Page 19 of Depraved

I can’t help but feel protective. She’s unknowingly hit a nerve. One I never expose because it’s so raw that it clouds my judgment.

I hit the number staring back up at me, hoping for a push in the right direction. Whichever that may be.

The line rings twice before Dominic answers abruptly.

“What’s up?”

“Abbiamo un problema.”We have a problem.

“It’s 4:00 a.m., Dante. The sun’s up…we can’t hide the body just yet. I just got to the office,” he laughs, and I hear papers shuffle in the background.

“La tua falsa sorella è nei guai. Sono al club.”Your fake sister’s in trouble. I’m at the club, I say, clipped.

“What the fuck? Hold on. I’ll patch in Luca.”

I’m met with silence, then more silence, before the line echoes, and I know I’ve been put on a conference call. Luca’s voice takes over. “Explain.”

“Non ora. Ascoltami, so che lei è importante per te, ma non so quanto cupo e caotico possa essere il suo problema, quindi prima di decidere ho una domanda da farti. Cosa vorresti che facessi?”Not now. Listen to me, I know she means something to you, but I don’t know how dark or deep she’s in with her mess. So, I’m asking before I decide. What do you wish me to do?

“Protect her,” Dominic barks without hesitation with Luca doing the same on the heels of his words. “How the fuck is that even a question, dick?”

I let out a frustrated breath. “La donna testarda ha rifiutato l’aiuto che ho offerto. Non sono un cazzo di eroe, fratello. Ricorda con chi stai parlando…”The stubborn woman refused the help I offered. I’m not a goddamn hero, brother. Remember who you’re speaking to…

“You aren’t a monster either. Remember who the you fuckweare,” Luca pushes angrily.

“Since when has pushback stopped you from doing anything needed?” Dom questions.

I let out a long breath before answering them. “Questa merda è molto più complicata per me. Voi due lo sapete. Di tutte le persone…voi dovreste saperlo.”This shit is so much more complicated for me. You two know that. Of all people…you know.

Dominic interjects, a seriousness woven into his words. “We do, but Luca’s right, Dante. We choose not to be like our father or our uncle. You don’t have to make their decisions all over again.”

I hear him, but I won’t risk my family for Sarah.She’s nothing to me. Ultimately, she’s just a girl I fucked. But even as I think it, I don’t like the way it sounds.

I may not love her, but that night…what we did, I feel connected to her in a way I can’t shake.

“Ho bisogno di un motivo migliore. Io prendo decisioni che riguardano tutti noi. Dimmi perché le ho dato valore se lei ha rifiutato il mio aiuto? Dimmi, perché continuo ad insistere?”I need a better reason. I make decisions that affect all of us. Tell me why I put value on her when she’s turned down my help? Tell me why I force my hand?

“We choose to protect our family, not let greed and self-interest rule our lives. She’s family, Dante. She’s important to us. To me and Dom,” Luca adds.

There’s only one answer I can give. Luca knows that. He’s given me my reason….my excuse.

“Quindi lei è importante per me.”Then she’s important to me, I answer, nodding my head, making peace with what I’m about to do.

“Hey. Do we need to be concerned about what’s coming?” he asks solemnly.

I look back over my shoulder at the woman standing wide-eyed and wild in the center of the room and wonder if I could’ve actually let her go it alone.

Hating that I might have.

Relieved I won’t have to know.

“Non lo so. Ma lei sarà protetta. Consideralo…done.”I don’t know. But she’ll be protected. Consider it…done.

Pulling the cell from my ear, I cover it and tell Vincenzo to take her to my house and lock her down.

She starts yelling at me for an explanation, but right now, I need to get stitched up, grab a drink, and get my goddamn head straight.

Like I said, she’s bringing trouble, and I just opened my doors wide to greet it.