TIED TO AN OUTLAW

bare the questions that have

es B

rom the night's escapades-Tiziano's chills, my mother's nagging, and ultimately Zee's confession-and I was

a bright blue top that said "Stop Staring" and skinny jea

t of place for a morning gathering like this. Take Zita, for instance. I hadn't expected to fin

y father's mistress's cousin-Zita was usually nowhere to be seen in

to avoid coming home, wh

o different. As soon as I halted, her eyes locked onto mine. The little

frown told me to

damn

nt when I called this family a noxious blend of meddlers, alpha males, sycophants, dr

rubbing his sickly-formed mustache like anyone in this room would ever see it as anything other than

g her head from the fantasy trilogy she'd been guzz

ily. That's how we all referred to my relationship with Tiziano-a raw wound just waitin

ut to risk another failed alliance, not after her

before shooting me a glare that could've turne

ad she tamed her hair like that. Thirty years with our father, and she remained unapologetically wild, unlike the subtle, controlled presence of Mother. It made me wonder if Father was ev

in the dining hall-just for Father, who never indulged in such common fare. Zita was perched on a high chair, feeding her ten-month-o

laughter echoing off the walls. They seemed to be in a perpetual state of mot

, I'd have to get in bed with him. The mere idea made me choke, drawing a

chair at the far end of the kitchen, nursing yet another hangover. His hair

laughter from half the room and exasperated mutters about his drinking

rown his own hangover with the

s awful," Cosimo grumbled. "I s

ct, I didn't remember ever being given the freedom to choos

wife. Aunt Rosa vaguely mentioned that Liv had left early and said nothing mor

was always styled in a way that set him apart from our father's typical look. That kind of strict

way out the door. He never stuck around long. "Got an early meeting," he said, catching another gra

hen more than one Benedetti stayed in one

ill teach you some manners, Remo. Lord k

ally. "Permit my absence, Aunt Rosa-some of us are allergi

y fanning the flames of Au

r-always quick to leave when t

eryone else stiffened like statues, but not me. At that moment, I kn

robably why her husband had taken suicide as an escape route, s

ter all, she didn't just take on e

lamped shut, he turned to the "hungover twins" and said, "Once

Yes...

that, Remo was

ectively wrecked the perfect c

ther's throats for the rest of the day for that singular statement. L

room, trying to defuse the tension. "C

nfused. "That's not e

d took the plate of breakfast from me. "I di

ck

chimed in from insi

eep from swearing ag

d the book shut with a frustrated huff. "I can't

ng to give you impossible expectations about men." A wry smile appeared on her lips, and

wants to ride in on a white horse and

s and toast for Nico. He hated pancakes. "Just don't let your fantasies i

night?" My mother's ey

said quickly. "Just a li

his presence turned the room cold. The remaining laughter and chatter evaporated as if a switch had

relief swept through us as everyone hurried to finish their meals

s the plan for today? And who's driving me to book

it be otherwise? Driving around spoiled princesses was a job for chauffeurs, not br

're planning to drop me off first before heading t

e'd bent a few rules for me since I turned eighteen. He'd taught me to drive, but volunteering to drive myself now was out of the questio

eyed me jokingly. "You're going to be late if you don't hurry up, kid

. "Actually, it's the Sessi

u, you imbecile." I rolled my eyes at Co

er, Zee." She stuffed her novel into her tote and slung it over her shoulder. "Call me, Sessie,

" Mother asked, brushi

linger until evening and bring her back," Cosimo sne

relief with amusement. "Be care

my bag as soon as I was out of sight. But

he mess. Her gaze was a reminder of our one-sided agreement. "Looking

joining a bunch of idealistic women to discuss marri

the first, his eyes landing on Zita with a chilling intensity. "Elio's been s

s, amplifying the gasps that rippled t

moments he actually looked at me. He snapped his fingers

ed hes

you still da

an object;

t tied to the Benedetti name. How was I supposed to cope with this? Zita's husband had been shot, and yet I w

clear: our only jobs were to

tting on a time bomb; it was