“Ah, understandable. Are her children still away?”
In Montana, but she doesn’t need to know that. “Yes, and Natasha will soon join them again. It’s safer for everyone that they weren’t here today.”
“It’s awful that they weren’t here for their father’s funeral . . .” I understand Ysenia’s sadness, her empathy . . . but sometimes things need to be done for the better good. This was one of them, like us leaving our brothers back in New York.
“It’s awful, but it needed to happen. Children are our future, plain and simple.”
“God, you sound like Father.”
I roll my eyes, “Please, don’t say that again. He’s growing on my last nerve lately.”
“He’s always getting on your nerves. You two butt heads like goats fighting over the same woman.”
“Jesus. Are you on one of those Animal Planet binges again?” I ask, laughing at her ridiculousness.
“No, it’s the Discovery channel. Duh.”
Ysenia is the smart one. Maybe too smart for her own damn good. I swear, if she didn’t grow up in a mafia family she’d be a neurosurgeon, or a scientist for NASA. She’d accomplish great things, and while she still might, they’ll be entirely different. You see, when you’re in a mafia family . . . you rarely have any choice. I’m certain our father will give her a task for the Clans, which is only to be assumed.
“I found some sort of paperwork in his study,” Ysenia starts off saying, causing me to really pay attention. “I didn’t open it, but, I held it up to the light like they do in the movies and saw a few words. It was from a doctor.”
“Oh? What did it say?” I ask.
“I’m not sure. I didn’t see much. Was too nervous I’d be caught.”
Chuckling lightly, I ease her worries. “It’s probably something normal. Like results to a prostate exam or something.”
“Ew, Bianca.”
“He’s around that age where they start becoming necessary. Colonoscopies too. It’s probably just formal test results where he’s told he’s A-Okay. Stop worrying.”
“Okay, fine, but only if you help me master my snooping skills. They need some work.”
“Obviously they do.”
“Yep, but, I know you have a boyfriend. I heard about the big ‘I have a boyfriend’ thing at the meeting. Dad was furious.”
“Whoa, I never said I had a boyfriend. I said what if, essentially.” I need to stop the rumor mill from going whenever I can.
“Yeah, okay. We both know that’s bull crap. Mircea Lazar has grown into quite a handsome man though.”
Rolling my eyes, I look to my right and cock my brows. “What makes you think I’d ever be with someone like him? For fuck’s sake, he was my childhood bully. My tormentor. I won’t give him a chance, even if it’s something Father says on his last dying breath. Mircea Lazar will never be my husband.”
“He’s told me how it’s the mafia daughters’ duty to marry prestigious men who can keep the peace. I’m sure I’m next, in a few years or so.” Ysenia goes on to say, diverting her gaze out through the window.
The night lights of Miami are gorgeous, with the multitude of colors from the shops, restaurants, and streetlights. People just seem so much happier here, like they’re high on life. Every time I’ve been out today I’ve only seen people smiling.
Pushing her hair back behind her ear with my hand, I keep my gaze focused on my younger sister. “Ysenia, promise me you’ll be true to yourself, always. Even if it’s not what people want for you.”
She looks back over to me with a worrisome expression. “How can I promise you that? I’m not even the one who makes decisions for myself.”
I grab the bottom of her chin and hold it between my fingers, “Yes, you are. Even if people tell you otherwise. At the end of the day, you make every decision. We have Vasile blood running through our veins. You and I are women to be reckoned with, and don’t you ever forget it.”
“Ugh, enough about the serious stuff. Let’s move to something more interesting, shall we?” Ysenia wiggles her eyebrows.
“Like?” I’ll play, not sure what she’s getting at.
“Mircea. Tell me your thoughts. You haven’t said a word and I’m dying for some good stuff over here.” Ysenia whines, showing yet again how she believes my life to be so much more extravagant than hers.
I shrug my shoulders, “I’m not sure. Part of me hates him for being such a jerk to me when we were little, but then I see how he’s aged into a beautiful, beautiful man and it makes me want to give him a chance. He . . . I’m not sure how to take it, Ysenia. He tried to comfort me at Anton’s funeral when I started to sob underneath my sunglasses. You know I don’t ever show emotion like that, but given who it was, it just came crumbling out. I’m not sure if he did it to get closer to me or because he actually cares . . . but it showed me a different side to him.”
“So, what does that mean? Are you actually going to give the guy a shot?”
What a question.
“I’m not sure, maybe.” I answer her with a lie, knowing I’ll probably show the guy a little bit of compassion. I’ll give him a chance, but . . . it sure won’t mean what my father thinks it will. I’m the one who chooses who I care about, not him.
Mircea Lazar might’ve been my childhood terror, but maybe he’ll be something different to my adulthood.
Hell, I figured we’d have some semi-serious discussions over dinner. Not in the car on the way there. The driver pulls up to the restaurant I made reservations at and the timing is perfect. My stomach is growling so loudly I’m certain people can hear it from miles away.
Chapter Eight
Stefan
It’s been over two weeks since I’ve seen
