Page 36 of Texting My Mafia Boss

“I didn’t know that,” I say, my heart going out to her.

“Those were the sweetest years in my life. I come from a family like this, like Vera’s. Do you know what I’m saying?”

Yeah—the mob.

“I think so.”

“In this life, women are used like pawns. Men are too, only to a lesser extent. Marriage is often used to bring families closer together. To form alliances, whether they want it or not. I would never say this in front of Sylvie, but Vera and Ettore were not in love. He openly admits this, and so did she, before the car crash.”

I watch and listen, rapt.

“Vera tried her best to be a good mother, but I think, when she looked at Sylvie, she only saw the things which led to this marriage. So, she hid away in her room. She left the childcare to us. Sometimes – please, never repeat this – but sometimes, I’m relieved Sylvie doesn’t remember any of this.”

I swallow, reaching out from the sheets and taking Livia’s hand. She’s not cold, I realize suddenly. She’s just guarded. “I understand,” I murmur. “Family connections can be… confusing.”

“I’m telling you all this because I think you have a chance.”

“A chance at what?”

“To change Sylvie’s life. And maybe Ettore’s too.”

I swallow. “That’s a lot of responsibility.”

She stands. “I know. And maybe it’s not fair of me to talk to you like this. But I think you might be a lost soul too, like me, like Ettore, like Sylvie in many ways.” She sighs. “If you don’t think you can stick around, please, make your decision quickly. Cutting the bond now, while it’s fresh, will hurt Sylvie. But it will be much, much worse if it grows stronger.”

She leaves me, shutting the door quietly.

I think about her words, knowing the temptation to leave should be greater. I got this gig to pay off the house my estranged aunt left for me, the woman who didn’t care about me when she was alive. It was supposed to be a job, nothing more.

CHAPTER 14

ETTORE

Iwake in the night to take a leak, then see that I’ve got a text from Mara, sent only a few minutes ago. I open our message thread.

Mara: Livia came to talk to me earlier. I can’t stop thinking about what she said. I don’t want to betray any confidences, so I won’t go into details. But it made me think about my place here.

I quickly reply.

Ettore: She told me she was going to talk with you. I know she told you about Vera, about that messy dynamic. I know she asked you to make a decision for Sylvie’s sake.

Mara: What do you think about it?

I get an image of her sitting up in bed, biting her lip, beautiful face tight with emotion.

Ettore: I want you to stay.

Mara: Were you lying earlier when you talked about heaven and hell?

I push down the instinct to be offended. She has every right to ask this. She was in foster care. She was abandoned. She’s smart to keep her guard up, even if I know I’m telling the truth. I don’t hurt innocents. I try to do my best, as much as this wicked city will allow.

Ettore: No. I won’t lie to you, Mara. You deserve the truth. You deserve respect.

Mara: Good. Because I’ve decided to stay. Maybe that makes me crazy. But I want to do my best for Sylvie. And I want to keep digging into you.

Ettore: You’ve already gone deeper than anyone ever has.

Mara: That’s a shame, Ettore. You shouldn’t have to spend your life locked inside yourself.