Sempre (Sempre 1)

Carmine groaned, irritated he cut him off. “It was fucking peachy, Dad. Now can I finish?”

Vincent waved him on.

“We ran into Nicholas, and he said something. He said he knew the truth about Haven.”

Carmine watched as his father’s expression shifted, a blank mask overcoming his face. Each second of silence grated on his nerves. Why was he just sitting there?

“It’s possible he knows more than he should.”

Carmine sat forward. “My enemy knows the truth, and you didn’t think to tell me?”

“He’s not your enemy, Carmine. I know what enemies are. I know the threats they pose. Nicholas knows no more than Dia or Tess. I can’t kill him any more than I could kill those girls. Or is that what you’re suggesting—wiping out everyone who might know? That’s not how you get a clean slate with her, son. You can’t run from the truth.”

row furrowed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m not an idiot, Haven,” he said, his voice low. “I have no intention of dying any time soon, that’s for sure. I know how to keep my mouth shut, but I can’t hold it in anymore. You told me you were from California, when not long ago Carmine said you were from Chicago. And they don’t just invite people to live with them. They don’t let anyone get close unless they can control them some way, and it freaks me out what that means for you.”

She felt queasy. “What do you mean?”

“I mean you aren’t some friend of the family. I think you had no choice whether you came here.”

“I had a choice,” she said, remembering Dr. DeMarco’s words that first day. “We always have a choice.”

“Look, it’s not like I can do anything. I’m just a kid, and I don’t know your situation. For all I know, you could’ve been kidnapped and are being held for ransom, or, hell, maybe you’re in hiding. I don’t know, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel bad knowing you might be trapped.”

She was nervous to talk about it in public. “They’re nice to me.”

“I’m sure they are, but that doesn’t make it right, and it makes me sick that Carmine’s taking advantage of you.”

Her fingernails dug into her palms as she tried to keep from reacting. “Carmine loves me.”

“I have a hard time believing he loves anyone.”

“I love him.”

“Let me guess, he’s the first person to treat you that way? He smiles at you and whispers sweet nothings in your ear? He speaks Italian and makes you swoon? Yeah, he did that to every girl in this building at some point. That’s who he is.”

“Nothing’s going to change my mind.”

“Fine, but like I said, that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. If you need to talk, I’m around.”

“Why do you care so much?”

“Because somebody should.”

She opened her mouth to tell him Carmine cared, but before she could, Carmine’s seething voice rang out behind them. “Leave her alone!”

“Nicholas helped me,” Haven said right away, not wanting him to get the wrong idea.

Carmine wrapped his arm around her waist as he glared at Nicholas. “Helped you with what?”

“Lisa cornered her, so I did what any man would do,” Nicholas said. “Actually, most would’ve watched two chicks going at it, but I didn’t want Lisa to get her ass whipped at prom. I’m hoping for a little action tonight.”

Carmine looked at her. “Lisa tried to fight with you? Again?”

“I see it’s not a one-time occurrence,” Nicholas said.

Haven held up her corsage. “She broke my flower.”