The Capo’s Daughter

Almost Grown

Mia went back to her dorm late last night, exhausted after spending nearly the entire evening in the library studying for mid-terms. The long hours of flipping through textbooks and typing up notes had left her mentally drained, but she was determined to finish the semester strong. It’s early March in Rome, the air still holding a crisp chill, and Mia is now a senior at her prestigious boarding school—a place known for its strict academic standards and high expectations.

She’s only a couple of months away from graduation in May, and the thought fills her with a mix of excitement and relief. More than anything, she’s thrilled at the idea of finally going home. Her parents sent her here when she was just fourteen, insisting that her education was too important to gamble on anything less than the best. According to her mother and father, she needed a school with an excellent reputation, rigorous courses, and a track record for student success, even if it meant being thousands of miles away from them. Over the years she’s adjusted, but deep down, she still counts the days until she can return to the people and places she’s missed so much.

She hasn’t been home to New York even once in the last four years. Her parents always choose to spend the holidays here in Rome with her, and sometimes her older brother, Rolando, joins them. Rolando is turning twenty-two now. Mia often wonders why he was never sent to boarding school like she was. Whenever she asked, her parents would simply say that he was meant to stay home and help their father. She’s never fully understood what that means. Her mother claims it’s because their father’s work always brings him to Rome around the holidays, but Mia isn’t sure she believes that—not entirely. The truth is, she doesn’t even know what her father really does for a living.

That night, Mia felt as though she tossed and turned endlessly, slipping in and out of dreams that were somehow everything and nothing at the same time. Every hour or so, she blinked awake and glanced at the glowing red numbers on her clock, a strange sense of anticipation tightening in her chest. She wasn’t even sure what she was waiting for—until it hit her. Right. Tomorrow she would turn eighteen. Her parents hadn’t confirmed anything, but she was absolutely certain they would come to Rome for her big birthday. They always did. Mia finally drifted off again, only to be pulled out of sleep by a soft whisper.

“Psst… Psst. Mia.”

She ignored it at first, burying herself deeper under the blankets. But then it came again, louder.

“Mia Grace Corvino! Get out of bed this minute.”

Her eyes shot open, and she glared at the intruder. Of course—it was Kat, her roommate and best friend.

“I was up most of the night,” Mia groaned. “What do you want?”

Instead of answering, Kat climbed right onto the bed, flopping onto her side so she was face-to-face with Mia. A wide, mischievous grin spread across her face.

“Happy birthday!” she chirped. “And guess what? I’ve got a surprise for you.”

Annoyed at her best friend for waking her so early—seriously, it was only 8:00 a.m., and she felt like she had just fallen asleep—Mia flung the covers off herself and rolled out of bed on the opposite side. She completely ignored the blissfully cheerful Kat as she trudged toward the bathroom, dragging her feet with all the reluctance of a teenager forced into morning reality. The bathroom door shut a little harder than she intended, echoing her irritation. Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror as she passed, she groaned. She looked like she’d been run over by a truck: wild hair sticking out in every direction, dark circles under her eyes, and a face that screamed “too early for happiness.” Kat’s voice came from the other side of the door, bright and teasing.

“Come on! Aren’t you going to ask me what the surprise is?”

Mia rolled her eyes as she sat down on the toilet, giving the door a pointed glare. “No, Kat. The answer is no. You always manage to drag me into some kind of trouble. Besides, my parents are probably coming later, and I’d rather be coherent for that.” Mia left the bathroom in desperate need of coffee. Mia snatched her phone off the charger on her bedside table and unlocked it with her fingerprint. She wasn’t surprised to see a few messages waiting.

Rolando: “Happy birthday, squirt. I wish I could be there today, but I’m handling some business with Dad. I’ll make it up to you, promise.” A bunch of dumb emojis followed. He knew she hated that.

Mom: “Hey, honey. I know you’re probably still asleep, and that’s okay. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I can’t even believe my baby is 18. Have a wonderful day and call me when you have time.”

Dad: “Good morning, Princess. Happy birthday, honey. I put some money in your account—please have fun today. Not too much fun. Mom and I won’t make it over today to celebrate; I have some unexpected work. But we’ll be there Saturday to take you out. Love you.”

Kat trailed behind as Mia stepped into the small kitchenette and switched on the Ninja Coffee machine. Surprisingly, Kat stayed quiet while Mia sipped her first cup of coffee and responded to her messages. She didn’t miss the disappointed look on Mia’s face. Mia might not show much emotion, but her expression always gave her away.