“No, please continue.” I’m already picturing what I want to do to that son of a bitch.
“Rafael didn’t take me to the hospital right away, though, because he wanted to make sure none of the bruises were visible. I only had a red mark on my face that cleared up before he allowed me to go. Your brother almost died, and he blamed me for it. Then after they put him in the NICU, he came up to me and said, ‘If my son dies, I’ll kill your little bastard like I killed Benedetti.’ He laughed and said, ‘God, I looked him right in the eyes and told him that I was going to enjoy his wife and I sure have.’ I suffered in the hospital for three more days, hemorrhaging. The only thing that kept me alive was the fear that he’d harm you because God knows how much I ached to go to your father.”
I can’t even explain how angry and sad that makes me. Fuck, I’d never hurt a woman, especially a pregnant woman. “Is that why you stayed with him all these years?”
“Yes. When you were leaving to start your own life outside of his organization, I told him that I was going with you. That nothing could stop me. The next day he had you arrested for murder. I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. Everything wrong in your life is because of me. Your father’s death was because of me.”
He trapped her like an animal, using me as the bargaining chip. I can’t stop myself. I pull my mom into my arms. “No. It was because of him. If you never married him, I’m sure he would have forced you. He just tried to butter you up. In all these years, he’s loved the control he’s had over you. I never wondered why you stayed. I knew you feared him. I just didn’t know it was because of me.”
She pulls back and caresses my cheek. “When I saw Giada, I just knew she needed to get out of there.”
I cut her off with another hug because I can’t let on that I have her, at least not with ears everywhere. “You’re coming with me.”
She pulls away and stands. “He’ll kill you.” She’s petrified of him, but I’ll never let him touch her again.
“He’s already tried several times. Rafael and his father think I took Giada.” I made sure I said that loud enough for the camera because I want them to believe that I don’t have her. Someone on their team must be watching, but my guys are also watching, and my phone has been recording it all.
I pull back and say, “He’s been arrested, and we’re going.”
I grab her hand and the file and head to the door. My gun is under my coat, and I’m ready to use it at a moment’s notice. Morel opens the door and says, “We’re going to drop you off under a police escort. He’s locked up, and Rafael is in questioning right now.”
“Good, but they have eyes everywhere.”
“Speaking of, we picked up that officer. One was an actual officer out of the 9th district who is being questioned as well and the other was his thug cousin who works for the D’Angelo family.”
“The D’Angelo family?” What the fuck do they have to do with it? Could they be looking for revenge over one of their own taking the blame for my father’s death?
“Yes. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’m guessing this is more tangled up than I believed.”
I ARRIVE AT THE HOUSE with Martin meeting us. “Sir, the house has been cleaned, swept for bugs again, and any food items they were near have been tossed just for safety precautions.”
“Good. Now, please prepare a room for my mother. She’s going to need a guard with her all the time.”
“Get some rest. I’ll speak to you in a little while.” She nods.
“Can I have this?” She’s holding his picture.
“Of course.”
“It’s been so long.”
“This is Andrea and Matteo. They are best to look after your mother.” I nod and shake their hands. “Please make sure nothing happens to her.”
“Understood.”
“Excuse me, but she looks like she’s going to crumble. Maybe you should bring her some food and drinks.”
“Thanks, Andrea.”
“Martin, please have Rita prepare something light.”
“She’s already getting started. She had to sanitize her entire kitchen. She’s been freaking out, and Jasper went to get her all the groceries she needed to calm her down.”
It’s the first time I can truly smile. “That sounds like her. Thanks, Martin.”
“Please excuse me.” I go into my office, needing to breathe. My thoughts go to Giada, and it strikes me how I’m doing the same thing. I intend on killing my brother and taking his wife. “Fuck,” I grumble.
I read through the documents to see if there’s anything that can lead to my stepfather as the killer. I’m going to kill him.
My phone rings, and it’s Rafael. I smirk, knowing this was coming. “You better bring back my mother.”
“She’s my mother too. You know you don’t have a monopoly on her. In fact, you had her for two years.”
“Dad’s going to kill you, and I’m going to watch.”
“He’s not my dad, but I wouldn’t bet on it. I’m going to see you go down, Rafael. You don’t deserve the air you breathe. I wonder if Mom will really mind if I strangle you to death myself.”
“Please. You’re a big puss bag, and don’t call my mother a whore again.”
“I didn’t call my mother that.”
“You just said he wasn’t your dad.”
“He wasn’t. Your father killed my dad to steal my mom. You need to ask his ass about that, but he has a death wish I’d
