“I guess.” She didn’t sound convinced.
Sofia’s lips curved into a crooked grin. “If you do like Lil said and convince Tony to get a house of your own, you could have more freedom. He likes to go to clubs, and I’m sure his father thinks what he does is frivolous. Having a place of your own should appeal to him.”
I hoped at least one of us could make something of our looming arranged marriages work in our favor because it was very doubtful that it would for me. “My father will probably marry me to a toad twice my age, all in the name of what it’ll get him.” Inside, I cringed from guilt at my first thought, grateful I hadn’t been promised to Tony.
Emiliana got off the bed and disappeared only to return with a few bottles of wine and four glasses. We each took one, and she opened the first bottle, pouring generous amounts for everyone.
“To us.” She raised her glass.
“True friends,” I added. “Sisters.” We didn’t have the same parents, but the blood we shared was rich, deadly, and meant there was no escape—we were Five Families Mafia princesses.
“No matter what, we’ll be there for each other.” Sofia clinked her glass with each of ours.
“To the bitter end,” Marissa added.
I rested my head against Sofia, not wanting our time here to end. I loved this place. Sofia, Emiliana, Marissa, and I were the only ones staying in the family-owned building on campus. Everyone’s brothers and Tony were older and had already graduated.
“We need to make the most of the next few weeks.”
They murmured their agreement, and I knew that if Marissa had her way—to which we would acquiesce, considering everything—it would be one party after another.
I couldn’t believe it was our senior year. Just thinking about being two weeks from winter break could have catapulted me into a panic attack. This place was my escape, and I wasn’t the only one who thought that way.
CHAPTER TWO
LILIANA
Itucked my legs under me after dragging myself from bed at an ungodly hour, cursing the sunlight streaming through the loft’s windows but grateful that we had a wet bar with everything needed to make coffee and the most comfortable couches. It was my favorite place to sketch, read, or lounge when I didn’t want to venture far. And that morning, I could barely move from the pain of drinking way too much the night before.
Sofia, Emiliana, Marissa, and I had demolished the four bottles of wine Emiliana had brought to Marissa’s room. Once we’d polished those off, we went downstairs and plowed our way through a few bottles of vodka. I even had a hazy memory of Marissa urging us to do body shots with tequila.
I groaned and snuggled deeper into the soft leather love seat, tugging a fleece throw tighter around my body. My hangover was epic. I wasn’t going anywhere, including to my two classes that day. I clutched my large iced coffee, taking tentative sips and feverishly praying it would stay down.
Marissa stumbled in, her hip knocking against the edge of the bar counter. I winced from the sound and the bruise she would have soon. She shuddered then fell onto the cushion next to me before reaching for my coffee. I passed it to her, studying the greenish tinge on her skin.
“This is your fault,” I croaked, motioning for her to pass the drink back then grabbing it and taking another gulp to ease my raw throat. Her fingers curled around my cup again, and I relinquished it because she looked worse than I felt.
After taking a tentative sip, she rolled her eyes and immediately winced. “No.” She raised her left hand so the massive rock on her ring finger sparkled. “It’s Tony’s fault.”
Sofia sauntered in and chuckled. “Is that what you think? It may be partially his, but it’s really your father’s.”
None of us wanted to unpack that, so I glared at Sofia and changed the subject. “Why do you look normal?”
“Because I didn’t do tequila shots.” She grabbed a mug, added creamer, then put it under the spout and pressed the button for coffee to stream out. “I switched to water sometime after my first vodka shot.”
“Wow, you cheated.” Marissa tossed a throw pillow that Sofia batted away with a laugh. “Since you’re feeling like an actual human being, get us some aspirin.”
Sofia disappeared, probably in search of aspirin, and I rested my head against the back of the couch. I wanted to slip back into sleep and wake up pain free, but what Marissa had said continued to roll around in my brain. “Sofia’s right. It’s not completely Tony’s fault,” I mumbled.
“What are you talking about?” Marissa yawned.
“It’s our fathers controlling our lives. It’s their fault.”
We fell silent as Sofia returned with aspirin for both of us and bottles of water.
“Thanks, Mom.”
I snorted at Marissa’s comment and how Sofia scrunched up her face at it. I studied how put together Sofia was with her trendy outfit and long hair falling in dark beach waves around her gorgeous face. Marissa and I no doubt resembled roadkill.