Damn, but it’s good to see Evangeline happy. I’ll be the first to admit I wasn’t happy that Marco handed my sister on a silver platter to Raffaele and there wasn’t a thing I could do about it. I told Evangeline that if she ever needed me or wanted to get out of there, all she needed to do was make a call. I’d find a way to get her away from him.
That call never came, and although Raffaele isn’t an openly demonstrative man, I can see that he cares for my sister. He’s embraced my parents and has them coming out for a visit next month. The casino that Ultimo Morte is building in conjunction with La Famiglia gives Mom and Dad a good excuse to visit frequently.
It’s hard to believe that Emiliano is a married man. He and Cara look good together. Emiliano has always had his sights set on Cara, and nothing and no one would change his mind. The toughest barrier was getting past Luciano, her brother. As Nero’s consigliere, he’s a formidable opponent, and Emiliano had to get him on his side.
Emiliano became the best soldier he could be. He took on the hardest assignments, pushed himself to be better, and it didn’t go unnoticed. It won him his girl.
I can’t imagine being tied down to one woman for the rest of my life. Although, I expect the talk soon from my father that I need to settle down. It’s expected, and either I’ll make a choice, or he will on my behalf. That’s our way, whether I like it or not.
At twenty-five, most of my friends the same age as me are already betrothed. I’m hoping that it’s a long engagement, and, in the meantime, I can sow a few more wild oats. I like women! All shapes and sizes, each having something beautiful to explore. I’m not a manwhore. I’m quite choosy in who I bed, but I can’t say I’ve ever been tempted to bring a girl home to meet my mama.
Maybe it’s the second scotch I gulped down or the thought of marriage in general that’s giving me a headache, but I think I need to get some air. I move out of the banquet hall and am walking past the coat closet when I hear whimpering and sobbing. I backtrack a few steps and see that it’s coming from that room.
I try to open it, and it’s locked. I hear a sharp intake of breath from the other side of the door.
“Who’s in there? Unlock the door,” I demand.
“I-I can’t,” comes a hiccupping cry. “I’m locked in,” she whispers.
“Who did this?” I rattle the doorknob.
“My-my father. Please go away. He’ll kill me if he sees you.”
Song, Artist
“Evangeline,” Stephen Sanchez
“Unholy,” Sam Smith and Kim Petras
“Supermodel,” Måneskin
“Anti-Hero,” Taylor Swift
“Beggin’,” Måneskin
“The Loneliest,” Måneskin
“I’m in Love with You,” The 1975
“Eyes Closed,” Ed Sheeran
“This is What Losing Someone Feels Like,” JVKE
“Last Night,” Morgan Wallen
“Thank God,” Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown
“Die 4 Me,” Halsey
“That’s Not How This Works,” Charlie Puth featuring Dan + Shay
“Happy,” NF
“Heaven,” Niall Horan