Disowning My Mafia Family After They Chose A Liar novel · Chapter 3 of 24

Chapter 3: Nobody Home

She wakes to an empty compound and no radios. Her mother says she would rather not have her as a daughter. Nerina asks how to be struck from the family.

The deal was an arms consignment at the East River docks, bigger than the one we had lost.

At the family meeting Dad opened a file on the table.

"Delfina liaises with the buyer," he said. "Tullio handles security. My middle son runs backup, and the youngest escorts the shipment."

He paused.

"Nerina, you stay at the compound and keep the communication lines clear."

I looked at him.

"Someone is already assigned to communications. This is a major deal, and I should be on site."

My youngest brother scoffed.

"You, on site? You'd question the buyer into silence, and nobody would ever do business with us again."

"That is basic security," I said. "I have to judge whether a buyer can be trusted."

I turned to him.

"Or is it that you don't care whether the deal is safe?"

His face changed. "You're splitting hairs again."

"I'm confirming facts."

Delfina spoke at the exact right moment.

"Nerina, my health is poor, so liaising is the only easy job I can manage," she said. "If you want to take part, take mine. I'll stand beside you and carry your papers. I don't mind."

I looked at her.

"Are you helping me, or reminding everyone that I'm taking your job?"

Her eyes filled.

"I didn't mean it like that."

"Then what did you mean?"

"You said you'd give me your part," I said. "So why add that you'd stand beside me carrying papers?"

"If you wanted me in charge, you would step away. You'd not stay to watch."

Tears spilled down her face.

Mom slammed her palm on the table.

"Nerina, that is enough! Delfina meant well. Will you not be satisfied until she's crying?"

"I didn't make her cry," I said. "She chose to."

I looked around the table.

"Every sentence makes her the wronged one, and then all of you take her side and turn on me."

"She did it at the banquet, and she's doing it again. How do none of you see that?"

The room went dead quiet.

Dad finally broke it.

"Meeting adjourned," he said. "The plan stands. Nerina stays behind."

I went to bed without arguing, because I had already asked everything I could ask that night.

Before I slept I confirmed the team's time.

They were to gather at ten that night, and Dad liked a short briefing around five.

When I woke, sun covered the whole window.

The clock said nine.

I did not need to be up early, but habit sent me down to check the communications room.

The living room was empty.

The old butler inclined his head to me in the hall.

"Good morning, Miss Nerina."

"Where is everyone?"

"Your father left at five this morning with your mother, Miss Delfina and your brothers."

That early.

I walked to the communications room on the ground floor and pushed the door open.

It was empty.

The main radio was gone from the desk, and so were the backup handhelds.

The wall panel that monitored the compound had been pulled out, leaving bare plaster.

I turned to the butler.

"Who took everything?"

He answered carefully.

"Miss Delfina said before she left that she was taking it all to the site, to keep communications smooth."

"Is there a spare anywhere in this house?"

"No, miss. That was the only set on the estate."

He hesitated.

"Miss Delfina said you should take the day off, and not trouble yourself about the deal."

I called them one after another.

Only my mother picked up.

I told her someone had removed every piece of communications equipment from the estate.

She was silent for a few seconds.

"Delfina was worried about reception at the site," she said. "Don't worry. The team up front will handle everything."

"The team means Tullio, my brothers, Delfina and Dad. Is that right?"

"That's right."

"Anyone else?"

"Who else?" Mom sounded puzzled.

"Me," I said. "It was agreed that I would go."

"Nerina, Delfina was trying to protect you. It's your first operation, and she worried you would panic and slow everyone down."

She went on without a pause.

"She thought you should settle in at the estate first and wait for our good news."

"Settle in," I said. "There is no radio here, no monitoring feed, and the file on the target is gone."

"Mom, did you leave me here to adjust, or because you never meant to take me?"

Mom lost patience.

"Why must you question everything? Delfina was worried about you. She barely touched her breakfast, she was afraid you'd make a mess of it."

"I don't need..."

"Enough!" Mom said. "Nerina, stop. You are not the only person in this family."

Her voice cracked.

"If I could choose, I would rather not have you for a daughter!"

The line went dead.

I stood with the phone against my ear for a while.

Then I lowered it, and turned to the old butler.

"What do I need to do," I asked, "to have my name struck from this family?"

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