Capo Dei Capi (Secrets of the Famiglia Part 1)

“Aliyana, your father has been calling you, where are your ears?” Ilaria yells from the glass door leading to the pool I’m currently floating in. The sun has not shied away since Ren’s death. I still can’t believe it’s two weeks. It feels longer, but not so long that I've forgotten him, but long enough that I wake up thinking about seeing him, only to realize he isn’t coming.

“I didn’t hear him. I’ll be in now.”

Ilaria doesn’t say anything else, nor does she move. She has acted strange since the funeral, almost sorrowful. I received no snarky remarks from her, or bitching fits. But, like now, she stares at me. I find it strange, but also hopeful.

Since my conversation with Marco, and what he said about her, I pity her in a way. How must she feel to be stuck with an entire brood of kids who aren’t her own, or forced to sleep with a man who has nothing left to give her but a bank card and some empty sex.

I sink into the water, and my body glides easily across the pool. The coldness welcome, as my lungs scream for release. There is peace in water.

Taking my time, I get out of the pool and wave at my sister who is lying down, reading a book under the umbrella. The back yard is huge. This property was designed for my mother, and changed to keep my wolves happy underground and free on top. My father expanded the place years ago, when he bought the access land from our neighbors who didn’t need so much space. The wolves were my touch. There was nothing friendly about them, they existed to keep me safe.

I kept them because they’re vicious enough that If I needed to send a

wanted to say ‘feed him to the wolves.’ The thought of one day having to put one of my friends in that den or my sister doesn’t seem as appealing right now. If what Marco and Deno said is

enemy would he become, one who I would destroy, or someone I would spend most of my life trying to ruin? It doesn’t sit well with me! Why

Filippo yells from his

and flower swim shorts. His glasses are covering his eyes. He

If he’s asking me to babysit, I’m not doing it.” I looked after the twins

hurry your ass up and go see?!”

it around my breast as I make my way into the house. More like

my bed please?” Arina, our housemaid is my favorite out of the staff. She wasn’t an