Page 30 of The Fates We Tame

“She’ll forgive us eventually,” another says.

“That’s what Alessio said this morning. But she doesn’t know her own mind.”

There are lines on her forehead as she listens. And I remember the conversation I heard before I had trouble with the stairs. My head hurts like someone just drove an icepick into it.

“Remember our family code.La mia famiglia prima di tutto. We all win once she’s married. Even her.”

Sophia lurches to stand, but I grab her and press my finger to my lips.

The other huffs. “It’s a marriage of convenience to strengthen the family. Would you want to be married to someone fifteen years older than you?”

“He’s a billionaire. You know how she likes to spend money.”

“How shelikedto spend money. She’s not the same as she was, and she’s still not going to forgive us.”

There’s a pause, then the beep and click of the car doors being locked. “Then at least we’ll know we’re secure. Don Consolo is thecapo famiglia. By Soph marrying his son, no one will be able to touch us.”

“He called her ‘damaged goods,’ Luca, for fuck’s sake.”

“And Dad’s made some bad business decisions in the past year. It’s only Alessio working behind the scenes that has us holding on by a thread. It’s a fair trade to align our families and have Alessio take over some of Don Consolo’s holdings here.”

Something in my gut flips. Sophia looks at me, terror etched in her features.

The sharp crunch of their footsteps and their voices trail away, just as the first tear spills over her lashes and runs down her cheek.

“I…” She flounders for what to say next, and I stand before tugging her into my arms.

“Stop crying,” I say firmly.

She looks up at me like I’m heartless. “Did you not hear my brothers?”

I drag my thumbs beneath her eyes, skirting beneath her eye patch like I’d seen her do earlier. “Yes. I heard them. And every single thing we do next could inform them of what we know. So, the first thing is to dry your tears. You’re going to need to act.”

“What do I do?” she says. “Did they try to make me marry some guy and I tried to run? Is that why I was in that car?”

“It sounds like it, but we can’t assume anything yet. Let’s just get through their visit. Under no circumstances go anywhere other than the visitors’ area. Make up an excuse. Your hip hurts too badly to climb the stairs, the cleaning staff is in your room, anything. I’m going to keep an eye on you; you might not see me. But trust me, I’ll be there, Soph.”

“They told me they were going to take me to Sicily with them. They made it sound like they were doing me a favor. Like it was a holiday. They were going to give me to a man. What if?—?”

“Soph,” I say, cutting her off. “Focus. Tell them you’ve been outside. You slipped on the wet pavement and hurt your hip, which made you cry. You’re fine, but you don’t want to walk. We need to listen. Learn everything. Ask as many questions as you feel like you can. Go, and trust me.”

We hurry back into the building, and I try to take my own advice. We can process what it all means when we’ve dealt with her brothers’ visit. But one thing is clear: her family is connected.

I take her hand as we walk, trying to reassure her she’s not on her own in this.

I’m not sure where the fierce protective urge to look after her is coming from. Guess I’ll process that later too.

Along with the way her hand fits so perfectly in mine.

When we get inside, I stop and place my hands on her biceps. “Go ahead. I’ll be watching, Sparrow. They will not be able to do anything to you. I promise.”

I thought when my memories came back, it would be like a switch. One day I would remember nothing; the next, everything. But the truth is, my memories are like a developing Polaroid picture.

Some things are just more in focus…more instinctual.

Like setting up a perimeter to secure Sophia. Or why I even feel like I need to set up a perimeter at all. I know Irv has the front, and if I alerted him, I know he’d react quickly and lock the front door.

I close the fire door behind me that leads to the pool corridor. There’s a small nook with glass walls that faces out onto the gardens. There are tall plants flanking the entrance to it, and I tuck myself behind one of them. I can see Sophia limp toward her brothers.