“I’m sorry,” I whisper calmly. “I’m just worried about you and your mother.”
“We’re doing just fine. We have plenty of protection with the families.”
I shake my head. “That’s just not going to be enough.”
“Is that why you wanted us to live with you? So you could keep an eye on us?”
Extending my hands feels like a futile attempt at getting her to understand without actually explaining my motives, but I do it regardless of how silly I might look. “I want to protect you. You’re my family.” I pause as tears burn my eyes. “You’re my only family left.”
“I’m just not a Mafia princess like you.”
“Do you think I want this?” My fingers curl into my palms as frustration courses through my veins. “I wish I had never been passed this crown and scepter, but I do what I must. You’ll learn soon enough.”
She nods curtly. “That sounds like a threat.”
“It’s not meant to be, Evelyn. It doesn’t have to be that way.”
“I’ll never get involved in the same things as you. I promise I’m not judging you, Alex. I understand your position. I just don’t think I would fall into it like that.” She sighs and crosses her arms over her chest, looking away from me. “I’m just not as important as you.”
I nod while shoving my hands into my pockets. “When word gets out…”
“Hopefully you haven’t spilled this to anyone.”
I can’t lie to her.
But I also can’t lose her trust.
“I’ve done what I can to protect your identity,” I assure her. “And that’s why I wanted to have you live with me. Not just to protect you, but to have you as family. We’re stronger when we’re together.”
She gives me a wry smile while dropping her arms to her sides, though that dismissive look is still in her eyes. “What wishful thinking.”
“I do wish it could be that way.”
“I think my mother and I are plenty safe where we are.”
I try to smile. “I believe you. I just…”
“You care. I get it.”
“I care about you so much.”
After a moment, she closes the space between us and embraces me, burying her face into my shoulder. I cradle her head and hug her tightly to my body as though she’s made of fine china, no cracks yet evident in her shell. And maybe she can’t crack like me. Maybe she isn’t as fragile as I am.
But to fucking hell if I’m ever going to try to find out.
Every fiber of my being is adamant about keeping her close so I can make sure she doesn’t end up in the same position as me. With Parker on my side, I don’t have to worry about Paulina pressuring him into proposing to Evelyn. He won’t dare go that route now that we have a vow between us.
And Evelyn wouldn’t fall for that either. She’s much smarter than that, much stronger than I ever could have ever anticipated.
I want to make sure it stays that way.
When she steps back, she grins up at me. “I’m also shorter.”
“Who would have guessed?”
“Listen, I appreciate your warning, but I think I’ll be just fine.” She drifts past me toward the door. “So, you want to walk with me to the next class, or do you want to keep your distance?”
I smile sheepishly. “I think I’ll keep my distance a little longer.”
“All right. I’ll see you around, Alex.”
“You too.”
She leaves, a void residing in my chest when I think about all the things that could possibly happen to her if she’s revealed as my half sister. Will the Persian go after her, too? Or is she right about being a huge nobody?
And will that be enough to protect her from everyone else?