We shake hands and I follow him out to my security who is waiting for me.
“Let’s go home. I want to be back here as soon as we can.”
When I get home, I eat something small because I’m fucking exhausted and just want to sleep, but first I have to call Joey to find out about Giada.
“How’s it going there?”
“Things are getting dicey. Your prized cow has been bullish. She’s ready to run out of the barn every few minutes.” Oh God. Giada would lose her mind if she knew we were referencing her as a cow. It’s not cool, but I have no choice. I wanted to keep them off her scent as long as possible, and just in case someone was listening in, I didn’t want them to figure out it was her.
“Well, soon she’ll settle down. When the calves come. How is your family?”
“They’re not much better than the cow.”
“Sorry to hear that.” I inform him of what happened to Dimitri before calling it a night. Tomorrow, I’ll tap into his security cameras and see my woman. It’s all I can do at the moment. Soon, I’ll be claiming her for sure.
Chapter Thirteen
Santino
As he left to handle the arrest, he adds, “Your brother is going to be brought in for questioning as well.”
I’ve been waiting in the room for two hours when Morel comes back in. “We’re separating them right now. We’ll bring in Mrs. Marchetti and then you can speak to her.” My anxiety kicks in and I’m out of my seat, ready to get this all over with.
I tap my fingers on the file that holds secrets, lies, and a man taken too soon. The door opens, and my mother smiles widely. “Santino, my baby.” She throws her arms around me, but this time I don’t hug her.
“Mother.” She backs off, tilting her head in curiosity. I feel like a bastard for hurting her, but I’ve been through hell and my life has been nothing but one fucking lie after another.
“What’s wrong, mio figlio?”
“What’s wrong is that for thirty years, I believed that bastard you’re married to was my father, but you hid him from me.” I open the file to their picture and lift it so she can see.
Immediately she breaks down in tears, collapsing onto the chair. Taking the photo from me, she says, “God, I still miss him so much.” Her voice cracks and I finally notice the frailty of my mother. She brushes her hand over his face as tears continue to fall. She closes her eyes, bringing the picture to her chest, cradling it. “He’ll kill me now for sure now that you know.”
“Who are you talking about? Your husband?”
It takes her a few minutes to calm down enough to speak. She looks around the room and sees the camera. “I don’t know who’s watching, but it’s best I tell you the truth either way.” She takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “Thirty-three years ago, I met your real father in Sicily where I grew up. He was handsome, just like you, although he was shy and well, we fell in love. He was only there for a business trip and had never been there before. It was wonderful. He asked for my hand and my father agreed. We were poor, and he saw the promise in your father’s eyes when he said he’d take care of me. We were married about two months later and then I came back to America with him.” She breaks down again, sobbing into her handkerchief.
“I loved him so much. It took a while for us to get pregnant with you, but we felt so blessed. Then one day, a new client came into your father’s office and wanted his services. Even though your father turned him down, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Your father was beaten badly and had gone along to protect me and our unborn baby. He couldn’t wait to see your face. He loved you so much, but we didn’t realize that I had captured the eye of the up-and-coming boss of the family, Rafael. At the time, his father had run the operation. When he saw me, he made passes at me, but I refused him always. I’d never betray your father. Things were quiet until two days after you were born. Your father had to finally go to the office and handle some things, but he never made it home. He was gunned down right there.”
“And you still married that bastard.”
“I didn’t know it was him, but I had my suspicions. Then they pinned it on the D’Angelo family almost immediately. The arrest was made that night. I cried for days on end, so much so I was sent to the hospital. When they were to release me, I learned that the state had taken you away from me. I had to find a way to get you back, but it wasn’t that easy. By losing my mind over your father, they believed I was an unfit mother. That’s when Rafael made me a deal. If I’d marry him, he’d get you back for me.”
“I didn’t want to, but they already had you living with another family. I needed my sweet boy, so I agreed. The day of the wedding, the papers were signed to bring you back home. It took a few weeks, but you were mine. I got to hold you and love you every day.”
“Did you know it was him who killed my father?”
“It was the day your brother was born. We had been fighting like crazy because I was still in love with the ghost of your father. I’d
