Chapter 13
Veronica stared at her reflection.
The black eye bloomed beneath her sunglasses. Her head throbbed.
She leaned closer, lifting the glasses just long enough to assess the damage.
She was wearing her Scalese Pizza Parlour T-shirt, the cotton thin from too many washes, the logo cracked and peeling. She jammed her hair under a baseball cap, tugged the sunglasses back into place, and squared her shoulders.
She grabbed her keys and shoved past her father without slowing.
“Where the hell do you think you are going?” Vito shouted.
“Where does it look like?” she muttered. “Work. Like a normal human being. You know what work is, right p>
“I know you are mad at me,” he said, the volume dialed down but the guilt turned up.
She stopped so abruptly her keys jingled in protest. Slowly, she turned to face him, sunglasses tilting just enough to reveal the bruised edge beneath. “You know?” she shouted. “You know? You cannot even begin to comprehend the heftiness of the emotions I am feeling right now, Dad. How can you p>
Vito spread his hands helplessly. “I made a mistake,” he said. “I admit it p>
“A mistake is forgetting milk,” she snapped. “A mistake is burning dinner. You traded your daughter like she was spare change p>
His face twisted. “It’s the only way p>
“Giving your daughter out to monsters,” Veronica said.
“Vee,” he said, “all we can do now is pray that she finds the best path out of all of these p>
“Prayer?” she echoed. “You sold her with one hand and offered prayers with the other. Do you hear yourself p>
She stepped closer. “I was wrong,” she continued, quieter but more dangerous now. “Luca isn’t the monster p>
Vito’s head snapped up.
“You are,” she said plainly. “Tell me, Dad. What in the world would make you desperate enough, foolish enough, monstrous enough to go to Luca for a favour? What p>
Vito’s gaze drifted to the floor.
That silence answered her.
“I will find out,” Veronica said, backing toward the door. “You know that, right? I will find out p>
She grabbed her bag, slung it over her shoulder. “I’ll see you later,” she added flatly. “I’m going to work before I go mad p>
The door shut behind her, leaving Vito alone with his secrets.
The Scalese Pizza Parlour was already alive when Veronica arrived.
The bell above the door jingled cheerfully. The ovens roared, radiating heat. Tony was arguing with the delivery guy. Rosa was wiping the counter.
Normal chaos. Safe chaos.
Rosa squinted at her sunglasses. “You sick p>
“Something like that,” Veronica said. She was reaching for a stack of menus when the doorbell chimed again.
Cassidy walked in.
He was wearing a button-down shirt.
He scanned the room until his eyes found her, and his shoulders visibly relaxed.
Relief. Then concern.
When Veronica had come to say her goodbyes the previous day, she had left out almost everything. She told Cassidy that her sister was in trouble, and that was enough. She refused to go into details. Cassidy had accepted that at the time. He was genuinely relieved today, though, when she hadn’t left town.
He liked Veronica more than he expected. Truth be told, it was more than just liking. She had a fire that drew people in, including him, and he wanted to protect it. But their relationship had only existed for a few weeks, just enough time for late-night texts, and shared coffee, not enough for confessions of the heart.
He had to tread lightly, to care without coming off desperate or overwhelming.
“Hey, Vee,” he called gently.
“Hi, Cas. I’m a bit busy here,” she said.
“I just need a few minutes, if that’s okay,” he said, approaching her side and leaning casually against the counter.
Veronica adjusted her sunglasses. She stepped out from behind the counter and led him to a lone chair by the window. She sank into it, and gestured for him to sit. Cassidy obeyed, careful not to crowd her space.
“So, what’s going on? What happened?” he asked quietly. “And why are you wearing sunglasses indoors p>
“It’s nothing,” she said, shrugging. “I hit my face on a wall p>
“Vee, see I know you are lying to me,” Cassidy said softly. “Did your dad do this to you?” His hand reached for hers.
“No! God no! He wouldn’t,” she whispered.
“Is there anything I can do to help p>
She reached out, letting her fingers brush against his palm. “I’m fine. I just need a few days. I will call you as soon as I get my head on straight,” she said.
“Two heads are better than one,” Cassidy said, a half-smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Veronica allowed herself a small, private smile. “And I will let you know when I need one attached to mine,” she said, the first moment of levity all day. The joke felt fragile, but it made the tension ease just a fraction.
“How is Valentina?” Cassidy asked, shifting his focus, his brows furrowed.
“She’s…she’s fine,” Veronica said. “I really have to go. I have to make a delivery p>
“Of course. I’ll come check on you later tonight p>
“Sure,” Vee said, nodding, giving him a smile. They rose to their feet, and Cassidy leaned in, brushing his lips against hers in a soft kiss. Veronica leaned into him, needing the warmth and the reassurance, the quiet promise that someone cared, even if she couldn’t admit fully that she needed it.
But then, behind them, the sharp sound of a throat clearing sliced through the calm.
“Hello, welcome to Scalese…Marco?” she stopped short just as she turned. Luca gave a slight tilt of his head. But his gaze wasn’t on her. It lingered on Cassidy.
Vee’s eyes darted to Cassidy. “I’ll call you later, okay? Have a good day,” she said softly, brushing her hand against his. Cassidy nodded, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Once the door clicked shut behind him, Vee turned back to Luca, who had shifted his stance, his eyes cold, archiving details about Cassidy. The way he walked, the slight swagger, the quiet confidence. Was this the type of men she liked? The boring ones who seemed harmless?