Chapter 6

Sophia

“What am I going to do, Ma? How can we fix this?”

She still has no idea Dad, and I already have a plan. We never tell her anything. She’s always trying to be our moral compass; sweet, soft Maria. But in the mob, is there really room for morals?

I wasn’t worried before that damn video leaked, but the group chats have been blowing up, and now even I’m getting nervous. The backlash keeps growing. Still, once Sareena handles the issue tomorrow, everything will fall back into place. And I’ll go back to being carefree, adored and untouchable.

Tommy better get a few compromising pictures of him and Sareena soon, or I swear I’ll kill him. I paid a lot of money for that photographer. I don’t care if he has to spike her drink or stage it; he just needs to get it done.

As for the wedding night? Please, I already have that figured out. The virginal blood will be staged. Damian will believe I’m the second coming of the Virgin Mary. I’m not the first Familia traditionalist to lose her virginity before marriage, and I sure as hell won’t be the last.

Getting him drunk at the reception will be easy. Champagne and wine will be free flowing. I’ll slip something mild into the shot glass when he takes off my garter; just enough to slow him down. If I need to, I’ll add another dose to the wine in the honeymoon suite. Keep him mellow. Functional. Just slow. Then I’ll pour the blood mixture on the sheets, rub a little on my thighs; maybe even smear some on him for extra effect. He won’t have a damn clue. I’ve seen enough Bloody Sheet Presentations to know exactly what it’s supposed to look like.

I glance at Mom. She’s staring at me, eyes wide, horrified.

“I’m not the first girl who isn’t a virgin on her wedding night, Mom,” I say, rolling my eyes. “You need to catch up with the times.”

Before she can respond, Dad storms into the kitchen. “Damian and his father, Gennaro, are coming over tomorrow evening to confirm Sophia’s purity,” he announces like he’s talking about the weather. “They’re bringing a lady doctor with them. She’ll do the test.”

I stiffen. Shit. I wasn’t expecting that. Damian definitely isn’t a virgin, so why the hell does he need to verify I am?

“I think my father will be joining them,” Dad adds, his eyes narrowing as he turns to Mom. “So, Maria, make something decent for dinner. None of that crap you’ve been feeding us lately.”

Mom flinches, blinking like she’s coming out of a daze. She grabs a cup of coffee and places it in front of him, obediently, like a trained dog. She is so pathetic. I will never be like her. Damian will be the one bringing me coffee.

Dad turns again, his voice dropping an octave. “Maria… I think we should have Reena pose as Sophia for the exam.”

My lips curl into a sweet smile. Trying to pretend we didn’t already have this all planned out.

“She’s our precious daughter,” he continues. “We can’t let this tarnish her or the Family’s reputation. You know what my father thinks of premarital sex. He’s helped raise Sophia. If he finds out she’s not pure, he’ll slaughter us all. No one even knows Reena’s back in town. And the rumor’s already out there; that she’s the girl in the video.”

A slow, wicked smile spreads across my face. “Oh, Dad, that’s perfect! After she takes my place, she can crawl back to California and stay there. Her reputation will be destroyed. And in a few years, when the heat dies down, you can marry her off to some low-ranking soldier.”

Mom gasps. “Sophia! How could you say that? Sareena is your sister. Our daughter! Why would you ruin her life? And stop lying; everyone knows it’s you in the video. Don’t pin this on her! Find out who started the rumor and shut it down!”

I scoff in response. “She turned her back on this family, on the Familia. She doesn’t want anything to do with us. And besides, you can’t just erase things from the internet. That’s not how it works, Mom. Who cares if her reputation’s ruined, anyway? She’s so desperate for attention, this plan probably won’t even work. She’s probably been spreading her legs for every hippy surfer in California.”

“Stop being so vulgar, Sophia!” Mom snaps, glaring at me. “Women don’t talk like that. Sareena is a good girl. She’s just a little different. She wasn’t cut out for this life. She needed to spread her wings and go somewhere she could study and make something of herself. Let her come home, and we can sit down. As a family.”

I clench my jaw. Normally, I’d snap back, but we need her on our side right now.

“How long before she gets here, Dad?” I ask instead. “The airport’s not that far away, and we need to make sure she doesn’t contact Vincent or Gabriella. Did you know they still talk to her? They even flew to her graduation a few days ago. No one was supposed to know she’s back, and they’re already defending her online.” I sneer. “Damian’s not helping either.”

Mom turns to Dad, her voice trembling. “Riccardo... what are you and Sophia planning? You can’t keep hurting one daughter to protect the other. Sareena has always been the ideal child. She’s never caused problems. Never cost us a dime. She’s paid her way with scholarships and grants. You can’t do this to her. I won’t let you!”

Her voice cracks as she rises in pitch. Dad doesn’t flinch. His hand swings fast. SLAP.

Mom’s head snaps to the side and she crashes to the floor.

Silence.

____________

Sareena

I jog up the long stone walkway, veering right toward the back door. It leads into the kitchen, and that’s where Mom will be. Probably already making something yummy for dinner. She’s the one I want to see most. Well, her and my Nono. They’re the only two I truly missed. The only ones whose love felt real.

Just as I reach the door, a sharp sound cuts through the air. A slap. Followed by a heavy crash. I freeze. No. Not again. Dad must be hitting Mom. Some things never change.

I throw the door open; drop my purse and bags to the floor without even thinking. My feet move on instinct as I rush to Mom’s side, and my heart shatters at the sight of her. She is collapsed on the cold tile, cradling her cheek. Blood dripping from her bottom lip.

“Mom! Are you okay?” My voice trembles as I kneel beside her, my hands gentle but shaking. “Why are you still putting up with this? One day he’s going to…” I stop mid sentence, because I already know why. She stayed for her family, but mostly for Sophia.

I help her sit up, guiding her slowly to the nearest chair. My hands move like they remember this routine. Like it’s second nature, like no time has passed at all. I scan her face, brushing her hair back softly before turning to grab the first aid kit from under the sink.

“Sareena, she’s fine,” Sophia says behind me, her voice sticky-sweet and filled with false concern. “She still hasn’t learned that she can’t talk back to Dad like that. But aren’t you going to say hello? We’ve been waiting for you all day.”

I don’t turn around. I don’t flinch. I just keep my back to them and open the kit. “Hi, Father. Hi, Sophia.” My voice is flat. Cold and distant. “Excuse me while I take care of Mom.”

Dad’s voice cuts through the room like a knife. “Maria, earlier you asked me why I favor one of your evil spawns over the other.” His tone is venom. “I molded Sophia to be like me. But this one…” he jerks his chin toward me like I’m something stuck to the bottom of his shoe. “This one’s garbage. Pathetic. You talk to her about what I said, or I’ll handle her myself.”

I stay quiet. I’ve learned that remaining silent is the safer option. Words are wasted on men like him.

Then he adds, “Where the hell is Tommy? Didn’t he bring you home? He’s interested in you, Sareena. You should give him a chance. He’s a good match.”

My stomach turns, but I still say nothing. I just tune him out, the way I always did. Block out his poison. Block out Sophia’s smug smirk and the bitterness hanging in the air. I focus on only one thing: Mom.

I dab gently at her lip with a damp cloth. Her eyes flutter open, and when she sees me, her expression softens into something fragile and full of pain.

Before I can say more, Dad barks, “Sophia, come. We need to plan tomorrow’s meeting.”

And just like that, they leave. Plotting whatever comes next.