Code of Honor (Spontagio Family 1)

“Alone? That’s sad.” I stick my tongue out at him. “Okay, so what are you celebrating? A new Justin Bieber song out?”

I groan. “It was once, and I was, like, freaking fifteen years old. You can’t keep bringing that up.”

He chuckles. “Okay, I’m sorry. You’re right. So, what are you celebrating?”

I hesitate, suddenly wondering whether I should tell him. I trust him enough not to tell my father, but the more people I tell, the more real the possibility of me actually getting to go is.

“I got in. They accepted me, Pietro.” God, I’m on the verge of crying. Embarrassed, I try to calm myself.

“Really? That’s great,” he says. He sounds genuinely happy for me, which makes me feel good. “Though I’m not surprised. You really don’t get how amazing you are when you dance, do you?”

I wasn’t expecting him to say that. My cheeks heat up as I fight the smile forming on my lips.

“That wasn’t meant to sound as creepy as it did either,” he adds, wincing. “I mean, it’s not like I hide outside your studio watching you dance or anything. Just, the few times I’ve seen you, you’ve taken my breath away. God, I’m making things worse.” He groans and I laugh, reaching out to touch his arm.

“It’s fine. I get what you’re trying to say and I appreciate it. I’m glad someone in this house sees how much dancing means to me.”

“You’re talking about your father,” he guesses, and I nod. “I’m sure he does know, Luce. He just has a hard time showing it.”

“Yeah, well.” I make a face. “I’m going to tell him now. This should be entertaining.”

“He might surprise you,” Pietro comments.

I give him a look. “And he might not.”

—

“Dad?” I ask, gently rapping on his office door.

“Come in, Lucia.”

He smiles as I push the door open. I close it behind me. My heart pounds and I sit down in one of the chairs surrounding his desk, resting my arms on the thick marble surface.

“Are you busy?” I ask. “I can come back later if you like,” I say, already half out of my seat. I’m procrastinating, looking for any reason I can to put this conversation off.

“I always have time for you,” he replies. “Sit down. What’s going on?”

“I got into the New York Ballet Company, in New York City.” I blurt the words out, my eyes glued to his, waiting for his reaction. He doesn’t say anything. After what feels like an eternity, he simply nods, his hands neatly clasped in front of him. “Did you hear me?” I say, my voice shaking. This was not the fiery reaction I was expecting.

“I heard you, Lucia.”

Okay. I’m stumped. He’s pretty much ended the conversation before it’s even begun and I have no idea how. It hits me that he isn’t the least bit shocked by my news. It’s almost like he knew. But that’s ridiculous, isn’t it?

“You’re not surprised at all by this, are you?” Somehow, I find my voice. He shrugs, the slight flash of guilt in his eyes the only confirmation I need.

“How did you know?” I gasp.

“Your notification came in a rather large envelope that piqued my curiosity, and then once I opened it—”

“You opened my mail?” I yell, getting to my feet.

“Calm down, Lucia. I nearly always open your mail first,” he replies, rolling his eyes like I’m overreacting. Is he serious? I knew he was overprotective, but opening my mail feels like a huge invasion of privacy.

“You have to be able to see how wrong that is,” I say, shaking my head. His ignorance is almost funny. “I can’t believe you would do this to me. Do you go through my emails and texts too?” I hold up my hand. “Actually, I don’t even want to know.”

“You snuck off to some audition halfway across the country and somehow I’m the bad guy?”

“I’m twenty-one, Dad. I don’t need your permission to do anything,” I declare, throwing my arms up.