Page 126 of Wicked

I play hard, fast, and rough, but for some reason here and now, my heart pumps fast. As I look at Tito in the passenger seat, he stares back at me in silence. There is something about Tito that I don’t want to lose. He may represent the castle, my past, or my grandfather. Who the hell knows.

I go to rub Tito’s head, but he pulls back. It’s not the first time he’s done it since Raven ran, and I get the feeling he doesn’t like me anymore. That is actually a lie.

Tito seems to hate my guts, and he’s just as bad as my relatives.

“Figlio di puttana!” I mumble.

Motherfucker.

Tito’s eyes twitch, and I shake my head. “Not you, the universe!”

As I enter my parents’home, it’s like returning to the scene of a crime. Inside, they’re oddly calmer than I expect, but they do demand I clean up the horrific mess. I can tell they respect mefor trying to keep the castle and for being successful in New York.

I push on and I explain my damage control strategy. I tell them I’ve hired the best PR firm in Rome, and I explain I’m focused on protecting the family name.

I secured the PR firm on the way down the coast over the phone, and I told them money is no object. They were well aware of the media shitstorm, and they have their best team on it.

My grandfather will have to understand my small investment, and I am not spending money on buying the castle, just protecting the family reputation.

As I pace fireside, my always distant parents remain calm. Then comes the pressure in a long rant ending with -

“And settle down, move back to Italy!”

I ignore my father’s ridiculous demand, and I force myself to breathe. “And find an Italian woman, Dante. And a woman who is at least… stable,” my mother adds.

They start to speak Italian, and for some reason they both let loose. I try to control myself, but I fail miserably. The discussion turns into an intense argument and all hell breaks loose.

The Italian words they just used insinuated Raven is unstable or mentally unfit. I finally snap, ranting like a hot-blooded Italian.

“Raven is a unique and amazing woman, and I will have no other! No one in the fucking world! She is the very reason we still have the family castle. Raven is also, a huge fan of Italy, and everyone knows that!” I try to stop talking, but I can’t. “Something about the travel article stinks, and I will get to the bottom of it.”

I had not planned to lose my shit and yell, but screw it. Raven is worth protecting, and I protect who I…

Like.

I leave more dramatically than planned, and I shower the front door with pebbles. Tito looks at me weirdly as I race the Ferrari out of the gates. Screw it, theclock is ticking.

I have a castle to protect… And a girl to get back.

53

RAVEN

I eventually reach NYC and our small yet cool apartment. I make herbal tea with honey, and I walk onto the roof with my phone. I also carry my life with me, that being my small daypack. I sit as the sun rises, and I try to imagine myself navigating the chaos ahead.

Every way I look, there is chaos. Work life… general life… love life. A complete disaster.

How am I not a disaster, too, if my life is one?

I have to be a screw up, no good to anyone.

After a long shower, I catch up with Parker, and we talk about my disastrous life. Parker gives me a few pointers, and as always, she is cool. She does, however, tell me to be careful going forward.

Over the next few days,I avoid calls and messages from Dante. I also avoid calls and messages from his family members in Italy. It’s hard, especially with the calls from his grandmother and Bianca, his sister.

One day, I’ll explain why, but for now I’m in a dark place. A bad, bad place.

I miss Mom, and I feel broken inside. It’s the combination of Dante breaking my heart, from feeling abused at work, and for feeling trapped by the universe.

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