Page 72 of Ruin

“But he doesn’t,” I snap, then lean in, lowering my voice. “I’m not the one who tried to convince me to fuck him. That was you, remember, and I said no.”

“I told you I had to be there if—”

“Tommy! I don’t want him! And it doesn’t matter who wants to fuck me or take me from you or break us up. I’mwith you.” I lean back, touching the chain around my neck that has his ring. “There’s only one person who can change that, Tommy.”

Tommy steps closer, his amber and leather smell enveloping me. “Who?” he snarls.

“You,” I hiss.

A voice interrupts us from behind Tommy. “If you’re going to assault my daughter yet again, I’ll thank you to at least do it privately.”

Tommy lifts his gaze to the sky and sucks in a slow breath before turning to face my father. “You’re the only one here who has assaultedmypartner, Lorenzo. This conversation is none of your concern.”

My father’s face burns a dark red, a combo of alcohol and rage. “She’smydaughter. She is notyouranything, and you will treat what is mine with respect.”

I almost choke on a laugh.What’s his…

“Do you find something funny, young lady?” My father sloshes his drink in Tommy’s direction. “Are you proud of your official announcement to my business associates that you are spreading your legs for this… thug? Antonio Abbiati is working with me now, taking more of an interest in the family than you are. If you would just—”

I place my hand on Tommy’s arm as my anger comes to a boil. “It’s New Year’s Eve, and I am here with my boyfriend, Dad. What Antonio does is immaterial, and this isn’t the time to discuss your prejudices.”

Over his shoulder, my mother watches the three of us, though she continues chatting as if she weren’t.

“Prejudices?!” he shouts incredulously. “This is not prejudice, Giovanna Marino. What you are doing isagainst God!”

Seriously? Against God? Tommy and I exchange a confused look, but my mother’s tinkling laugh jerks my attention back to my father.

She’s standing beside him, a hand on his arm, that performative smile that she so often wears with him firmly in place. “That’s a bit strong, isn’t it, Lorenzo? This is a party after all. We’re not in church.”

“God is everywhere, Caterina! You of all people should know that this relationship is an abomination!” My father slurs, stumbling away from my mother.

There’s that word again: abomination. What the fuck? Have the old guys been talking? And if so, why the fuck did they land on that word together?

My mother laughs again. “Oh, Lorenzo, you know how young girls are. The more you argue against her choices, the longer she will choose what you find most distasteful.”

“You know I can’t just accept this! You. Know. I. Can’t.” He spits out each word like he’s alluding to a private understanding between them that Tommy and I aren’t privy to.

My mother’s smile remains in place, but her voice is firm. “I don’t believe you have a choice.”

“There is always a choice,” booms Aurelio, joining us. “You are making quite the scene, Lorenzo. Someone get the man another whiskey so he will leave the children to play house together. We both know it will be over soon. When my boy is done coming, he will go.”

A look of pure rage passes over my father’s face, and my mother hides behind her wine glass, her eyes on me then my father. I grind my teeth but stay quiet. Aurelio hates ustogether, but he must hate my father more if he’s pretending to be okay with our relationship.

“Don’t worry. Don’t worry. I will give the boy enough work to do that he won’t have time to knock up your little daughter.” Aurelio laughs at the fury on my father’s face. “Come, you and I will have a drink.”

Everyone’s eyes are on my father, waiting for his response; refusing a drink with the head of the Demonio family is a death sentence. Lorenzo looks like he’d rather kill Aurelio than exchange another word, but he shoves his glass into my mother’s chest without looking at her and snarls at Aurelio, “Lead the way.”

Aurelio nods, gloating darkly. “Yes. I lead. You follow.”

The three of us watch the two men move toward one of the bars in the back of the rooftop.

My mother touches my cheek softly, her eyes glistening with tears, her words directed at Tommy. “Take care of our girl.”

She smiles at me and turns away, shaking her head at the two women who are waiting, giving them her best tinkling laugh. “Men and whiskey! The worst combination!”

I turn back to Tommy, but he’s already moving in close to me. “Don’t apologize to him again, Giovanna. He’s not worth your time or concern.”

I stroke his cheek and tuck his hair behind his ear. “You’re the only man I’m concerned with, Tommy. Now will you please take me home so that we can start the new year together the right way?”