Page 108 of Disgrace

Except …

She had.

Once, or twice.

Kev’s casket was pushed into the back of the hearse by the pallbearers. The men all slapped the back of the casket with their palm—a final goodbye.

Siena’s mother turned to her once more. “You are my daughter, Siena, and I do not want to see you become fodder to a man’s games or plans. Play this right with me, and you could have far more than you ever dreamed of. Johnathan—is he really your highest bar to reach? He is what you really want? Why? You could have much more, darling.”

She didn’t reply.

Her mother apparently wasn’t looking for one.

“The Marcellos have called a meeting with your brother. Darren expects it will either lead them into a peaceful resolution that puts the Calabrese higher, or it will dissolve into more violence that will lead them into a longer war. Either way, it will be happening soon. Should you do anything to cause your brother to call off that meeting—say, get caught with Johnathan—you will not like what I do.”

It was always men who planned.

Men who played games.

Men who manipulated.

Siena learned in that moment that men often forgot women were the flies on the wall. Women were the ones who needed to be watched because they held more information than anyone possibly knew.

Women were the dangerous ones.

Women like her mother.

“How did you know?” Siena asked.

“About you and the Marcello man?”

Siena only nodded.

Coraline turned to face Siena with a cold smile. “I was coming to visit you a while back, but you rushed out of your place like a bat out of hell. Your enforcer didn’t trail behind, so I thought I should. I saw where you went, and I saw you leave his place. I thought … maybe I should keep a closer eye on you. I am glad I did.”

Fuck.

Nothing was ever safe.

Not in their life.

“You see,” Coraline said, “your brothers are a lot like your father—or was, for Kev. They’re stupid in the way they believe that their word is law, and because they have said it, us women will automatically follow it. I know better. Do you think I stumbled upon my marriage with your father because I loved him, and wanted to marry him?”

“I don’t know why you married Daddy, no.”

“Because I was told to, but not because I wanted to. I have learned over the years to make sure the men in my life take everything I give them at face value and never feel the need to dig deeper. I loved Matteo, I did—it took years, but I loved him. And I will not see everything he worked for ruined because one of his children cannot manage to step in line with the rest.”

“I will stay in line, Ma.”

Only long enough to watch the Marcellos ruin this family.

After that, it was fair game.

“You better, but should you think to do something to force my hand,” her mother warned, “you will not like what I do. I will make my arranged marriage and carefully sheltered life look like a cake walk compared to your future after this, darling. I do not want to hurt you, but I absolutely will.”

What could she possibly say to that? Nothing.

So she didn’t.