Page 20 of Pocketful of You

In fear?

In horror?

In admiration?

I couldn’t tell.

Maybe all three.

"You do not remember me," he mused, more to himself than anyone else. "That is not what I was expecting." He offered me a roguish smile. "I am told that I am a hard man to forget."

"It was a lifetime ago," Dad interjected. "She remembers nothing of your reign."

"Fifteen years to be exact," Raffaele countered evenly. "And do not fear,traditora,I remember enough for all of us." Stroking his jaw, he tilted his head to one side, his razor-sharp eyes still studying me. "Do you know why your father brought you here, child?"

"No." Trembling, I shook my head. "But please let me go," I croaked out. "Please, sir, I don’t –"

My words broke off when my father's hand connected with my face. "Silence, Ramona," he warned, spitting out the words. "Don’t. Speak. Again."

Ignoring the tears burning my eyes, I dropped to my knees, more out of shock than pain. My father had never struck me before this moment. Not even once. I suddenly realized what I had always known deep down. I was alone in the world. Without Sketch, I had nothing.

Sketch…

"And you wonder why your world is falling down around you," Raffaele mused softly. "You have forgotten the code."

"Poweris everything," Dad snarled, tone defensive, as he roughly dragged me back to my feet. "I remember the code just fine, Raff."

"Loyalty, family, andthenpower," Raffaele corrected in an eerily soft tone of voice. "Although, I cannot say that I am surprised to hear you list power. Whenloyaltywas never high on your priorities, was it,comrade?" His smile deepened and it chilled me to the bone. "You betrayed youril capo,your first in command, and you left him for dead." He tutted softly. "And then you took what was not yours to take." With a small shake of his head, Raffaele reached for his cigar and placed it between his lips. "That was most dishonorable."

"We both know why I did what I did," my father replied, tone emotionless. "I stand over my decision."

Raffaele's eyes darkened in challenge. "Is that so?"

"A conscience has no place in our world and yours was blinding you," Dad countered evenly. "Face facts, Raffaele, you got soft and let that pretty, little wife of yours sway your head." He narrowed his eyes. "You let her lead you astray from the family."

"Which is why you took matters into your own hands?" Raffaele offered coolly. "Why you betrayed yourcapoand sent me to prison? To put right all of my wrongdoings?"

"Everything I did was for the good of the family," Dad countered. "I brought in more money –"

"We donotdeal in women!" Raffaele roared, slamming his fist down on the desk. We haveneverdealt inwomen. Not in five generations, but what do you do the minute you overthrow me? You piss on our ancestors!" Furious, he grabbed a golden ornament off his desk and threw it against the wall, barely missing my father – who, to his credit, didn’t flinch. "I am not a good man, Calisto. I have never claimed to be. I am a bringer of death, just as every man in this room is. However, I am afairman. Iama man of the code. Butyou–" he paused to give my father gun fingers, "you bring shame onallof us. Everything you did was for greed," the Italian continued. "A greed you will soon pay for."

"Raff –"

"Was it painful?" he asked then, leaning back in his seat. "When I returned from prison and took back my power? When men – men who you were so convinced of their loyalty – returned to their rightfulcapo? Did it hurt just a little, Calisto? To learn that power isnothingwithout loyalty? I imagine it could not have been easy to sleep at night, knowing that I was out there, rebuilding my army by dismantling yours."

"What is this?" I choked out, horrified. "Are you a part of…the mafia or something?"

"Or something," Raffaele chuckled, eyes lighting up. "I like this one,traditora. I think I will keep her for my own personal entertainment. Her innocence is very endearing, no? And I must say it doesn’t hurt that she takes after hermammain the looks department."

My father's face turned purple. "Fuck you!"

"No," Raffaele laughed. "Fuckyou, Calisto. You are a foolish man," he added, gaze flicking to me. "To bring this beauty to me after all you have done."

Red-faced, my father cleared his throat. "You agreed–"

"I know what I agreed to,traditore,"Raffaele interrupted, gaze sweeping over me. "I am, however, surprised to say the least, that you agreed to the trade. This one –" he waved a hand in my direction, "you raised from birth, and yet you give her to your enemy so easily."

"If you think this is easy for me, then you don’t know me like you think," Dad bit out, shaking with temper. "I love my daughter –"

---