Page 24 of Secrets of the Brother
He backhanded me across the face, sending me flying into the adjacent wall. My vision blurred and there was a sharp ringing in my ears as he shouted his final command.
“You will do as you are told, young lady. There is no money for New York. We have already closed your bank account and cancelled your tuition payment for next semester. We have also cancelled the lease on your apartment. You will do your duty and charm the Cavalieri cousin into a marriage proposal or so help me God, you will wish it was you instead of your sister in that grave.”
With that he stormed out.
I held a shaking hand to my burning cheek and stared at my mother through blurry, tear-filled eyes.
She held up a knife and checked her lipstick in the reflection. “I don’t understand why you are fussing, Bianca. You will be rich and a Cavalieri.”
“I don’t care about the money and the last thing in the world I want is to be a Cavalieri.”
“Only people with money say they don’t care about money.”
“I won’t marry him.”
She shrugged. “Then you will be cut off.”
She rose and smoothed her skirt over her thighs. “New York is a very expensive city, daughter. You’re not a good enough artist to make it there on your own merit.”
She didn’t know that I already had a few clients. Good ones. Companies based in Italy who appreciated a designer who spoke Italian. The problem was, I didn’t have long-term contracts with any of them. If the money dried up, I could be left destitute.
My mother circled around the breakfast table and stepped up to me. She lifted up my chin. “I think your father did you a favor. You were looking too pale. Now your cheeks are nice and bright.”
My eyes widened.
She walked toward the door but turned to face me before leaving. “Be a good daughter and do as you’re told, Bianca. I warned you. There are things at play here that are beyond your comprehension. Trust me. This is the best solution. If you can’t get Matteo Cavalieri to propose, and quickly, you won’t like our other option.”
With that threat, she left.
Something seriously fucked up was going on here.
My parents’ obstinate refusal to talk about Renata’s murder.
Their strange insistence that it was an accident.
Now, their hints at money issues and threats about forcing me to marry Matteo Cavalieri.
What weren’t they telling me?
What secret were they keeping?
There was only one way to find out.
The way anyone learned anything when living in a mountain village in Italy.
I looked at the clock on the wall. If I hurried, I would be just in time for the stalls to open on market day in the piazza.
If the villagers were going to gossip about my family, I might as well know what they were saying. If I headed to the market, maybe I’d get lucky and someone would gossip within earshot of me.
CHAPTER7
ENZO
“You want us to kidnap Bianca Moretti?” asked Cesare.
He shifted in his chair, tossing an elbow over the back. “I’m not objecting. I just want to be clear on our new family project.”
Papà finished making his espresso and turned to lean against the kitchen counter. “Call me old-fashioned, but don’t you think kidnapping the sister of the woman you are about to be accused of murdering a bit risky?”
