Page 45 of Waste of Worth

Dino understood that had to be painful for his sister.

He figured—though not from being told from Lily herself—that after finally being given some freedom, that grudge she held was finally allowed to grow. He imagined it was easier to hate people when they weren’t staring you right in the face.

Lily would never admit it herself, but Dino was all too aware of what she was doing.

Running.

Running from her past and the Outfit.

Keeping herself happy by staying away.

Forcing herself into the constant present so she never had to deal with the past.

He figured no harm, no foul.

Lily had no need to come back to Chicago, at least not from Dino’s perspective, and so he would let her run.

For now.

“And?” Ben pressed, bringing Dino back to the conversation at hand.

“And what, Ben?”

“Where was she the last time you spoke?”

Dino lied, because he couldn’t remember. “A small town outside of Italy. She was lodging there before she went off again.”

“Funny.”

A trickle of unease crawled down Dino’s spine. “What?”

“Carmela was talking to Lily a few days ago—she called the house trying to find a number for Theo,” Ben stated rather absently.

Dino knew Ben’s flippant demeanor was a lie.

“She could have called me,” Dino replied.

It was the best he could come up with at the moment.

Ben didn’t seem like he cared. “She’s been in Germany for a while.”

Shit.

“I said ‘the last time.’”

“How long has it been since the last time, Dino?” Ben asked, not even giving Dino a chance to respond before he continued on speaking. “Apparently long enough that you don’t even realize your sister has changed countries. I’ve had quite enough of this—her traveling unchaperoned and freely, for that matter. Bring her home.”

“Ben—”

His uncle pushed away from the wall, giving Dino a cold look over his shoulder that said this was not up for discussion between them. “You’ll bring her home, or I’ll force her back.”

The threat hung heavily between the two men.

Dino’s grip on his glass tightened enough that he feared it might shatter in his palm.

Still, he stood his ground. “I’m not bringing her home yet.”

Ben’s gaze narrowed. “Repeat that again, Dino.”