Page 60 of The Italian Reckoning
My father is a raging inferno while Domenico is as calm as the morning tide.
“So, how is the pain?” Leaning back against the kitchen counter, Domenico’s eyes lock onto the cast. “Do you need anything stronger?”
It’s far too easy to give in to my irritation and take it out on Domenico, but as soon as we lock eyes, guilt overtakes the irritation in my chest so I shake my head. “No. It’s fine. I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.”
“No, but I have to be. What other choice do I have?”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to take some of the heat.”
“You’ve been in Italy for six months. There’s no way you could have known.”
“I wish you'd called me.”
“And said what? Hey, Dad’s going insane, our people are in pain, and I’m falling in love with a cop. Wanna come get yelled at for me?”
“You’re in love with her?” A soft, knowing smile slips onto Domenico’s lips.
“I… you know what I mean.”
“If you mean what you say, then sure.”
“It’s… love is just a turn of phrase. I don’t…” Trailing off, I’m unsure whether I’m trying to persuade myself or Domenico. I had initially meant it as an easy way to explain the influx of crazy emotions around Sarah, but now that the word is out in the air, I’m unsure.
Is that how I feel? Or is my longing for her just amplifying everything I feel? The noise in my head is growing to overwhelming levels, and part of my ache for her is the ache to feel her touch… and that silence.
“I’m not here to pass judgment,” Domenico says quietly. “I’m here to try and restore order. After Noah, things have been spiraling, but I heard that we were making friends. The Russians. The Irish. After the gala, I expected everything to implode, but Matteo simply uses that as an excuse to shut down any hope of expansion. I’m surprised he agreed to the organ deal with the Russians.”
“That’s because it benefits him and keeps the Russians below him. In his eyes, at least.” My attention drifts down to my cast, and despite knowing it will pain me later, I start fiddling with the edge of the cast near my thumb.
“Perhaps. In some ways, I think he just wants what’s best for you, Rocky. He wants to make sure there’s a good head on your shoulders, and outside influences threaten that.”
“Bullshit.” My eyes snap up to his. “Without me, the Irish would have wiped us out because of Noah. We would have had a war on our hands. And we wouldn't even have a line ofcommunication with the Russians if not for me. It’s bringing us the chance of a deal with the hospitals, and that’s because of me and what I’ve done. And I told my father that, but all he saw was me going behind his back. He doesn’t see the good I do. He just sees what he wants to.”
“So you’ve done a lot for this family.”
“Yeah,” I snap. “I really have.”
“And the smaller families would agree with how vocal you’ve been about justice for Belle.”
“Exactly!”
“So tell me.” Domenico leans in suddenly, and for the first time since I’ve known him, the calmness seems absent from his eyes. “Have you got the balls to commit to your choices and fight for what you believe is the way forward for this family? Or are you going to back down?”
26
SARAH
Belle’s death is ruled as a gang killing two days after I’m pulled from the case. I try to fight it but Brant shuts me down with threats against my job, and suddenly, I’m left feeling like some kind of pariah.
Is this my fault?
Did I fail Belle and Kara? I can do nothing to help them, no one will listen to me, and Brant acts like he’s doing me a favor by making sure everything to do with The Painter is buried. He treats me like the killer is my best friend, which hurts because he’s seen my case file. He knows exactly what happened to me and instead of helping me, he’s using that to close me down.
Maybe it’s for the best. Maybe I am a liability and my existence will only serve to help The Painter if he ever saw the inside of a courtroom. Maybe he’s been setting me up from the start, and this is an insanely long game that spans more years than I care to track.
The biggest irony is that I would be able to continue investigating if I were with Rocky. His methods came with freedom I’m denied and no one to stop us. But he’s gone too. A ghost that never existed.
