you have any right to say that.”
Damn her.
“Kira, sit,” Irina offers, nodding at the seat next to her, which is inconveniently directly across from Francesca. “How have been things between you and Enzo? You look good.”
“I am doing good.” I don’t offer anything else. Francesca will just use it against me.
“My nephew is a good man,” Francesca cuts in.
“He did kidnap Natasha who’s sitting right next to you,” I snap.
Natasha doesn’t say a word, knowing this isn’t her battle.
Francesca waves a dismissive hand. “That was in the past.”
“And he shot my brother,” I fire back. “So no. I don’t think your nephew is a good man. But I’ve come to terms with being married to him. So…”
“You don’t have the right to speak ill of my nephew. Not with your reputation.” Her eyes rake over me with pure disgust.
“What reputation?”
“That you’ve slept with every man in the city.”
Natasha, who’s in the middle of taking a sip of her tea, spits. “What? Kira hasn’t done that.”
“Thank you. I’m not some slut, you know.”
Francesca shrugs. “That’s not what I’ve heard.”
Damn it. I let Enzo think I’ve slept with other men and somehow word has gotten out. Now everyone is going to think I’m easy. I have to hope this doesn’t get back to my dad because he’d be so disappointed in me when I haven’t done what I’m being accused of.
“Well, you heard wrong,” I snap. “And I don’t have to sit here and listen to this. I’m going.”
“Kira, wait,” Irina says. “Stay. I’ve missed you. I haven’t spoken to you all week.”
“That’s because I’ve been dealing with her annoying nephew. So blame it on him.” I storm out of the tearoom and to the nearest restroom to calm myself. Get yourself together. I can’t let Francesca get under my skin.
The door to the restroom opens and someone enters. I’m surprised to see that it’s Gianna. Her eyes are downcast so she doesn’t see me. She doesn’t say a word as she goes into one of the stalls. After a moment, I hear the sound of gagging.
With a frown, I knock on her stall door. “Gianna. Are you ok?”
She immediately stops.
“Gianna?”
“I’m ok,” she says in a quiet voice that’s hard to hear.
“It doesn’t sound like you’re ok. It sounds like you’re throwing up. Did you eat something bad?”
She flushes the toilet and comes out, not meeting my eyes, as she washes her hands and rinses out her mouth. “Yes. I ate something bad.”
“I knew this place served bad food. I’ve always known it.” I offer her a smile and she gives me a tiny one in response but still, she doesn’t look me in the eye. I know Gianna is shy but my gut is telling me she didn’t throw up because of bad food.
“It’s ok, you know. If you’re unhappy. Your aunt is the worst.”
Gianna flushes. “I just ate something bad.”
“Ok. Fine.” I’m not going to push it though I know she’s lying to me. As someone who has lied many times, I can recognize it in another person. “Hey. Do you want to get out of here?”
“I have to return home with my aunt.”
“Sure. But have you ever had fun in New York? We could go out dancing.”
“It’s the middle of the day and it’s dangerous.”
“Well… we could go to Central Park. It’s beautiful this time of year. We could walk around. Talk. You could get a moment away from your annoying aunt. Especially if she’s the reason for your upset stomach.”
Gianna stares down at the counter for a long moment. Her soft brown hair and simple summer dress make her look like she stepped out of an old Hollywood movie. “I just…”
“It’s ok to want more, Gianna. Let’s just go. We can walk around the park and then you can come back and go home with Francesca. But don’t you want a little taste of freedom?” Heaven knows I need it right now.
Gianna hesitates before nodding. “I wouldn’t mind a walk in the park. I used to go to Central Park all the time with my parents.”
“What happened to them? Enzo only told me that they died.”
“A car accident. But he always suspected that someone… did that to them. He took it hard. I was a little girl when it happened so I don’t remember much.”
So, Enzo has his own pain. If only he would share it with me, then I could use it to get an advantage over him. Or I could use it to connect with him. I’m not sure which is more scary.
“I’m sorry for your loss. I lost my mom when I was a kid too. Also a car accident. But in her case, it was just an accident. Some kid ran into her because he was drunk and that was that.”
“So why do you drink then?”
Her question startles me. “What?”
“My aunt told me about your drinking habit. I guess a lot of people know about it. If your mom died from a drunk driver, why do you drink?”
