Page 80 of Scorned Beauty

“Did Grandpa say something about it to you again? It’s old history. Why bring it up?”

Ma smiled wanly and patted my fingers. “That’s your nonno. But don’t worry. I’ll get over this.”

But my mother didn’t. Three days later, I watched Pop emerge from their bedroom as if carrying the weight of the universe on his shoulders. He sunk to the floor and buried his face in his hands. I was about to go to him when Lucy appeared out of nowhere and rushed to his side and hugged him.

I clenched my jaw. He wasn’t making it through to Ma. I had to do something. I approached my cousin Mikey, who was the current underboss of the De Lucci crime family and told him I was interested in joining the family. He looked pleased, but also thought I was out of my mind. The news reached Grandpa fast.

That was how crime families worked. The boss-to-boss bullshit.

Emilio called me that night and was the most enthusiastic he’d ever been, giving me pointers on where to start, even how to approach Pop.

Well, it was Pop who stormed into my room.

Without preamble, he roared, “I forbid it, Dominic.”

“You’ll forbid it now because you can, but when I turn eighteen, you no longer have a say.”

“I protect this family,” he snapped. “I can’t protect you if you put yourself in danger.”

“It doesn’t work that way and you know it,” I shot back. “I don’t have to work the streets.”

“You would have to deal with the criminal filth of the underworld, who has no compunction to have you killed.”

“As if that’s not what’s happening now? As much as you say we’re the legitimate side of the De Luccis, don’t tell me Mikey and them are not using your businesses to launder money.”

A movement by the door caught my attention. Lucy was glaring at me.

“Get out of here, Lucy!” I yelled at her and stalked toward her.

Pop blocked me. “Don’t you dare shout at your sister.”

“You coddle her.” I sneered. “Why don’t you teach her that this family is more than about her?”

My father’s face twisted in anguish and I almost felt ashamed at my own words. He gripped my jaw in his hands and squeezed. “This family is all I’ve ever cared about. I love your mother so much and it’s killing me I can’t reach her, but I amnotsacrificing your life for my failures.”

I gripped my father’s wrists. “You’re not a failure, Pop. Let me help.”

He dropped his hands to his sides. “The price is too steep.”

I exhaled heavily. “But it’s a price I’m willing to pay.”

Pop and I had more arguments in the following days, but one morning, Ma joined us for breakfast.

We were shocked.

She wasn’t in her ratty robe. She’d showered and changed, did her hair, put on makeup, and announced she was going shopping.

Pop and I locked eyes, resignation written all over his face.

I was on my way to becoming a made man.

Dom

The soothing wavesof the ocean did nothing to alleviate my almighty hangover.

I rolled out of bed, parched. I didn’t even remember getting into it. I sure as fuck hoped Sandro hadn’t carried my sorry ass and laid me in bed like Sleeping Beauty. And he better not have taken a picture. I grabbed my phone and saw a barrage of messages. I didn’t bother checking them and went straight to my video surveillance of Sloane.

All were blank except the perimeter and the kitchen. Fucking Sandro.