Page 24 of When She Falls (The Fallen)
“That doesn’t make it right or normal.”
“We aren’t normal. We sacrificed normal to be powerful.”
“We didn’t do anything. Our father did.”
“You say that like you’re making some kind of a point. We’re a family. A fucked-up, messed-up family, but a family nonetheless. Papà’s made it clear that my marriage is important for our family’s survival.”
That’s interesting.
I thought the marriage was a cherry on top of Garzolo’s love affair with Rafaele, nothing more. They’re already in business together.
Unless Garzolo’s been lying. If things in New York aren’t nearly as stable as he made them seem, then this alliance might be more about survival than expansion.
Valentina huffs. “I don’t understand. I thought that after you found out what they did to me by marrying me to Lazaro, you’d stop being so blindly loyal.”
“What they did to you was a horrible mistake. They both acknowledge it now. You know that, right?”
“Father only acknowledges it because Damiano forced him to. His apology to me was said through gritted teeth.”
“He’s proud, but deep down, he knows what he did was wrong. And Mamma cries in her bedroom at night. One time, I went to her, and she told me she’ll never forgive herself for putting you in that situation.”
“I don’t believe her. She suspected what was happening, at least in broad strokes. She knew Lazaro wasn’t right in the head. When I tried to give her the details, she wouldn’t listen.”
“You know she’s never gone against Papà. She didn’t know how to change anything.”
“God, Gem! I’m not ever going to forgive them, all right? I feel sorry for Mamma, I do, but not enough for me to excuse her for her role in all of this.”
“Fine. I won’t try to change your mind. Now do me the same courtesy about my upcoming marriage.”
Valentina sighs. “There was a time when you wouldn’t have been okay with marrying a Messero.”
“Maybe I’ve grown up since then. I was there when Tito died. You weren’t. They brought our cousin to our house while he was bleeding out, and I held his hand as he took his last few breaths. I’ve seen what perceived weakness can do to our family, how it makes our enemies foam at the mouth. My marriage to Rafaele will ensure things like that won’t happen again. So just stop it, okay? I’m fine with my decision. I don’t need you to try to make me feel bad about it.”
I frown. So Gemma thinks she’s saving the family. From what? Did Garzolo make up some imaginary threat to pressure her into this marriage? Or is he in actual trouble?
Either way, Garzolo’s lying to one of us.
“That’s not what I’m trying to do,” Vale says.
“It’s what it feels like. Now can we please get back to dinner? Your husband will worry about you.”
“Will yours?”
There’s a long silence and then the sound of footsteps. I press my back against the fridge and wait for them to pass, but a moment later, Gemma enters the dark kitchen.
She stops by the island and presses her palms against the counter as if to steady herself. Her shoulders and head slump.
A door opens somewhere in the distance. Must be Vale going back outside.
It’s just the two of us now.
Given we’re working with Garzolo, I can’t just ignore this. If he’s been lying about everything being stable in New York and Gemma knows something, I’ve got to get it out of her.
I step out of the shadows.
She hears the rustle of my clothes and whirls around. When she sees it’s me, her expression morphs from resignation to fury. “Were you eavesdropping?”
I walk toward the kitchen island and take a peach from the basket. “Didn’t think you were such a hero, Gem.”
