Chapter SIX

SOFIA

After accepting Adrik’s proposal, everything seemed to happen in a rush. We spent a few more minutes visiting with Nonna as if I hadn’t just accepted a very naughty proposition from the most powerful man I had ever met inside the kitchen where I used to bake cookies as a child. I ran to the upstairs apartment where my father still lived, and kissed his cheek while he slept, keeled over in front of the television.

A half-empty bottle of scotch sat on the floor at his feet, and tears welled in my eyes when I saw it. But I didn’t have the heart to pour it down the drain. His illness was too far gone for such tactics to work. He needed professional help, but asking for it was step one. Far as I knew, Dad didn’t want to get better. I left soon after I entered, stopping to kiss Nonna one more time.