Maya's POV
I threw my pillow at the phony father who was standing in my room and screamed. "Leave me alone!" I screamed and stumbled backward on the bed, colliding with the wall. The man who resembled my father burst out laughing. My skin crawled at the terrible sound. His face changed as he laughed. His eyes changed from brown to green, his hair darkened, and his nose grew larger. He said, "Very good, Maya," in a voice that was no longer my father's. "You're more intelligent than him."
All four of the Romano brothers rushed in as the door flew open. Dante was holding a gun. Marco followed closely behind him. Luca appeared prepared to engage in combat. Enzo was typing quickly on his tablet.
"What's happening?" Dante pointed his gun at the phony father and demanded.
The man continued to change. "Just a little test," he said. He appeared entirely different now—younger, shorter, and grinning cruelly. "I was curious to see the girl's reaction."
"Tony," Marco snapped. "We advised you to avoid her."
"Who is that?" My voice trembled as I asked. "Who are you?"
The man bowed slightly and introduced himself as Tony Ricci. "Your new family employs me. I'm really skilled at posing as other people."
Dante continued to point the gun at Tony while saying, "He's our... specialist." "And he was meant to leave you alone."
Tony gave a shrug. "I wanted to know more about the girl. Her appearance surpasses her photos."
With his hands in fists, Luca took a step forward. "Leave. Now."
"Fine, fine," Tony said as he made his way to the door. "However, Maya, I'll be available if you need me. I can be whoever you want me to be." After giving me a wink, he walked away.
The brothers turned back to me after watching him leave. "Are you okay?" Marco inquired quietly.
I was definitely not feeling well. I thought my heart might burst from the speed at which it was beating. "Why do you have a face-changing person?"
Dante put his gun away and remarked, "Tony has many talents." "Some are more helpful than others."
"Is my biological father still living?" Fearful of the response, I asked.
Enzo looked up from his tablet and said, "He's alive." "For the time being."
My stomach ached from the way he said it. "For now, what do you mean?"
"We need to talk," Dante stated. "Everyone. Downstairs."
I wanted answers, but I also wanted to remain in my room. "About what?"
Marco said, "About your father's real crime." "And about why you're actually here."
After five minutes, we were all seated in a large room with a fireplace and leather chairs. I didn't feel any safer even though I was seated in the chair that was farthest away from the brothers.
Dante started by saying, "Your father didn't just steal money." "He took it from the charity run by our family. Funds intended to aid ailing children."
"You already told me that," I replied.
Luca remarked, "But we didn't tell you everything." "Your father didn't gamble with stolen money. To pay someone else, he stole it."
My jaw dropped. "What?"
Enzo swung his tablet in my direction. A gray-haired man with frightful eyes was depicted on the screen. "Vincent Moretti is this person. He is the head of a rival criminal organization."
"Your father owed him money," Marco added. "A substantial sum of money. Thus, he struck a bargain."
"What kind of deal?" I was afraid to ask.
Dante claimed, "He would steal from us and give the money to Moretti." "Moretti would protect him in return."
I was lightheaded. "That isn't feasible. My dad isn't intelligent enough for that."
"No, he's not," Enzo concurred. "That's why Moretti took advantage of him. He was being used, even though your father believed he was being clever."
"But why?" I inquired. "What makes Moretti want my dad to steal from you?"
Luca cracked his knuckles and remarked, "Because he wanted to start a war." "We would pursue your father if we were to place the blame on him. We would have to pass through Moretti in order to reach him if we pursued him."
Marco continued, "And then we'd be fighting Moretti instead of focusing on our business."
I gazed at them. My dad didn't just steal money, then. He attempted to instigate conflict between criminal families.
"Yes," Dante replied plainly.
"And those kids who passed away..."
"Were caught in the middle," Enzo concluded. "Like you are right now."
I was ill. I've always believed my father to be weak and unintelligent. He was worse than that, though. He allowed others to perish in order to protect himself because he was a coward.
I inquired, "Where is he now?"
"Safe," Dante declared. "For the time being."
"What does that mean?"
Marco remarked, "It means Moretti wants him dead for failing." "And because he betrayed us, we want him dead."
Luca continued, "So he's hiding somewhere, hoping both sides will forget about him."
"But we don't forget," Enzo muttered. "Ever."
