Chapter 3

Lorenzo raised his eyebrows. "Maybe this time she'll go crying to her old man again, run to her people."

I finally snapped. "I'm not that idle."

I forced down the fury rising in my chest. "I swear. I won't interfere, I won't call anyone. Okay? I just want to go home, rest, and be there tomorrow, clean, for the trial."

I reached for my bag, but he yanked it from me.

"What are you doing?!" I shouted, panic crashing over me.

In the next second, he pulled out my initiation token and held it high. The little sealed seal that meant I had a place at the ceremony. Without it, no one would let me through the door.

My face went pale. I lunged at him. "You're insane! Give it back!"

Lorenzo dangled the token just out of reach, like taunting a kitten. "I don't trust you. Now that I've got this, you won't try anything stupid. Don't ruin Bianca's night."

My eyes burned with tears as my voice cracked. "Lorenzo, you bastard!"

The hatred in my eyes startled him. His tongue wet his lower lip, and his gaze flicked toward Bianca before it came back to me. His expression faltered, and his voice softened.

"As long as you don't run your mouth, I'll give it back. Didn't we promise to be made together, side by side? Of course I'll return it to you."

"Just don't mess up Bianca's eighteenth."

I stared at him, heart sinking like a stone.

Eighteen years of memories. Two children on the same block, raised in the shadow of the same men.

But my standing, my future in this Family, meant less to him than one girl's birthday.

I trembled, silently watching him.

He avoided my gaze, then gave a careless smile and turned to the others.

"Crisis averted. Everyone, enjoy the night."

Bianca immediately wrapped herself around him, her voice sweet and delicate.

"Thank you, Lorenzo. This is the best gift anyone's ever given me."

His ears turned red, but he didn't push her away. Instead, he gently played with a strand of her hair.

"As long as you're happy," he said.

The room of young hopefuls erupted, the noise nearly lifting the low ceiling of the off-grounds hideaway.

"The best gift isn't the party, it's clearly our man Lorenzo, right?"

"Hey, we're all grown tonight. A kiss wouldn't kill anybody!"

Lorenzo chuckled. "Cut it out."

But the flicker in his eyes was unmistakable.

I stood in the corner, watching it all unfold, my nails digging so hard into my palms I nearly drew blood.

Laugh all you want.

Let's see if you're still laughing tomorrow, when the bosses are watching.

I didn't even bother to grab my bag. I turned and walked out.

But they weren't done with me.

Lorenzo's voice rang out, cold. "Lock her in the back room."

"Let her out after it's over."

I froze, eyes wide. "You're insane! Let me go!"

Several of the young soldiers grabbed me, twisted my arms behind my back, and dragged me toward the old storeroom at the rear of the building. The air back there was thick with dust and the sour ghost of spilled liquor.

They flung me down onto the ground. Pain shot through my arm as blood scraped across the raw concrete.

Lorenzo hesitated for a second, but then his face hardened with resolve.

He picked up my phone and stomped on it until the screen went black.

"Don't be petty," he said flatly. "Just stay put. I'm the one they trust to keep the crew in line. I'm just helping everyone enjoy the night. If it were your night, I'd do the same."

"Just wait here. I'll come get you later."

Then he pulled the door shut.

The heavy iron slammed home. Darkness swallowed me whole. Somewhere beyond the wall, the party went on, muffled and careless, a world that had already forgotten me.

I lay there, calling for help until my throat went raw.

Time passed. Minutes, maybe hours. Then footsteps echoed outside on the concrete.

I scrambled up, desperate. My hand went to the small saint's medallion at my throat, closing around it. "Help me!"

The door creaked open.

It was my father.

He rushed inside, eyes frantic, and pulled me into his arms, the scent of him, antiseptic and cedar, the one clean thing in that whole poisoned place.

"Sweetheart? What happened? I couldn't reach you. I called Lorenzo, and he said you were at a party..."