Page 13 of Forbidden Eyes
“Stop, I know. I’ve felt the guilt the whole trip here, but please hear me out.”
“You’ve got about five minutes before I call your mother, and that’s only because I don’t want to be on a phone with Benjamin when I tell him where you are.”
“Don’t chastise me like I’m a child. That’s what I’m here to escape.”
His eyes run over me, assessing for a moment. “Running away is the fucking definition of a child, Sofia.”
“Well, you try living with Benjamin Vico and see how you get on with him. Childish behaviour is all I have left. And I’ve been patient, Quinn. I’m nineteen, not six.”
“I’m well aware of how old you are.”
“Good, then maybe you can do me the courtesy of treating me like an adult.” It’s my time to raise an eyebrow.
“Okay then, why are you here?” He crosses his arms over his chest, his face morphing into that version of him that tells me he's thinking.
“Well…” I take a deep breath. I have to make this work. “You and Aunt Emily were my first choice. I knew you’d at least put me up if nothing else while my dad thinks about how he treats me and the consequences to his actions.”
“Sounds like there’s more to that story.”
“Yes. But you wanted to know why I’m here,” I say, as I slip my bag off my shoulder.
He nods and circles his hand, signalling for me to get on with it.
“I’m stifled in my own life. I’m nineteen and I’ve barely had the freedom I need to complete my degree, let alone have any semblance of a life. He never answers my questions about anything, especially not the business. He won’t even get close to that topic, and forever sees me as a fragile flower that must be kept in the dark for her own protection. Well, I’m through with it.” My hands slash through the air, emphasising my words. “All of it. He’s never treated me like a Vico, and he never married my mother, so that makes me more Cane than anything. I’m choosing to be a Cane. That’s the other reason I’m here. I need you to fill in the blanks. Give me the answers to why people fear my father, what his name means in New York. Help me understand.” I take a pause to catch my breath and finish gathering the words to explain my plight. It's not like he doesn't know all of this anyway. And he knows the truth; I know he does.
“You don’t get to choose to be a Cane, Sofia. You’re born a Cane. Or marry a Cane. End of.”
“Well, my mother’s a Cane. What does that make me?”
“A problem.”
I stand, balling my fists at my side. “I swear, if you don’t help me, I’ll just disappear and find someone who will. I’m so angry, so frustrated, and I’ve only just begun to realise that, and—”
“Sit. Down.”
I obey without question.
“I thought I’d dodged this particular bullet with Logan. I can’t handle girls.”
“I’m a woman, Uncle Quinn. And your niece.”
“Fine. And I’m well aware of what you are. You’re also going to be dead when your father catches up with you.”
“And you won’t let that happen. Not yet anyway. I’ve come to you for help, not to tell on me and send me packing. If that’s your intention, I’ll leave now.” I grab my bag and start walking to the door. I can come up with another plan on the road.
“Sofia, calm the fuck down.” I freeze. “And sit the fuck down.” I crawl back to the chair again, dumping my bag. My uncle’s language is worse than Dad’s. At least he doesn’t try to hide it from me.
“Look. Maybe—and it’s a big maybe—you can stay at the house for a few days. Emily would love to see you. And Logan is around. He’s… learning the ropes so to speak.”
“See, he’s a year younger than me, and you have him ready to take over the business.”
“He can take you out, show you around, help you find your freedom, as you say.”
“Great.” My smile is big and fake. I don’t want a babysitter.
“He’s at the office now. You can head back to the house. Relax, see Emily.”
“And?” I prompt. I didn’t come to Chicago for a holiday.