I was having trouble breathing. My dad was a coward and a traitor. He caused the deaths of children. I was now caught up in a conflict between criminal families.
I questioned, "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because we need you to understand," Dante explained. "Money is no longer the only factor in this. It has to do with honor. Justice is at issue. Making sure your father is held accountable for his actions is the goal."
"And I'm supposed to help you?"
Luca stated, "Whether you want to or not, you're going to help us." "Because Moretti is now aware of you."
"What do you mean?"
Enzo once more showed me his tablet. This time, it displayed a photo of me making my way to the diner for work. However, I had never seen the photographer.
Enzo remarked, "Moretti has been observing you for weeks." "Like we were."
Marco clarified, "He wants to use you against us." "In the same manner that he exploited your father."
My hands began to shake. "Use me how?"
Dante said, "He'll try to kidnap you." "Make us exchange something of value for your life."
Luca went on, "Or he'll try to turn you against us." "Betray us, spy on us."
Enzo stated bluntly, "Or he'll just kill you to hurt us."
I wanted to avoid crying in front of them, but I could feel the tears coming. "So I'm stuck. I am a prisoner if I remain with you. I'm dead if I go."
"Yes," Dante replied. "Sorry, but yes."
"There's no way out?"
Marco whispered, "There's one way."
I gave him a hopeful glance. "What?"
He said, "Help us find your father." "Help us put an end to this war before it truly begins."
"And then?"
"Then you're free," Dante declared. "Free to return to your dreams, your life, and your school."
"But you'll kill him if I help you find him."
"Yes," Dante replied without hesitation.
I gazed at them. They wanted me to assist them in killing my own father. He was still my father despite the fact that he was a horrible person and had caused me a great deal of suffering.
"I can't," I muttered.
"Then you'll never be free," Luca stated. "And there will be more fatalities."
"This is crazy," I exclaimed as I got to my feet. "This is all crazy."
"Welcome to our world," Marco said with regret.
I went to the window and gazed at the lake. My father was hiding somewhere. Vincent Moretti was going to use me somewhere. I was stuck in the middle of them all.
"What if I refuse?" Without looking back, I asked.
"Then we keep you safe until this is over," Dante stated. "However long that takes."
"And if Moretti finds me?"
"He won't," Luca stated. "We will not allow him to."
"You promise?"
The four brothers all said, "We promise," simultaneously.
I looked back at them. My life had been completely upended by four dangerous men. However, I somehow trusted them. They may have committed crimes, but they fulfilled their promises.
"I need time to think," I replied.
"You have until tomorrow," Dante stated. "We decide for you after that."
I gave a nod and proceeded to the door. I looked back before I left. "What if you are unable to locate my father?"
"Then this war goes on forever," Enzo remarked. "And everyone loses in the end."
---
I returned to my room and secured the door. I tried to think as I sat on the bed, but my thoughts were racing. My dad was a traitor. I found myself torn between two criminal families. I had no choice but to assist in the murder of my own father.
A gentle knock on my door interrupted my thoughts. "Maya?" Marco's voice was heard. "Someone is here to visit you."
I said, "Who?"
"Your father," he said. "He's looking to strike a deal."
I hurriedly opened the door. "Is he present? My father in real life?"
Marco nodded, but his expression was anxious. "He is downstairs. However, Maya, he's not by himself."
"What do you mean?"
"Vincent Moretti accompanied him."
My blood became icy. "Are they present? Both of them?"
"Yes," Marco replied. "And they'd like to speak with you."
Downstairs, I could hear voices. Voices of anger. The voice of my father, terrified and begging.
I questioned, "What do they want?"
Marco stated, "They want to trade." "Your cooperation cost your father his life."
"Cooperation with what?"
Marco stated, "They want you to spy on us." "Discover our plans, our weaknesses, and our secrets."
"And if I refuse?"
Marco declared, "Then they'll kill your father right here in our house." "They'll try to kill you too after that."
Downstairs, I heard a gunshot. Then my dad yelled. His voice reverberated throughout the house, "Maya!" "Please, Maya! Help me!"
Marco took hold of my arm. "We must leave. Now."
"Why?"
"Because I believe your father just told them something he shouldn't have," Marco said, his face going white.
One more shot. Then there was quiet.
"Maya," Marco urged, "did your father have knowledge of your mother's passing?"