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The door opens and the maids bring out the food. Some smile when they see me. I smile back, happy to see them too. Papa doesn’t permit them to speak to us at the dining table so the smiles will have to do.

Soon the table is covered in a delicious spread that looks no different from our Thanksgiving and Christmas Day feasts. Mama really went all out.

“Thank you,” I tell her.

“Of course.” She smiles back. “Enjoy.”

“You know I will.”

We serve ourselves a good helping of everything, then Papa’s gaze settles on me. I try to get a mouth full of the beef and mashed potatoes before he launches into whatever discussion he has planned for me.

The food tastes fantastic. I savor it while I can. Everything has a way of turning sour in my mouth when the problems start rolling in.

“So, how are you doing?” Papa asks.

“I’m okay.”

“How is Lev treating you?”

Here we go.

“He hasn’t hurt me.” That’s what he means.

“That’s good to hear.” Papa gives me a stiff smile. “Eat up, then we’ll talk. You look like you’ve lost weight.”

He’s probably right about that. There have been a few days over the past month where Lev had me so on edge I couldn’t eat. Either way, I’m grateful for the chance to enjoy the delicious food.

Mama glances at me, a wariness in her eyes. It’s a heads-up. I guess Papa is going to talk to me about something I won’t like.

In the past when I suspected I was in trouble I’d eat slowly on purpose, anything to delay the dreaded discussion. Tonight I don’t do that. I want to hear what he has to say, so I eat at a normal pace and finish the same time Papa does.

He drains the rest of his wine and as he sets his glass back on the table, I know to brace myself for what comes next.

“I heard about what happened at Bellomo’s,” he says. Mama stiffens.

All these weeks have passed and she never mentioned it. She wouldn’t though. Deep down I’m sure she knew Danillo got what he deserved.

“Danillo says Lev attacked him.”

“Because he attacked me first,” I speak out.

Papa glares at me as if I just slapped him. “Well, it looks like you agree with Lev’s actions.”

I can’t help myself. I glare back at him, wondering if he’s serious. “Papa, Danillo was choking me. Hurting me. It was worse than ever.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”

“I’m not.”

“You and that asshole didn’t just embarrass me. You embarrassed the Bellandis too. If Danillo was upset it’s understandable.”

“But he hurt me, Papa.”

“I said, stop being so dramatic.”

“But you weren’t there. You didn’t see what he did to me.” Not that it would have made a difference. He’d still take Danillo’s side. “If Lev hadn’t come along⁠—”

Papa slams an angry fist on the table, making the food, platters, and cutlery jump.