The atmosphere of the living room was suffocating. Nicky fought the urge to loosen his tie and unbutton the top button of his shirt, but the eye contact he made with his mother left his hand limp at his side. Things like this made Niccolò Ricci so uncomfy that the hairs on his neck stood pin straight. Vittoria wouldn’t have wanted this; a cookie-cutter funeral. She’d have wanted a party, no black, and mimosas all around. Maybe it was for the best that she was gone after all.

        The lack of her bad decisions didn’t make it any easier. Nicky swallowed hard, looking around frantically for his daughter. Aurora was nowhere to be seen. He slipped away to find her, secretly feeling relief in getting away from the vultures who called themselves family. He made brief eye contact with his adoptive father. His eyes were dark and his mouth was set in a hard line. Nicky’s expression was a mirror reflection.

        “Aurora?” he called quietly, padding quietly down the halls of a home that felt cold and empty now. “Cerbiatto?” he called again, spotting her curled up on her mother’s side of their shared bed. This was the only part of the house that still felt like home. He frowned, sitting quietly on his side. The girl didn’t move.

        “Come to get away too?” he asked softly. “It’s so stuffy out there. Can’t think.” The little girl, no older than 4, seemed to curl into herself even tighter. “Come here Rori, look at me,” he said softly, grabbing her gently by the shoulder and turned her around. “I’ve got you,” he whispered, pulling her into his chest. “Let’s just stay here for a while, huh? We can come out when everyone is satisfied and ready to get the fuck outta my house.”

...

Stolen novel; please report.

        Today was the worst day of Kennedy Harlow’s life. You know, she could have dealt with the oversleeping. She could have dealt with rolling her ankle while she walked to work. She could have dealt with the crying babies. That’s life. But the look on her boss’ face when he walked into the diner, shirt half-buttoned and a paper bag in hand, she knew she couldn’t take that. 

        “Harlow!”  he spat belligerently. Her head shot up from the mugs she was cleaning. 

        “Yessir?” she asked in her best kiddie voice, setting the mug down gently.

        “Why don’t you come and see me in my office, huh?” he slurred, a stupid smile plastered all over his face. His office was code for the storage room. She trailed after him, trying not to anger him any more with heavy footsteps. He gestured for her to walk in front of him, and she obeyed.

        “Hey, what’s this for? Sir?” she asked, purposely trying to distract him from locking the door behind them. It worked. He stumbled toward her, throwing the brown bag to the floor. 

        “You got no clue what you been doin’ to me, have ya?” he slurred, pinning her up against the wall with one arm on the left side of her head. “Leanin’ over the bar, ya ti–” 

        Kennedy brought the top of her knee to his middle as hard as she physically could. He yelped in pain, backpedaling. She bolted, tears stinging her eyes. 

        “I’m done!” she yelled, her voice breaking. She shakily untied her apron, slamming it onto the counter before grabbing her purse and leaving. Her coworkers weren’t surprised when they saw boss man stumble out of the store-room, face red and eyes full of rage. A man sitting in one of the booths held his young daughter closer, a dark expression on his face.