my home because of the people who live there. When I look to the future, I see us in a new home, one that will be ours.
“It’s a possibility we’ll both have to let go. Our vision is everything new, for us, and for everyone in Vita. If they see us moving on, they’ll find it easier as well.”
“What would you do with them?” he asks, squeezing my hand.
“I’d burn them both to the ground and build new—keeping with Vita’s look, of course. Maybe affordable houses for the poorer people, and parks for the children to play in during the summer. It’ll be a waste to keep them when we’re trying to build a new life. Once our fathers are gone, I don’t want any reminders of the past.”
“There’s a lot of land between our properties.”
“We could bring the city into the new age and make a shit ton of money in the process.”
“It’s not all about money, Raphael. I’m sure between us, our fortunes will be enough to last our children’s children’s lifetime and longer. It’s about time the people of Vita have somewhere nicer to call home.”
“Your heart is so pure, Mila. I love that the most about you, you know.”
“Your heart is just as pure, Raphe, and soon everyone will see what I do.”
The cars that drove in drive slowly around the side of the house where Raphael tells me the garages are.
Checking his watch, he leans up to look over the bush. “We’ll wait till they head inside, and then I’ll drive you home.”
The light in the window I first saw goes out. “Is that your room?”
“Yeah.”
“Someone’s in there, then. Won’t they come looking for you?”
My panic grows when he chuckles. “Mila, I’m not a daughter who has to have every move accounted for. It would’ve been my mother coming to let me know they were home. She’ll think I’m out somewhere with my cousin, and she’ll go to bed.”
I frown. It must be nice to have the freedom to come and go as you please.
“Doesn’t she worry you’re not home at this hour?”
“I’m sure she does, but my father will tell her I’m nearly a man, and if I can’t look out for myself, then I’m no good anyway. She’ll pop a sleeping pill and question me in the morning.”
Sucking air through my teeth, my anger sounds like a snake hissing. I hate Mr. Marocchi. It’s okay, though, because I can give Raphael more love than he ever could, and I will, every day for the rest of our lives.
“Come on, put your hood up and stay at my side.”
I do as he says, following him to the garage port, flicking a set of keys off one of the many hooks on the wall.
I know he drives, but I’ve never seen what he drives, and I’ve never thought to ask him.
A matte black Lamborghini with sparkling silver rims beeps, and he opens the door for me.
“You’re filthy,” he points out, looking down at the scrapes of mud on my jeans. “How will you explain that to your parents?”
“You give them too much credit. As if they do the laundry,” I snort, climbing inside.
He closes the door, and his laugh dies as he rounds the hood and gets behind the wheel.
“This is the last thing I thought I’d be doing tonight.” Pressing the button, he brings the engine to life.
“I only wanted to see you, Raphael.”
The car descends into darkness as he peels out of the garage and away from the stark white lighting.
He doesn’t reply, but he reaches across for my hand and says, “The windows are tinted, and they won’t stop me. You can take your hood down. I’d like to have access to your face before you’re gone again.”
Brushing my hand over the top of my hood, I pull it down and shake my hair out, tucking it behind my ears.
“I love you, Mila. So much so, I couldn’t live without you. But please, for my sanity, don’t put yourself at risk again.”
I turn toward the window. Not that I’m looking at anything, obviously, but I don’t want him to see the truth, because I would do it again, even if I only got to spend a few minutes with him.
Chapter Eighteen
Raphael
Night after night, I sit with my mother, but nothing changes. Not even a finger twitch.
Drifting off to sleep, I’m woken at exactly three a.m. to two shots fired, causing the alarms all across the property to blare through the house. Getting