om, so I could take a bath. I knew I had lunch with the other young women from the families

ants, revealing the contours of my body tired from the fight. I got

to fight Dante. As the water enveloped me, I rais

nued, “But what did you gain from it, Catarina

th, pondering her words. “I gained his respe

ut my attitude. “Catarina, you shoul

thers, but I knew what I was doing. “It might be cra

oments of the fight. There was something in Dante's eyes, the closeness of our f

ful, Catarina. Don Salvatore didn't like any

y lady-in-waiting; she was a close friend and confidante. “I know, Federica

t still concerned. She continued to take ca

my skin. There was something about that confrontation that had affected me in a strange way, something I couldn't f

. However, I was not willing to back down. I was a Piromalli, a Mancuso, and

*

women from the families belonging to the 'Ndrangheta. I opted for an elegant beige dress that hi

ned the door for me to get into the Maserati Levante. The mansion faded into the

ma Condello, Donatella Morabito, and Giulia Ruga were all present. Each of them was roughly my age and were the daughters of the heads of the most impor

lude camaraderie among the young women. It was indispensable to maintain good relat

coming birthday. Elma Condello enthusiastically mentioned that

ade ball. Donatella Morabito, with a curious look, asked if we should wear masks the entire time. I smiled and explained, “No, girls.

or, quipped, “That means we'll only kiss someone aft

families understood. As we savored our lunch, the conversation among the girls co

possible that each of us will leave Cat

ile, added, “That's true, Catarina has four

ndello, and Donatella Morabito, excitedly agreed. The girls e

they began debating who had ment

, finding it all rather futile. “Gir

ad, arguing, “Catarina, you only say that because h

ked, “How do yo

comparing it to something from a magazine. Antonella excitedly agreed, admitting she almost fel

dulous. “Elma, you're lyi

“I was there when he smiled, Catarina.

n't be Dante. Dante is grumpy, boring, an

arina doesn't look at Dante with different ey

f I saw him that way, he would never look at me like t

d love, you know? You're siblings, even if it's by adoption. Som

believe that. Besides, he's much older th

y insufferable and the idea of any different feelings on his part was completely absurd. Nevertheless, the lighthearted conve