Page 8 of In Ruins
“Well, that depends. It’s the annual masquerade ball at the Andrettis. Bruno is working security at their house tonight, and he said he could sneak me in if I wanted to go after work.”
I know it’s a conflict of interest that her boyfriend works for the Andrettis when our families still hate each other, but, in all honesty, I couldn't care less. It’s not really my business. Nothingabout that family is relevant to me, and I wouldn’t even care if the Andrettis wiped my father out. Though I don’t have an issue with her dating Bruno, my father would if he ever found out and would probably kill her.
I can’t deny that I’m intrigued by the Andrettis. I’m supposed to hate them because of my father, but I’ve always been a bit fascinated with Enzo Andretti. I think it’s the bad-boy aura he has that makes me want to know more about him. Maybe if I go tonight, I’ll finally get to see the man in the flesh.
I’ve only ever seen the guy in the tabloids. He is always pictured with some bombshell next to him, as they snap pictures of him leaving clubs and parties. I would never admit out loud that I’ve had a crush on him since I knew what crushes were. I haven’t seen what he looks like these days, since my internet access is very limited and I wouldn’t want my father to see that I was looking the guy up.
I’ve never had a chance to run into him anywhere on account of always being locked away at home. Even if I did, the guy probably wouldn’t even notice me since he’s so much older than I am.
There are also rumors that he's ruthless as fuck. Like, even more so than my father and Salvatore combined when it comes to business. That ruthlessness turns me off from Salvatore and makes me want to kill myself, whereas it pulls me in completely when it comes to Enzo. It makes me want to get to know the man even more. Though I hope it’s only in business, because if he were into trafficking and abuse, I’d hate him just as much as I do Salvatore.
According to past gossip, Enzo is the Andrettis’ only heir. For now, until he takes over the reins from his father, he is their best assassin, and honestly, that makes his appeal skyrocket. I know I said I hated things in my world, especially my father, but I’d be willing to make an exception for that man.
Maybe I’m sick in the head for thinking that way, when I usually despise most things about the fucking Mafia.
I wonder if I could hire him to kill my father…
Okay, now I’m definitely feeling the excitement run through my veins at the thought of getting a glimpse of the man before I have to see that ogre tomorrow. Mind made up, I give Giana my answer. “Let’s do it.”
I’m sittingat the table in tense silence with my father as we have dinner tonight. He was already back home by the time we got back from the cemetery. When he saw us, he informed me that I was to join him for dinner.
We rarely have dinner together, so I’m not sure why he decided to do that tonight. Maybe he wants to bask in my misery. Nevertheless, I did as I was told, and it has been awkward from the moment I sat down at the table. I didn’t bother to make small talk with him, since he never answers anyway.
I pretend indifference when really, I’m a bit tenser than usual. But that’s because Giana and I have plans to sneak out later. I’ve never snuck out of the house before, so this will be a first for me. I was too afraid that Father would find out and kill me.
Luck must be on our side tonight because Father is going to one of his poker games. Like, could this have been any more perfect?
This is the best birthday gift the universe has ever given me. Tonight, I don’t care. I’m doing this! I want to do something for myself. I want to break the rules for once before I’m shackled to a life of suffering. I’m going to be a rebel today, on my eighteenth birthday!
Since I’m going to be married to evil soon, I might as well enjoy my one night of freedom before I’m locked away in hell for the rest of my life. As soon as dinner is finished, both Father and I get up from the table at the same time.
I tell him goodnight as he makes his way to the front door. As usual, he doesn’t answer, but it’s not like I’m not used to it by now. I sigh as I make my way up to my room, glad that Giana’s already in there when I step inside.
I walk over to the suit she points out on my bed and gently run my hand over the material. It’s one of my brother’s suits. She spent the rest of the day after we got back from the cemetery making alterations, so it would fit me.
I had the bright idea to go there disguised as a guy. Even though it’s a masquerade ball, I think dressing up as a guy will hide my identity better. You can’t be too careful. The plan is to sneak in and stay for an hour or so, just to see what an Andretti party is all about. Then we'll sneak out again before going to one of the clubs downtown, where I’m hoping I can find someone to lose my virginity to. That shouldn’t be too hard to do, right?
Father usually doesn’t come home until the next morning when he goes to his games, and I don’t want to imagine what he gets up to that makes it an all-nighter. He never checks on me, so I’m pretty confident that we’ll be able to sneak back into the house since Giana knows a way to sneak in without being caught by the guards.
Salvatore will never be the one to take my innocence. That man is disgusting, and I can’t imagine suffering through that experience. I know that would be the most awful thing to ever happen to me.
I quickly get dressed in the suit, and Giana helps me put my hair in the wig cap before putting on the men’s wig, which she also got for me.
She's wearing her regular clothes to avoid suspicion, since she can’t exactly drive out of here in a party dress without raising some questions. She does have a pretty party dress to change into. It’s long and flowy and baby pink. On our way out, we grab our masks. Mine is masculine and white with black cracks around me and it covers my entire face. Giana’s is a gold masquerade mask that covers just her eyes.
She goes down the stairs first to make sure no one is around while I lock my room door. I peek my head past the post to look at her, and she motions for me to follow. I quickly run down, and we head for the garage. She makes sure the coast is clear in there as well, and then I quickly sneak into her trunk. She closes it a moment later, hurrying to the driver’s side and getting in before starting it and leaving.
I’m nervous as she drives out of the garage and then up to the guard hut by the gate. We stop for a second as the gate opens before we’re moving again, and I let out the breath I was holding in.
They didn’t check her car, thankfully. But then again, why would they? I’ve never been dumb enough to try sneaking out, and they know she wouldn’t be stupid enough to help me either. Plus, they’re usually lax when my father isn’t home.
She continues to drive until we’re far away from the house, stopping the car to let me out of the trunk. She stops at an area with little traffic and changes her clothes here. She quickly pulls on her dress and switches shoes, fixing her hair and touching up her makeup when we get back into the car, and then we’re ready to continue on our way.
“We did it!” she says excitedly as she puts the car in drive again.
“I know, right? Let's go have some fun!” I squeal as we continue the drive to the Andretti mansion. I sit back and let the excitement fill me. I will have fun tonight. I will let loose for oncein my life. Most importantly, I will enjoy my birthday and not think about the dark times ahead.
CHAPTER 2
