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But Ana was burnt out.
“You should push Gio on the new records system.” Emma frowned at her. “If we can move all our orders online, you won’t have to manually review them in person.”
“Then I wouldn’t get to see you every month.” A wistful smile touched Ana’s lips.
Emma’s face softened. “We still can…and maybe do something fun instead, like take a vacation. Remember those?”
Ana grinned, feeling the first breath of humor in days.
With another tired yawn, she turned back to her task list. “I’m going to call Vitello’s old IT staff tonight to see if any of them can help us with the website.” She logged into her laptop and searched for the employee list. It was just a scanned copy of the paper log Vitello used to maintain, with employee initials, titles, and phone numbers–and not much else.
“If you don’t have any luck either, I can start the hiring from outside the Family,” Emma said.
“Let’s leave that as a last resort,” Ana cautioned. The NDA process with outsiders was painful. “I’ll try my hand at pulling the Donna card. If that doesn’t work either, I’ll ask the other factions for referrals.”
“Anything else I can do while you’re handling that?” Emma asked.
“No, please. You’ve already been taking on so much, not just for me but for Tony too.”
Emma waved it off. “I enjoy it. Even if your cousin is a little shit.”
“Em…”
“Don’t tell me he isn’t.” She regarded her narrowly.
Ana hedged, hesitant to throw him under the bus. “He’s been doing…okay.”
Emma rolled her eyes at the weak defense. “That whole gold business is a pain, not just because of him. There’s just too much testosterone pumping through there. That’s why I prefer Daily Couture. Not just because of you–though that is the best part.” She winked. “But there aren’t as many mafia henchmen lurking around.”
Ana’s brow rose, bemused. “Don’t tell me you get scared of them?” The blonde was one of the ballsiest women she knew.
“Listen, I’m not scared.” She held up her hands. “But I’m not stupid either. One wrong move with those men, and you’ll find my body in your living room.” She chortled to herself, oblivious to Ana’s disquiet.
Her face was pale as the wisps of the memory clouded her mind again, wrapping her in their noxious grip.
How strange, for Emma to describe in near-identical terms what had happened. It was uncanny. Despite being an outsider, she had discerned the dangers of this world much faster than Ana had.
The concepts of ethics and laws did not exist in this life. There was too much greed to allow for such rules. But this was all Ana had ever known. She had learned to turn a blind eye to every seedy, rotten part of their world. And that ignorance had cost her dearly.
Red rivers of blood…flowing without end.
It took so much control to keep the past at bay. Any other person would have long since crumbled.
For her, she feared, it was only a matter of time.
“Mm-hm…yes, not just the website design, but also setting up secure payments…Okay, please do ask him if he has experience with it.” Ana pursed her lips as the Connecticut business owner gave her vague assurances. “How have you been collecting payments for the gun shops, then? Cash? Ah ok…Oh, no–no need to apologize! I appreciate your time…yes, of course, I will let Don know you were of great help.”
Ending the call with a sigh, Ana updated the notes on her laptop. Another dud. It was the third call today that hadn’t led anywhere. IT wasn’t exactly an alluring profession within the Family. The staff who dabbled in it did so part-time, with rather rudimentary skills.
At least everyone had been eager to help, even if all they wanted was to suck up to the Don. Not like Ana was any different. She also wanted to remain in Gio’s good books. That’s why she was petrified of their impending conversation.
Did he deserve to know the past? Yes.
Would it alter their relationship for the worse? She did not know…
Auntie’s hysterical panic had infected Ana as well, leaving her tossing and turning at night, in the throes of a nightmare that would not fade. Gio must have sensed her distance as well. They had talked nearly daily during her first week here. The past two days, however, she had dodged his every call with the excuse of back-to-back meetings.
God. Ana rubbed her face. It was so juvenile.
