na

smelled of roast beef and stagn

had to drag Leo across town to sit at a table wi

e the restroom. Instead, I

or was cracked o

er-in-law-a man I had respec

eing reckl

n the air, heav

e of the man prete

oman, Papa. She does what she is told. She

st the wall, flattening

usea that had nothing to do with the heavy

mp

e doll to be placed on a shelf, dusted

is the Queen of Sicily. If the Commission finds out you are impersonat

Gina is happy. I am ha

y? What abo

She doesn't need a husband. She needs

uth to stifle the scream cl

e the Family. He hadn

faked h

had died of a drug overdose. And Dante,

y. He took his twin's sala

rty and grief so he could play

hands. They were t

orn for three years. The cheap fabric

I thought about the humiliating jobs I took-scrubbing floors, sewing

hed to the D

A toy train for Leo. A heater for the apa

terrified of owing

such a

eps approach

g into the bathroom and

myself in

s pale, her eyes rimmed w

c, beneath the layers of gr

is hot, volatile. This

ing water. I didn't put on

cked t

to run. I wasn'

to that table. I was

to watch them ch