Page 127 of Dominance

“You’ve seen the way he is. At some point he became more impulsive and violent. Prone to rash decisions. We thought he was on drugs for a while, but he pulled it together when he thought he was going to inherit the throne. When he didn’t, he was crushed, naturally. I was surprised when he stuck around, working for my brother. But one day, suddenly, he just ghosted us. The whole family.”

A pause settles, pain tinting his features.

When it seems like he won’t continue, I start, wanting to give him a break and to contribute to our exchange. Picking a spot at random in my childhood, I dive in.

“One of my first memories of moving around was actually my grandmother, on my mother’s side. We visited her for a summer in Andora. Even as a little girl, I remember thinking it was one of the most beautiful places I would ever go.”

“I’ve driven through it. It’s unreal.”

“But, like I said, we stayed on the move. In retrospect, it was likely because my mother was on the run from the mob in some capacity. Whether my father, or someone else.

“Which is why I was so sad when she started dating Claude. He was a thug, low-level, but definitely involved with scary people. The only time we fought about it, right before they got married, she said it was for our protection. That it would guarantee that we could stay put in Paris.”

“She bought your freedom from a life on the lamb.”

“It cost her everything. Her health deteriorated supporting us. Especially after she went back to work after maternity leave with Anna. I took care of her most of the time.”

“Another thing we have in common. Changing our siblings’ diapers.”

“Anna grew out of them fast, thank goodness.”

“The twins didn’t. I still have to clean up after them.” He grins, brightening the day. “Keep talking, but let’s walk. You have to see the Duomo while you’re here.”

Adriano offers me his hand, slipping his fingers between mine. So naturally.

Like we’ve always done this.

As we walk along the river wall, he glances at me, an invitation to continue.

“Skip ahead a bit: I was almost finished with my master’s degree in Paris when we met. I had plans to join a firm, or maybe become an accountant for some of the small businesses I worked for putting myself through college.”

“Like what?”

“I sweat my ass off in a boulangerie one summer learning how to bakepain au chocolatandchouquettes. Then there was the bistro, serving food, beer, and coffee. I liked both of those better than being a tour guide.”

“Wow. You’re so prolific! I’ve never had a real job.”

Taking a sip from my bottle, I almost spit my mouthful of water out at the admission.

“What? I’ve always worked for my family,” he defends. “And I mean, I did work for so many members of the syndicate. Just about anything you can think of. But never really for long or for a wage.”

“I see. You said you went to university, though. When we met.”

“Several. Never finished much of anything. Mostly becausethe lifewould inevitably catch up with me.”

“Turns out, I can relate. Thatlifecaught up to me and I never knew I was part of it until it did.”

“I can’t imagine that. What you went through.”

“It was a shock, to be sure. Just finding out my father was still alive.”

“How did you? You said he found you, after all these years?”

“Well, he sent me a letter. After buying out all my debt, offering me a job. I didn’t find out until later that he bought out my apartment unit to make me have to leave. But I found out he was alive just before that. Right before, actually.”

Adriano leans over the table, his brow furrowing in interest.

“This guy scared the shit out of me outside my apartment that night, following me. Said he was a cop. FBI, actually.”

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