Chapter Seventeen

***

Long Island, New York

Alessandra

The sound of commotion had us pausing at the door, each of us sharing a look of knowing and worry. The women in my world were conditioned to their lives and what it meant to be part of the criminal underground. We were prepared for any and every eventuality, knew exactly what to do when danger lurked and our enemies reared their head.

We are, after all, usually the first targets in such a situation. We were expendable, collateral damage in the grand scheme of things so that the Made men can battle it out, oblivious to our own suffering. It was one among many things I detested about this world.

We aren't human beings to them. Simply weak women who can be used, abused and thrown out, all for the sake of the end game. I refuse to be a statistic in someone's mind games.

My sisters and I shared a look, each of our instincts on high alert as we prepared for whatever was to come. I may have clashed a lot with my Papa and disagreed with him on many matters