Book 1
Gia Salvatore does not like to feel tied down. Tired of answering to her controlling father, she ran away the night of her high school graduation and moved in with a secret older boyfriend, glad to cut ties with her toxic family.
But four...
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Gia knew security cameras were recording her as soon as they entered the gated property of their family shore house. It had always been that way. A small mansion by the shore, one of the bedrooms had been converted into a room strictly for security monitors. There was an eye on every important angle of the property, including one on the street. Gia was reminded it was how her father had known she had run over the mailbox before she had gotten her learner's permit.
Anxiety raged through her, feeling like an inmate returning to prison.
"Welcome home, princess." Carmine brought his car to a stop in front of the home. Pulling his keyes from the ignition, he sorted through his ring until he lands on a thick golden one and removed it from its companions.
"Try not to get into anymore trouble." He holds the key out to her and she takes it. "And by that I mean stay your ass home."
"What are you planning with Evan?"
Carmine hadn't spoken the entire drive from the hospital and Gia couldn't find the will to move out of the car without knowing the musican's fate. It had been all her fault for indulging him and for not revealing to him who she was. It had been silly of her to think she could ever be anonymous in this city and selfish to not realize Evan had a reputation at risk as well.
"You should be asking about your father," he glared. "The one I've taken care of since his only child up and left."
"No one told me he was sick," she blurted out in anger. "No one has even told me what's wrong with him!"
"Cancer," Carmine said matter of factly and with no emotion. "Diagnosed six months after you left."
Gia shrunk into herself. Cancer. The same bastard that took her mother. Only she had not survived the year.
"I didn't know," was all she could manage to say, the fight leaving her and a dark cloud forming in her thoughts.
"Self-centeredness is the quickest way to destroy an empire like the one your father's built." Carmine paused then laughs sarcastically. "Ego." He rolled his eyes. "I see why you two connected."
"What's going to happen to him," she asked again, trying to muster a sense of authority.
"I'm not discussing Family business." He turned then, putting his key into the ignition and starting the car
"I am family," Gia yelled, hitting him across the shoulder. She was growing furious at being left out of every decision that involved her life; of being expected to think or act in a certain manner but never allowed to know the full scope of what was at stake. Of course she was going to screw up and make mistakes if she was constantly kept in the dark.
"Not this Family," he replied, revving the engine as a signal for her to get out. "Blood, yes. Family? Not any more."
She leaned in close to his face, knowing jealousy was at the root of Carmine's admonsity towards her. "Its you that aren't Family. Because I said so."
