Gone for Ten Years, Gone Forever

What’s wrong with me?

What was wrong was that I had already decided to leave. But I didn’t want a sit-down over it, so I patted Lorenzo’s hand gently.

“We’ll talk about it after I’m done, okay?”

Don Marchetti was thrilled with the work I’d turned in.

“This is incredible work. But... are you sure you’re ready for the Council’s inner circle? The life there can be dull, you know. Going dark, no name of your own, nothing but the operation, day in and day out. Can you handle being cut off from everything?”

I nodded, the memory of Lorenzo’s condescension in the car still fresh in my mind.

I straightened my posture and spoke with quiet determination. “Don’t worry. I won’t bring shame to your name.”

He removed his reading glasses and folded them with great care. “You?” Then he chuckled, shaking his head, and set them aside. “You’re one of the finest hands I’ve ever raised. The Council asked for you by the name they don’t even know belongs to a woman. Let me be clear. I’m the lucky one to have you sworn to this.”

Leaving his study, I spotted Carla scowling at the window overlooking the courtyard.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Vitale,” she fumed, “wasn’t that your betrothed I just saw down there? He was sharing a drink at the café across the street with some woman, heads together like a pair of lovebirds. That’s so out of line. Does the man not understand respect? Isn’t this basically a breach of the pact?”

I smiled faintly. “It’s fine. That’s his… sister.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Sister?”

I understood her disbelief. Lorenzo had lost both his parents young, a street orphan, and the Greco household had taken pity on him and given him shelter. Later, when Lorenzo rose through the rackets to capo, he naturally looked after Sabina, his so-called little sister.

But Carla wasn’t convinced. She let out a short, derisive breath through her nose, and her indignation only grew. “Really funny. Sister? Yeah, right. This is the oldest trick the doe-eyed ones run. Let me handle this for you. I’ll tear her apart.”

I quickly grabbed her arm. “Don’t act rashly.”

After all, I’d tried that before. I’d argued, accused, made my case, only for Lorenzo to look at me coldly and say, “Adriana, you’re being ridiculous. You, of all people, should understand what Sabina is to me. Jealousy like this is beneath you.”

He was right. Jealousy was meaningless. Especially now. I didn’t want to stir up any trouble before I vanished.

So I told Carla there were still a few days before I went dark, and asked her to keep it under Omertà.

She hesitated. “So… are you still going through with the wedding?”

I shook my head. My thumb found the small ring on my finger and turned it once, slow.

“No,” I said softly. “I’m leaving. There’s no point.”

The words just fell.

Before I could say anything more, Lorenzo’s voice came from behind me.

“Adriana, where are you leaving?”