Chapter 7

Melanie

I sat at the dinner table, quietly stabbing a piece of steak like it had personally wronged me.

My mom sat beside me, giving me her usual reassuring smile, and across the table were Federico, Leonardo, and a teenage girl with big curious eyes named Aria. Leonardo had introduced her earlier as his younger sister.

One thing was missing well, not missing, more like blessedly absent. Dante. The human equivalent of a thunderstorm in a leather jacket.

I had prayed literally, hands clasped and everything that he wouldn't show up to dinner. And so far, the universe was doing me a solid.

Everything was peaceful. The table clinked with silverware, the occasional cough, quiet chatter... until Aria decided to ruin it.

“Is Dante coming?” she asked, looking around like he might jump out from under the table.

Leonardo gave her a sharp glare. She threw her hands up.

“What? It’s unlike him to miss dinner.”

I wanted to say something like Good, he shouldn’t be here, but I figured keeping my mouth full of steak was the wiser move.

“I’m sure Dante will show up,” Federico said with a smile that looked like it was fighting to stay on his face.

Aria snorted and leaned back in her chair. “You think so? We all know him. When he’s mad, he acts out.”

“Aria,” Federico said tightly. “This is a family dinner. We are not here to talk about Dante.”

That’s when the universe betrayed me.

Footsteps echoed down the hall. Then, like he was the dramatic lead in some mafia soap opera, Dante appeared right in the middle of the room.

“Why don’t you want to talk about me?” he said with a smirk as he pulled out the chair right next to me.

Fuck my life.

Federico cleared his throat. “Because we’re here to celebrate Melanie and her mother.”

Dante stood again, walked right over to my mom, and offered his hand. “Hi. I’m Dante. My father’s first and only son. You don’t get to take my mother’s place.”

“Grow up, Dante,” Federico snapped.

“Why, Papa?” Dante said coolly. “Wait let me fucking answer that. You want me to grow up so I can be like you who thinks starting a new family fixes everything? Dad let me remind you that playing house with a new woman doesn’t make you less guilty.”

“That’s enough!” Federico slammed his hand on the table. “I want you to sit down so we can have dinner like a normal family.”

“We’re not normal, Dad,” Dante said, eyes hard. “None of us are. And you know it.”

It was tense. And just when I thought things couldn’t get more uncomfortable, Dante looked straight into my mom’s eyes and dropped the line of the century

“My dad will never be your Prince Charming. Go find someone else to leech off of.”

Federico stood abruptly, pulling out a gun. My stomach dropped. I think my soul left my body and said, “You’re on your own.”

My mom’s eyes widened. So did mine.

“Uncle! This isn’t the way!” Leonardo said, stepping forward.

“Don’t try to coax him,” Dante growled. “He would’ve shot me a long time ago if he had another son. Let him do it now.”

Leonardo looked scared but placed his hand on Federico’s shoulder. “Please, Uncle.”

Dante stepped directly in front of the gun. “Kill me. I don’t mind. At least the suffering would end.”

And that’s when I officially tapped out.

I bolted. I didn’t wait to see who lived or died. I ran to my room like a coward in a horror movie and slammed the door shut.

“Mela!” my mom called from behind the door.

I didn’t answer. I was too busy breaking into tiny emotional pieces.

“Mela, I know how much violence scares you—”

“No, Mom!” I shouted. “You don’t know shit!”

She didn’t say a thing, and spilled out more words.

“Mom you saw that I was struggling, and you still brought me here! You promised me you’d keep me away from this mafia madness! Guns? Blood? That wasn’t supposed to be our life anymore!”

“I thought you were okay with this—”

“I lied, Mom! I lied because I didn’t want to ruin your happiness again! I already killed Dad. I already took everything you once loved. I didn’t want to do it again.”

“You didn’t kill your father, Mela…” her voice cracked.

“I did!” I sobbed. “And I didn’t want to steal your happiness too. But I’m not okay with this. I’m not.”

There was a long pause. Then, quietly my mom spoke up; “Please open the door.”

“No, Mom. I just... I want to be alone.”

Eventually, her footsteps faded.

I curled up on my bed, cried until I had nothing left, and at some point, I passed out.

When I woke up, it was past midnight.

I crept downstairs, thirsty and emotionally dehydrated. As I reached the kitchen, I stopped when I saw my mom and Federico sitting at the counter.

“We’re officially the worst parents, aren’t we?” Federico asked.

“We are,” my mom whispered. “I failed Melanie.”

“I failed Dante,” Federico added. “I never protected his mother.”

They stood there in silence, both looking a little older than they had been a few hours ago.

“You know,” my mom said quietly, “it’s hard carrying all this guilt. If only our kids could see how much we’re hurting too.”

Federico tilted her chin up. “Even if they can’t, we can. That’s why we have each other.”

“Thanks for coming into my life when you dad.” My mom said slowly.

“I should be the one thanking you. You made living with guilt so much easier.”

My mom rested her head on his. “I’m glad I did,”

“And one more thing, promise me you’ll try to be less violent,” she said. “For Mela.”

“I will.”Then he kissed her after saying this.

At this moment. I hated that I acted like a bratty child. I needed to fix this. To let her know I was okay with her being with him, and I also needed to get over my fear of guns.

Just as I was about to walk away I bumped into something no—someone.

I looked up and my eyes landed on Dante. He was shirtless and he had on grey sweatpants hanging over his lean torso. He had a wine bottle in his hand, and it looked like he had chugged a lot of its contents.

As I stared deeper at him I realized he looked like a model from a Calvin Klein ad.

“You just can’t resist me, can you?” He said in a husky tone as he leaned forward.