When I caught a glance at myself in the monstrosity of a mirror, I shook my head. “You are so incredibly fucked.”
“How come?”
After whirling around, I came face to face with a mini Drea. Same jet black hair pulled into a ponytail. Same caramel colored eyes. Since she was just a teenager and I wasn’t a pedo, I kept my similarities above the neck.
She gave me an exasperated look. “Um, hello? I know you can speak, so why aren’t you answering me?”
I snorted at her audacity. I bet if it came down to it, Edoardo would describe this one as submissive and obedient just like he had Drea. “For your information, I’m fucked because I just gave your dad shit about manhandling Drea.”
She grinned. “Yeah, I heard that.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I said, “You don’t seem too upset.”
“Of course I’m not. My dad is a dick.”
A laugh burst from my lips. “So is mine.”
With a thoughtful look, she tossed her ponytail over her shoulder. “Why are so many capos and mafia leaders such dicks?”
“I’d categorize them as psychotic and/or sociopathic dicks, but yeah, there seems to be an overwhelming number of them.” Rubbing my chin thoughtfully, I said, “Maybe it’s the power trip.”
“Maybe it’s rotten DNA.”
“Possibly.”
After throwing a glance over her shoulder, she closed the distance between us. “Your brother, Raphael.”
“What about him?”
“Is he like our fathers?”
“Fuck no.”
Hope flickered in her eyes. “He’ll be good to Drea?”
“As much as he can be,” I answered honestly.
“What does that mean?”
“What’s your name, kid?”
“Audrianna.”
“Okay, Audrianna, since your earlier comments have proven you’re not naive, I’m going to give it to you straight.”
Sweeping her hands to her hips, Audrianna nodded. “I can take it.”
“Rafe will never love your sister like you want her to be loved with unicorns and rainbows and shit like that.”
With a roll of her eyes, she said, “You just said I wasn’t naive. Don’t you think I know what makes an arranged marriage?”
Tilting my head at her, I countered, “But you–”
She held her hand up. “I just want to know if he’ll hurt her.”
The hackles on the back of my neck raised. “Has he hurt Drea often?”
“Sometimes.” Trying to play off her pain, she shrugged. “If he’s mad at me or Adamo, she’ll go after him to get him to hurt her, not us.”