“But they weren’t?”
I shake my head. “And then this guy started saying things like I’m beautiful and that he enjoyed watching me…” My shoulders quake with a sudden shiver. “Ew! Even thinking about it makes me want to hurl!”
“Julia,” Mama says. “What happened to Pietro?”
“I don’t know. I texted him a couple of times once I got out of there because I was so pissed off that he left me on my own to deal with that lunatic, but he never responded.” I wrap a strand of hair around my finger and tug it hard. “I hated feeling so helpless, Mama. I know I should have done something to try to get away, but I was so scared. It’s not like I’ve ever had to deal with threats like that, so my body just froze.”
“You would have acted if you needed to,” Mama says, rubbing my back.
“I don’t know about that. I felt like a deer in headlights.” My jaw twitches. “I never want to feel that way again.”
“Did you get a name? Was there anything you noticed about this man that stood out?”
“No name, but he had this tat—"
And just before the words have a chance to leave my mouth, my father storms out of his office with my Uncle Enzo on his heels.
“How the hell could you do this, Enzo?” he roars, slamming his fist on the doorframe. “What were you thinking, you selfish bastard? How could you put everything at risk? Our businesses, our lives?” I tiptoe closer to the kitchen door and peek my head out to witness the verbal lashing. My heart thumps hard against my ribcage. I’ve never seen my father so angry. I cringe as his scathing words echo throughout the house.
Enzo’s eyes pool with tears, his voice quaking. “Giacomo, please! I made a mistake, but I can fix it! I swear!”
“I don’t believe you! What about my wife? My daughter? Did you even give a shit about their safety when you got into bed with those bastards?” His voice cracks. “They’re my entire life!”
“I’m sorry!” Enzo weeps, sliding down the wall to the floor, his head in his hands. “I’m so sorry!”
Mama takes a few, tentative steps into the foyer with me right behind her. “Giacomo, what’s wrong? What has happened?”
Papa pulls Uncle Enzo off the floor and slams him against a wall so he’s facing my mother. “Look at your sister! Do you want to tell her what you’ve done, you lying sonofabitch?”
Uncle Enzo is full-out sobbing right now. I grip my mother’s shoulder, all of us silent save for the crying. “I never mean to hurt anyone! I swear to you! I love my family!”
“But that wasn’t enough for you to resist, was it?” Papa screams into Enzo’s terrified face. “Or maybe you just didn’t care because working with them meant more money in your goddamn pocket and that was enough of an incentive for you!” His chest heaves, his voice shaking. “You just killed us, Enzo. You won’t ever be able to scrub your hands clean, you worthless piece of shit! Now get the fuck out of my house!”
Enzo’s body shudders, his head rocking back and forth. “Please don’t kick me out! You’re all I have left!”
Papa grabs him by the collar, his teeth clenched. “No, Enzo. You have nothing. And you are nothing.” He unlocks the front door and flings it open, a gust of cold air rushing into the house. “Get out!”
I wrap an arm around my sobbing mother, my eyes narrowed at Uncle Enzo as he fights against Papa to stay inside.
“No, no, no! Don’t make me leave! Please!”
“Why the fuck should I listen to you?” Papa shouts, shutting the door. “Give me one good reason why I should let you stay when I need to prepare my family and get them away from here!”
“Because it’s too late,” Enzo whispers. “They’re already here, and I’m the only one who can save you!” He blurts out as Papa’s hand closes around his throat.
An icy sensation winds through my limbs as the dreaded questions explode like bullets between my ears.
Who’s here?
And what in the hell can my worthless, two-faced Uncle Enzo possibly save us from?
Papa slams the door shut, his large form towering over my uncle. “What do you mean, they’re here?”
“That’s why I came here tonight, Giacomo. To warn you that they’ve just arrived in Rome.”
“For what reason?” Papa snarls. “What have you done?”
Uncle Enzo wrings his hands again, and the tension in the air is so thick, I can barely draw in a breath.
“I to-told them I’d give them access to—”
A loud banging on the front door startles me from the drama unfolding in front of my eyes, and I jump back with a gasp. “Who is that?”
Papa turns to me, a look of fear splayed across his angular features. A brief hint of regret flashes in his sorrowful gaze before pointing to the basement door. “I’m so sorry this had to happen, amore.”
“What?” I ask. “What happened, Papa?”
The banging on the door becomes more insistent, and Papa shakes his head. “There’s no time! Get downstairs now!” he whisper-shouts. “Lock yourselves in the safe room and don’t come out for anyone, even me, do you understand? Keep the cameras on. You’ll be fine if you have each other.”
Tears fill my eyes, and I clutch Mama’s arm as I pull open the door. Once more, my gaze tangles with Papa’s tormented one. A gaggle of choked tears lodges in my throat as he rushes toward me and wraps his strong arms tight around my trembling body.
Like it’s the last hug he’ll ever give me.
God, please, no.
I melt into my father’s broad chest, feeling his heartbeat racing against me.
He’s scared.
He’s never scared.
“I love you so much,” he murmurs against my ear.
“I love you, too, Papa.” I say, my voice cracking. I glare at Uncle Enzo over his shoulder as I squeeze my father tight. He pulls away and kisses me on the forehead. “You need to go. Right now.” He presses his cell phone into my hand and then pulls my mother close, burying his head in her neck, her whimpers mixing with Enzo’s.
I grit my teeth and stomp toward my uncle, my face presses against his. “If anything happens to him, I will make you pay, you greedy asshole! You’ve had your hand out for too long and you deserve to have it cut off, along with a lot of other parts!”
Mama grabs my free hand and shakes her head with a final, tearful glance at her worthless brother, a man who has taken so much from us.
Please don’t let him take any more…
“Go!” Papa hisses.
“Why can’t Enzo stay here to deal with whoever is out there? Why do you need to be here?” I grasp my father’s hand, my voice rising in desperation. “Please, Papa. Come with us! Let him handle his own messes! It’s not your job to take care of him anymore!”
Papa’s hand gently caresses my cheek and he forces a smile. “This is my family, and I need to protect it.”
I choke back a sob as he pushes me and Mama into the basement stairwell.
“Be careful!” Mama murmurs just before I close and latch the door behind us. I hear the front door open and we linger on the stairs, listening to deep voices. Too many to count. Lots of heavy footsteps. And then…