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“I just came by to see how everyone is doing after the crash. Sounds like it was a lucky escape for you guys,” he answers with sickly smooth faux concern.

Yeah, I bet you’re really bloody concerned, mate.Snake. Lower than a snake’s belly.

“The ‘crash’ was intentional, as was the clip that I emptied into the guy holding a knife to your sister’s neck,” my words practically gather frost as I spit them. “How is Francesca? I’m sure you’ve been to see her first?”

“She lives here doesn’t she?” Stefan seems genuinely concerned that he has picked up a piece of dodgy intel somewhere along the way.

“She’s with her parents tonight. It has been a traumatic experience for her.” And she is likely to be further traumatised by having to spend time in close proximity to her heartless parents.

We stare at each other, him standing awkwardly in front of my desk, toeing the edge of the rug under his feet. While I’m showing nothing but cold, hard composure, the knowledge that Stefan may have been willing to put a hit on his own sister to destabilise ourFamigliahas me on edge. Assuming it was his hit. He seems the obvious candidate.

“I wonder, Stefan, who do you think has a reason to take out your sister?” I don’t blink and he meets my gaze without a quiver.

Something clicks into place in his brain and Stefan suddenly exudes confidence. He drops into one of my chairs and sits as if he is relaxing in his own lounge. “Let’s speak honestly, yeah?”

I raise an eyebrow. “I assumed we already were.”

“We both know Elio is in over his head,” he pauses for dramatic effect which I don’t acknowledge. “He’s on thin ice with the capos already. The Rossis aren’t happy.”

“You seem to have an ear for all sorts of gossip,” I yawn and look at my watch.

“Come on, G. Don’t give me that shit. Don’t be coy,” his smirk is irritating. Almost as irritating as him calling me G. We may have known each other as kids, but he has been in Melbourne for about 15 years. Francesca barely knows the guy and he’s her brother.

“Have you got anything to say, mate? I’ve got shit to do,” he doesn’t need to know that I’ll probably just go to bed and mope over his sister all night.

“Shit is going to get messy. Elio will lose control and the capos will look for leadership elsewhere. Save us all the trouble and support me to step in. I’ll keep you asconsigliere, right hand. We’re family. It has always been Rossis and Marinos. Elio doesn’t want this. Are you going to stand there and watch him fuck everything up?”

Finally, some honesty from the man.

I stand and place two hands on my desk, leaning forward. “Listen very carefully. Sydney Cosa Nostraisthe Marino Family. You say things will get messy… If you threaten my family again, I will put a bullet in your brain. If you even think about harming Francesca again, I will make sure your death is slow and fuckin’ excruciating.”

Stefan stares, a muscle in his cheek pulses, and rage blackens his expression. He opens his mouth to speak but I don’t want to hear it. I hold a hand up. “Get out, Stefan. Now.”

Chapter Forty-Four

Francesca

There is no way I would have gone to my parents’ house if they had actually been there. Luckily for me, they are away on a skiing trip in Queenstown. My mother doesn’t even ski, but she likes all the pageantry around it. The outfits, the cosy fires, mulled wine, and photos in front of beautiful scenery.

Performance. So much performance. I’m sick of it. The only person who has ever been real with me is Massimo, but now I don’t know how much of that was pretence too. I used to think Giovanna was real, but she is just a fantasy of my own making. I built her up into this impossibly perfect human and projected all of my desperate feelings onto her.

What I experienced with her when we had sex is entirely different from what she experienced. It was just fucking for her. For me, it was the realisation of everything I ever desired. I have fantasised and dreamt about being with her for years and it was finally real. All the men I’ve slept with were fine, I mean I enjoyed sex with most of them, but being with her was like what I imagine taking a first hit of heroin is like. Pure ecstasy, a surge of glorious pleasure followed by peace.

The withdrawals are bad. It hurts now. Like my heart has been ripped out of my chest and shoved into a blender. Eventually, maybe I will be glad that I had that one night with her. I won’t die wondering what it would be like to be with the only person I’ve truly yearned for.

Now I need to protect myself. Set up some defences. But I can only do that if I stay away from Giovanna. I need to stay away from all of the Marinos and give myself room to think.

I go to work and hang out with Sammy. I envy her strength and the way she simply refuses to take any shit. She is independent in a way that I can only wish to be.

She is the only person outside of the Famiglia who I have told about the Elio situation and the only one other than Massimo who knows about Giovanna. She doesn’t judge me outwardly, but I am still embarrassed because I know she would never allow herself to be married off to a man she didn’t love.

“Why can’t you just marry Giovanna?” she asks as we lie next to my parents' swimming pool.

“Well, for a start she would have towantto marry me. But also I’m supposed to be making Elio settle down and be a stable boss. Not sure that is possible, to be honest. He needs a wife who is less of a pushover.”

“This shit is totally archaic, babe,” she sighs sympathetically. “At least Elio is hot though.”

It is the first time I have heard her express attraction to anyone. I thought she might be gay at first. She is a total tomboy. A beautiful tomboy, but I’m pretty sure she doesn’t even own a dress. “You think he’s hot? Never seen you drool over anyone!”