“Because sometimes it’s easier to drink and have fun than feel the pressure of your father on you.” Gently, I touch her arm. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
Gianna follows me out of the bathroom and we walk right past the tearoom without anyone noticing.
We take a cab to the park and begin our walk to the Bethesda Fountain.
“How does it feel?” I ask, waving my arms around to encompass the world.
Gianna tilts her head back and lets the sun soak down on her face. “It feels… amazing.”
Such a simple thing can make her happy. I wonder how terrible her life is that her response to the sunshine could make her smile like this. I don’t ask though. Today isn’t about bad memories.
“We should be friends,” I say, linking our arms together. She stares down at our arms in shock before she slowly nods.
“I don’t have any friends,” she admits.
“How come?”
“For my protection.”
“Well, you’re safe here. It’s just Central Park in the middle of the day. No one can hurt us here. Too many people.”
We make it to the fountain and take a seat on the edge.
“Want to make a wish?” I ask. “I don’t have any coins but I don’t think that matters.”
“I can’t remember the last time I made a wish.”
I nudge her with my arm. “Then let’s do it.” I close my eyes after Gianna does and I make a wish that I’ll survive my marriage to Enzo.
“What did you wish for?” Gianna asks after we’re done.
“I can’t tell you that, now can I? We both have to keep our wishes a secret.”
I glance over Gianna’s shoulder at that very moment – almost like I can sense something – and see Enzo storming right over to us. I scramble to my feet and after a moment, Gianna does too.
“How did you find us?” I ask once Enzo reaches our side.
“Francesca called me and told me that both of you were gone. I then tracked your phone and found you here.”
I pull my phone out of my bag. “You put a tracker on my phone without me knowing?”
“For your own safety. And it’s a good thing too. Do you know who could have found you here? Any one of my enemies. You both could have been hurt. We’re leaving. Now.”
Gianna doesn’t hesitate to follow her brother but I stand my ground. “No.”
Enzo’s back tenses. “No? What game are you playing, Kira? We’re leaving.”
“It’s Central Park in the middle of the day.
There’s tons of people around us. Who was going to hurt us?
Be serious. You just want to control me.
You don’t want me being around other people.
Other men. But your sister needed a day out.
She needed to get away from your overbearing aunt. And I gave that to her.”
“Is this true?” Enzo asks his sister.
She only ducks her chin and doesn’t respond.
“You’ve scared my sister,” Enzo snaps. “Not my aunt. You. You’re a problem, Kira.”
“Then you never should have married me,” I snap back.
“I’m seeing that now. Come along.”
“No.”
“If you don’t, I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you away. Don’t test me.”
The last thing I want is to be humiliated so I follow Enzo out of the park, knowing I have no other choice. He brings us back to the hotel where Francesca is waiting.
“Oh thank goodness,” she says when she sees Gianna. “I thought you could have been hurt. That girl is a terrible influence. Let’s go home.” Francesca grabs Gianna’s hand and drags her out of the hotel without another word. At least that’s something.
“Your sister is miserable,” I tell Enzo.
His jaw tenses. “Don’t. Don’t talk about my sister like you know her.”
“She was throwing up, Enzo. She’s miserable with your aunt.”
“Stop it,” he growls. “You are not going to spin this around and act like you did a good thing by taking my sister somewhere she could have been hurt. You fucked up, Kira.”
“By going out to Central Park? I did nothing wrong. Me and your sister are not prisoners.”
“You live within this mafia world. You know how dangerous it can be. You know how dangerous I can be. If someone had gotten their hands on Gianna…”
“She’s safe.”
“If someone had gotten their hands on you, I –,” he stops.
My heart skips a beat. Enzo almost looks like he’s concerned for me but that’s absurd. He can’t care for me. Not when he’s such an asshole.
“What?” I ask in a softer tone.
“Nothing. Now, we’re going back home and you’re not going to cause more problems for me.”
“Enzo, I did nothing wrong. You have to see that.”
“I see that you’re trouble. And I thought I could change you after we got married. I thought you’d be a fun challenge. Now I’m regretting my decision.”
He turns away from me with utter disappointment written on his face. I hate how much it stings.
I hate that I care at all.