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Prologue

~Nadia~

I hate these parties Papa says I have to be here because it’s a family duty, and I’m expected to be on my best behavior Behave like a lady Be alert, kind, passive

I’m always alert

I don’t think I’m always kind, but I wouldn’t say I’irls at the private school my parents send irl, Shannon, who otten their boobs yet

I don’t have boobs yet, either

But I can’t wait for the day I get thes the fa But, sonore me anymore

No one will ignore me

But back to h I’m sure my father would prefer that I was I talk toothere is to know about my family and the business we’re in

I take a sip ofwith a bunch of other people—all old, like thear He doesn’t usually smoke, but Mama doesn’t mind if he does at events like this, in celebration

The bride, in her white dress with its puffy sleeves, twirls around the dance floor with the groom, who doesn’t look nearly as nervous as he did at the ceremony

I thought he reen and shiny, and someone had to pass him a tissue to clean up the sweat on his forehead

It esome

I’ve seen s or funerals I’ve heard Papa and Mama talk about the fa these functions

Whatever that means

My big brother, Alex, is off chasing after so her the kind of once-over he seems to do more often now that he’s sixteen

It’s gross

And when I told him so, he said I was just a baby and that I’d never understand

But I’m not a baby I’ll be thirteen next rown-up

I blow out a breath, and when my eyes land on him, I feel my stomach clench I haven’t seen hie Tall with dark hair and brown eyes And he’s laughing at so another boy said

The guy looks as if he could be the dark-haired one’s brother

I smooth my hands down my red dress, square my shoulders, and walk over to him

“Hi I’m Nadia,” I say and look all three of theer boobs “I don’t think I’ve met you before”

They turn quiet and look at me as if I’m a science experiment

“Carmine,” the most handsome one says “And this is Shane and Rocco My brothers”

“Rocco?” I snort “Did your mother not like you very much?”