When we walked through the doors of the diner, I stiffened, stopping dead in my tracks.
"What happened to just calling Frankie?" I whispered to Scott.
"I did call Frankie. I'm as surprised as you are," he said, just as his father and Frankie saw us.
I instantly saw red. Something told me we were about to be ambushed. My instinct was to call my father, who could end all of this with one phone call. Of course, Don Angelo wasn't in the habit of giving something for nothing. And there was only one thing he wanted as far as I was concerned: me. No longer being daddy's little girl had its drawbacks.
No sooner had we sat down opposite Frankie and Jeff than Jeff went off on Scott.
"You lied to me and left out important information concerning a potential homicide, including your connection to her," Jeff said, his voice low but angry.
He said her like it was a slur. This must mean he knew who I was. This was a waste of time. Cops didn't help people like me. My senses were screaming at me to call my dad. Jenny could be lying dead in a ditch soon if she wasn't already. Despite their youth, Joey's guys weren't known for their subtlety.
"Hello to you too, Jeff. Thanks for this, Frankie," said Scott, snapping me out of my brooding.
"Sorry kid. Your dad was already over when you called. Hello there, little lady," said a collected Frankie, throwing a quick smile on for me before he kissed me on the cheek. "Nice to see you kids again. What's this about Jeff not even knowing where you guys live?"
"Hey Frankie. Agent Brady," I said cordially. "I wish the circumstances were better."
"He's FBI. If he really wanted to know, he'd know," Scott said defensively.
"And how would that look? Me going to see my son and his girlfriend, Stacy Luciano, daughter of one Don Angelo Luciano, the most feared and powerful criminal in modern day America," Jeff said, directing his attention to me. "But that's not all, because you come with your own resume, don't you, Bookkeeper?"
"I don't have time for this," I snapped, not willing to tolerate having my past thrown in my face right now. "If you could prove something, I'd be behind bars. Since you can't—"
"Easy now, let's all take a step back. We're here about a missing person, not to take cheap shots at each other," said Frankie, trying to keep the peace.
"You can't be serious, Frank. You want to get involved with the disappearance of Don Angelo's daughter? For God's sake, Scott. Couldn't you pick someone else to sleep with? How could you be so reckless and lie to me about it?" Jeff persisted.
"It doesn't feel good being deceived, does it Jeff? No one asked for you to be here," Scott exploded. "Get the fuck out."
"My sister is missing," I cried, raising my voice. "She's out there, alone and afraid. This was a mistake."
Just then, the waitress, who had been reluctant to approach our table up until now, finally came up to us and said, "Would you like to hear today's specials?" in a bored tone that pissed me off all the more.
"A pleasure Agent Brady. Frankie," I said, as I rose to my feet.
"Stace, wait—" Scott said with a sigh, trying to stop me, but his dad was already cutting him off.
"We are not done here," said Jeff as I walked away from the table.
Once I got outside, a roller-coaster of emotions washed over me. Scott had been right to want to keep his father from me. Jeff hated me and he didn't even know me, didn't know what I'd survived. I could never be the girl Scott took home. We had been living in a bubble. Real life was much more cut throat. I of all people should have known better than to think I could have this life. Finishing college, leaving the mafia. None of it was for me. I was an idiot to think that I could have him.
A sinking feeling of helplessness poured over me. What the fuck was I thinking about when I should be focusing on getting Jenny back? One thing about being a Luciano was you were never powerless. Not like I was now. My fingers itched to reach for my phone.
One phone call and I could fix everything. Without it, Jenny was as good as dead. I already knew how it would go. That same phone call could cost me Scott. What the fuck was I supposed to do?
As if making the decision for me, my phone rang, nearly giving me a heart attack.
"Hello daddy," I answered without even needing to confirm who it was.
"Ciao, erede," he said and I could hear the triumph in his voice. "Ready to come home yet?"
I put the phone on speaker as my breathing quickened and my head throbbed.
"Call Joey off," I screamed, letting my emotions get the better of me anyway.
"Have I taught you nothing?" he screamed back and I shook like a leaf.
"We make requests from a place of strength, bambina. Honor the deal you made fifteen years ago. Beg for my forgiveness. Agree to marry the man I chose. Then you can have whatever you want. Remember the rush, erede. The power of holding life in your hands. As a Cattaneo as well as your father's daughter, you'll be strong again," said Don Angelo.
I burst into silent tears, covering my mouth to muffle any sounds I might make, rivers streaming down my cheeks.
"I don't want your type of power. I don't want to be strong anymore. There must be something you want more than me," I said, in complete denial, knowing deep down that there wasn't.
Whatever Don Angelo's response was, I didn't get to hear it. A hand reached out, took the phone from me and ended the call. Next I was in
his arms, wiping away the tears like they were a show of weakness.