Page 68 of Unraveling Fate

Basta,Giulia typed.Don’t be a brat. I haven’t seen you in like a year. Maybe I miss you. What do you think about visiting this summer? If I can tear Chiara away from her ragazzo of the month, we can all tour around together.

An ache sparked in Cadenza’s heart. Her sisterwantedto tour around Italy together? But something didn’t quite add up. She frowned at the phone. “Umm…”

“Eh?” asked Drostan.

“Nothing,” she said. “I think Giulia’s got her timing mixed up is all.”

Or,Cadenza typed.We could hang out next month when I’ll be there anyway.

You’re going to be here next month?

Earth to Giulia. For the part you and Mamma arranged for me, remember?Cadenza checked the dash clock. Venice was nine hours ahead of California, but it wasn’t late enough that Giulia would be overly tired. Too many glasses of wine with dinner, maybe?

What part?

Cadenza’s breath froze in her throat.No. No, no, no, no.She hit the call button instead of texting again.

Her sister answered after two rings. “Pronto?”

“What do you mean ‘what part’?” Cadenza didn’t bother saying hello. “I have a chorus part in one of the festival productions. You and Mamma set it up for me.”

No response came over the line.

“Giulia!” A cold sweat prickled down Cadenza’s neck. “What do you mean ‘what part’?”

Drostan glanced over in concern, but she held up a hand for him to wait.

Giulia’s voice shrank. “I thought Mamma told you.”

“She told me I had to have my ticket earlier, and she told me she needed more money for my Permesso di Soggiorno.” Cadenza’s free hand gripped the arm rest.

“Porco cane,” Giulia cursed. “Non ci credo. No, I take that back. I absolutely believe it.”

“Believe what?” Cadenza’s voice came out strained and thin.Please don’t say what I think you’re going to say.

“The niece of the direttore took the part. They decided that about a week and a half ago. After Mamma got fired.”

“She gotwhat?”

“They fired her. She got in trouble with some kind of mafioso. Owed him money or something. The director found out and didn’t want bad press for the festival, so he fired her.”

Cadenza swung her head back and forth. This could not be happening.

“Caddie, what’s wrong?” Drostan whipped his gaze between her and the road.

“I’m so sorry, sis,” Giulia said. She even sounded like she meant it. “There’s no part for you.”

“I have to go.” Cadenza hung up the phone. A week and a half ago. The same time her mother had told her to have more money for the “bribe.” And to send it to her directly.

“Oh my gosh. O my—” Her breath came in ragged gulps.

No part.

Pressure built in her chest. Gravity tilted.

No part. No Teatro la Fenice.

She braced her arms against the dashboard as if she were about to fall. Hot tears burned her cheeks.