Marin took the seat next to her.
Why didn't she realize before? He'd be here, of course.
She quickly let that annoyance at herself dissipate and focused on what she had to do. Should she talk to him? Not say anything?
Next to him, she could smell his crisp, evergreen cologne. Everyone around them was engaged in conversation, which made their bubble seem even more removed. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see his mouth tighten.
Her nerves grew in the proximity to Marin and spiked when Boss Milanesi directed his line of question towards her. "And Miss Sorrentino, you're here to become an associate tonight."
Marin tensed beside her. A deep breath settled her racing heart. They didn't give her much time to read up on this organization—but she was pretty sure associate was the lowest rank of the mafia and the highest a woman could achieve. "Yeah."
"What are you bringing to the table?"
Anger sparked in Jemina at Anthony and Kelly for not briefing her about this line of questioning. Well, maybe they kind of did this morning. Stick to the truth as much as possible right? "Well, I have an M.S. in Environmental Science and Ecology, but I'm continuing college for a Ph.D. in the former."
"How would that help our operations here?"
"I could review any of your buildings for environmental violations. I also have experience in hospitals—from volunteering—that could allow me to help sick or recuperating people."
He nodded at her and went back to the discussion with the other people at the table. Pride blossomed in her stomach at her performance. Tension released from her shoulders, and the adrenaline of being put on the spot quickly faded. It quickly returned from the sound of Marin's voice.
"I didn't know you had degrees in ecology." Thinly-veiled anger shined through his words.
"Well, you didn't ask," Jemina smiled and looked at him, but was met with a stone face.
"I know why your name's familiar now."
"I guess so."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"About my degrees?"
"No. That you're involved in this."
Personally, she thought he was being ridiculous, but she was still supposed to be nice to him. "Well, I'm sorry. Why didn't you tell me you were either?"
"I don't have to. Everyone knows."
"Well, I didn't and I didn't feel the need to talk to you about my uncle and aunt—I don't know why that's so upsetting to you." She was keenly aware of the mother's eyes on her. "I'm sorry."
He didn't say anything and neither did she.
The dinner was coming to a close, and the mutual silence persisted. She instead made conversation with the Capos—especially the blonde one who's name she had come to learn was Pacetti.
Apparently, Pacetti had been initiated a decade and a half ago and had worked for the mafia ever since. In the back of her mind, she knew he probably had killed people, being involved in this type of organization. It was kind of weird to talk to people she knew who had probably killed people, but it wasn't like she hadn't done that before.
Eating lunch in the bureau's cafeteria meant she often talked to friends of friends. Statistically, one of those agents and officers probably had killed someone. Why was she thinking of that right now?
"Before we move onto the main event, we'll take a quick recess." At the Boss's words, Jemina excused herself.
Patterned carpet runners lined the hallway. Kelly had told her not to step off them or the Boss would kill her, but Jemina was fifty percent sure Kelly had been joking.
She barely had time to react when an arm like steel threw open a closet and pulled her in. The door shut quickly but the slotted door allowed her to see her attacker. "Marin?"
"What are you doing here? You don't come on a trip to your aunt and uncle's to be initiated into the mafia." His ruffled hair cast long shadows on his face.
"That's exactly what I'm doing. They want me to continue the family tradition." Jemina reached for the door handle.
"Don't. Trust me. You'll be locked in for life." The desperation in his words tugged at her heart, but she couldn't not go through with her assignment.
He put his hand on hers to stop her from opening the door. In that moment, she was painfully aware of the power imbalance. The tight space prevented her from moving much, while Marin towered over her. Sensing her agitation, he released her hand. "I'm sorry. I just needed to tell you where they couldn't hear me. Please, Eva."
The only thought running in her head as she returned to the dining room was as follows.
She had stepped off the carpet runner.
-
"We move to the main event with our possible new associate," Boss Milanesi stood on his chair and addressed the crowd. Jemina shot Anthony and Kelly a glance. "Made men, please make a circle."
People began to push all the tables against the wall, and Jemina jumped out of her seat not to be squished. By the time, she had maneuvered out of the tables and chairs, she faced a solid circle of men all around her. Faces stared back at her. Her feet were rooted in the middle of the floor, but she couldn't stop spinning to face everyone around her.
"What is this?" She asked.
Kelly was gone. Anthony was part of the circle, linking arms with the other Capos. He just smiled at her question. Marin was nowhere to be seen, though she knew for a fact he was a made man. The lighting seemed to get dimmer. She had never felt so claustrophobic in such a large space.
"You're being initiated," Anthony finally answered.
It wasn't her imagination. The room was definitely darker now. A snap of a lighter brought her eyes back to the Boss. He lit a candlestick, before discarding the lighter at his feet. "Cosa Nostra. The meaning is 'our thing.' This organization isn't mine or yours. We're a family.
"We protect each other. Where the world had failed us, when they had forced us into poverty, we thrived and came out of it stronger than ever. We were formed to protect you." The Boss's words seemed to be from a script. "The five rules are as follows: never be an informant. This includes talking to the police. This law as known as the Omertà—oath of silence. Break this and you're dead.
Second, be smart and be a member of this team. No reckless fighting and always drop everything for Cosa Nostra." He took a breath. "Third, always respect your elders and womanhood.
¨Fourth, be a stand-up guy—no whining. Finally, have class and know your way around the world—be independent. Come here."
She did as told. With a flick of his hand, he produced a card depicting a saint and a knife. "Hand."
Despite the suffocating atmosphere and all the eyes on her, her hand didn't shake as she extended it. The blade cut into her pointer finger and his calloused fingers squeezed a drop onto the card.
The saint blushed with red as the crimson life pooled. Tongues of flame flickered under the card until it caught fire. The boss quickly passed it to the next person, and so on, until the ashes were given to the boss again.
They fluttered to the ground lifelessly. "Repeat after me. 'As this saint burns so will my soul if I disobey any law. I enter alive and I'll have to get out dead.'"
Words had never felt so heavy on her tongue.
He grasped her bloody hand and lifted it into the air. "Meet your new associate—Eva Sorrentino!"