Page 105 of Claimed At First Sight

Usually, I’d already be preparing an apology. But today, all I can think about is the wind in my hair, the city rushing past, and the freedom I’d enjoyed for a few glorious hours.

I move farther into the room, refusing to let the day unravel this quickly.

“Before you say anything, Mamma, I had a wonderful day.”

Sienna bites the inside of her cheek, trying not to smile. Mamma, however, doesn’t look amused. She exhales slowly, already seeming exhausted by me.

“That’s wonderful.” Her tone makes it sound sarcastic.

Huh. Mamma doesn’t do sarcasm.

“Did you consider for even one second the consequences of ditching your security? Or that we would be worried?”

I bite back an exasperated sigh.

Of course I’d considered the risk. It was negligible.

I’d hardly disappeared off the face of the earth. I’d spent a few hours exploring Chicago, not joined a criminal syndicate. After all, there’s no need for that, I’m already part of one.

Before I can answer, the tension in the room intensifies. It’s like I can feel his disapproval before I can even see him.

Why is he here? This has nothing to do with him.

The faint sound of approaching footsteps comes from the hallway. Two sets. Annoyingly, my pulse speeds up.

Aldo enters first, calm but grave, one hand sliding into the pocket of his suit jacket. Looking at him, you’d think I’d committed a crime instead of spending an afternoon sightseeing.

Maximo walks in next. The second I see him, every remaining trace of my good mood evaporates.

He looks livid.

It’s not written all over his face the way it was with Father. It’s in the coolness of his eyes, the rigid set of his shoulders and the way he somehow appears even more controlled than usual.

A knot grows in my stomach.

This isn’t the version of Maximo I’ve been trading barbs with. This is the Don. And judging by his expression, the Don is not pleased.

I can’t say I’m a fan of that, especially when I’ve done nothing wrong. I spent a few hours by myself, for heaven’s sake. It’s not like they didn’t work out where I was. The car following us home made that clear.

I straighten my posture and lift my chin a little higher.

The gesture feels considerably less convincing when his dark gaze locks onto mine, and I have the bizarre sensation that the room just became smaller.

My sisters exchange a glance before getting to their feet and leaving the room.

Aldo closes the door behind them. Meanwhile, Mamma rises from the sofa, smoothing a hand over the front of her dress.

I eye them warily as silence settles over the room. I’m tempted to point out that they’re overreacting.

But if I learned anything from my late, scheming father, it’s to never speak first.

I can play this game just as well as they can.

“Mialina,” Aldo says. “You cannot disappear into a city like Chicago without informing anybody.”

And so the lecture begins. I fold my arms.

“I didn’t disappear.”