Page 21 of Chaos & Corruption

“Yeah, not my finest moment.”

“And the food?”

“I already miss meatballs and would kill for a piece of Italian bread.”

Another chuckle and this time, my lips quirk at the sound.

“Aside from missing your mom, that was the one other thing that drove me to hell when I was in the can. Grandma Maria didn’t visit me much when I was in there, but Grandma Grace would come on the sneak of everyone and she’d smuggle in some dry sausage for me.”

“Really? I never knew that.”

“Yeah, your mother doesn’t even know that.” He sighs and there is a beat of silence. “You want me to drive up and bring you some Italian bread?”

No, I want him to drive up here and give me a hug and you know what—if I told him that, he’d be up here in a flash. That’s just who he is. Anthony Bianci will run to the end of the world for his family, sacrifice everything he is all to make sure those he loves are okay.

“Victoria,” he calls. “I was kidding.”

“No, you weren’t,” I whisper. “And I love you for that.” Dragging in a deep breath, I sit up and lean my back against the headboard. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“Have you ever felt the need to help someone but didn’t know how?”

He remains silent for a moment and I immediately regret the question. Did I mention my dad is perceptive? That there is very little that gets past him?

“Yes,” he answers finally. “A long time ago, your Uncle Mike was going through some shit. His dad had been brutally killed and he had hurt his leg, making it impossible to play football.”

“Uncle Mikey played football?”

“Sure did and he was damn good at it too. Hell, football saved him after his dad died and when he didn’t have that, he started on a downward spiral. Got himself into all sorts of trouble. Things got worse after his mother died too.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“He turned it around, but for a little while it was touch and go for him. He was bitter over losing his dad and harbored a lot of resentment toward your grandfather, but Vic didn’t give up on him and neither did I. He would send me up to Pennsylvania every weekend to check on him and when Maryanne passed, we took him back to New York. He didn’t want our help, so we were limited and everything we did, we did without him knowing. Planned his mother’s funeral, took care of his parents’ house. Vic gave him a legit job and I gave him a place to stay. Kept him safe and gave him the opportunity to make something out of himself. It’s hard to help someone who doesn’t want your help, but you find things here and there.”

I let that sink in.

“You gave him space and worked behind the scenes.”

“Yeah, and he came around.”

Maybe that’s the problem. I’ve been badgering Mila to let me help her when I should be giving her space and finding other ways to make things better for her. Like taking down the people who hurt her. I could do that. I could eliminate the threat and make it so that no one else suffers. That’s what my father would do. It’s what my grandfather would do too.

“Victoria, are you going to tell me who needs help? Did something happen? Is Mila in trouble?”

“Everything is fine,” I lie.

“Victoria,” he warns.

“Dad, I swear. There’s just this girl in one of my classes that seems a little lost and I’ve tried to befriend her, but she wants no part of me.” I pull my lower lip between my teeth. It’s a weak lie but it’s the best I can come up with. “People can be cruel.”

“It’s a cold world out there, baby girl,” he agrees. Then he sighs. “Promise me something, yeah?”

“Sure.”

“If something isn’t right over there, I want you to come to me. Don’t let me be the man behind the scenes when it comes to my daughter.”

“I promise you I’m fine but if I’m ever not—if I’m ever in trouble—you’ll be the first person I call.”

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