“What do you mean she likes you?” Rebecca’s nails dug into arm of her chair. The smile hadn’t left her face but it had taken on a kind of frozen quality.

“Why are you surprised?” Antonio asked.

“I sent you to her as a joke—no that’s not right—not a joke, a lesson.”

“A lesson in what?”

“A lesson in," Rebecca gestured, encompassing Antonio’s pear-shape figure, "—life. How much did you pay her?”

Antonio’s lips curled back in disgust. “What’s that got to do with anything?”

“Maybe she just likes your money. That’s what whores do.”

“She’s your sister!”

“And a whore. Having one in the family hurts me more than the fucking word offends you.”

Antonio crossed his arms. “I’m learning a lot about you tonight.”

“Yeah? Like what?” Rebecca snapped.

“Like the fact that your sister is a better person than you are. Actually, let me say it in a way you can understand: you are worse than a whore. Think about that the next time you want to call me.”

“There isn’t going to be a next time.”

“I hope that’s true.”