Daughter of the Mafia

By Default: Part 2

Jaci sat in silence in the car on the way home. Her hands fluttered over the package in her lap, fingers aching to open it and pull out the contents.

She couldn't be distracted by this right now. Ricky was staying with her family and waiting for her at the house. He'd offered to come with her to the funeral, but she'd declined. Not only did it feel horribly awkward to have her new boyfriend attend the funeral of her ex, she also didn't need any more fuel for the gossips.

They pulled up to the long gravel driveway leading to the two-story plantation style house. Jaci let out a little exhale when she saw the orange jeep parked in front. "Seth is here."

Her older brother was going to school in Montana and hadn't been able to arrive until today.

Tuesday. Four days since The Incident. Jaci closed her eyes, wishing she could go back in time and change everything.

Jaci opened the car door and stepped out, sucking in a short breath when she stepped on her ankle. She didn't make it up the steps before Seth was there, scooping her up in his arms and hugging her forcefully.

"I'm okay," Jaci said, trying to laugh as she patted his head.

Mrs. Rivera reached them also. She gave Seth a quick kiss on the cheek. "Glad you're here." Then she went inside, leaving them alone.

"Seth!" Cesar was getting out of the car now, shoving his headphones into a pocket, his face lighting up at the sight of his older brother. "Wanna play me? I can set up a second player on the game system."

"Yeah." Seth ran his fingers neatly through Cesar's curly hair, the only one of the three kids to have anything besides stick-straight locks. "Get it ready! I'll be right in."

Jaci grinned at Seth as soon as Cesar disappeared inside. "He acts like he's eight around you instead of almost twelve."

"Jaci," Seth sighed, still pronouncing her name with Spanish phonetics. "Haw-SEE," short for Jacinta. "You're going to kill me. It's like I can't let you out of my sight."

The front door opened again, and this time Ricky popped out. The sight of his tousled light brown hair and hazel eyes sent Jaci's heart a flutter. Would she ever get used to that? She still wanted to pinch herself to make sure he was really here, that they were really together.

Seth glanced at Ricky and stepped slightly to the side. "I always knew you were holding out for this guy," Seth said to Jaci, a smirk returning to his eyes.

"She didn't actually wait for me," Ricky said. He stepped to her and touched her hand briefly, his eyes asking if she was all right. "I had to fight for her."

"You won." Seth moved back another step but didn't go into the house, apparently not anxious to leave them alone.

"By default," Ricky muttered, so softly Jaci doubted she was meant to hear. But before she could say anything, he put an arm around her and pulled her in close. "Are you all right?"

The door squeaked open again, and Mrs. Rivera poked her head out. "Children, let's get inside," she said in Spanish. "Hace frio hoy."

"Did she say something about French fries?" Ricky murmured, bumping Jaci's shoulder as he followed Seth into the house.

"No," Jaci said, unable to keep from laughing. "She said it's cold today."

"Bob Saget. My Spanish isn't so great."

"Es muy mal," she agreed, still laughing. The envelope beneath her elbow crinkled, and her urgency to open it came rushing back.

Seth had already disappeared into the basement with Cesar. Ricky took Jaci's elbow as if to guide her to the living room, but she resisted, planting her feet and shaking her head.