Chapter 30
“You two look well rested after your trip.” My mother smiled widely, her eyes crinkling at the corners, as she gently placed our plates on the dining table.
The rich scent of tomatoes, garlic, and herbs from the bubbling lasagna filled the air, blending with the warm, yeasty smell of the crusty bread she had just pulled from the oven.
My stomach rumbled in response, and a wave of nostalgia washed over me.
Memories of sun-drenched afternoons in Sicily with Ana flooded my mind.
Making me acutely aware of how much I longed to be there again.
“How was it, la mia bellissima ragazza ?”
Anastacia’s face was a picture of confusion as my mother spoke in Italian to her.
It was adorable. “She called you her beautiful girl.” I smiled, leaning into her as she sipped her red wine, her new favourite since enjoying it at my grandparents’ restaurant.
She loved it so much I made sure to bring plenty home.
“Thank you for the compliment.” Anastacia blushed. “The trip was lovely. It was nice to actually just spend time together with no distractions.” As Ana spoke, my mother grinned from ear to ear. All she wanted was for my marriage to work.
“I see my son treated you to the ring you deserve.” My mother’s face was a picture, as if she knew the second I said I do I’d fall in love with Ana.
Fuck… Was I in love with her? Was this intense need to have her and be with her at all hours of the day love?
Could a person fall in love that fast? Or were these feelings present from the very beginning and I just never let myself see it?
Was I too blinded by revenge to notice and realise what love with Ana could be like?
“Lorenzo? Are you okay? You were a million miles away,” Ana asked, placing her hand on mine, bringing me right back to the present, stopping the never-ending questions in my head.
“Yeah, all good.” I shrugged everything off, trying to work out what was going on in my heart and mind could wait until later.
“So, my parents seem to be quite taken with you. My mama actually said you were better than she could have imagined. The perfect wife for her little Lorenzo.” Mama chuckled as did my wife.
“I’m glad. Besides, he’s not so bad, after all.” Ana winked at me, and I felt a rush of peace. It was as if her smile alone could take every thought, worry, and stress away.
“People did try to tell you,” I teased, draping my arm over her shoulder. The complete turnaround was even giving me whiplash.
“Listen, mio figlio , I know you’re not the easiest to live with and you really did outdo yourself with Anastacia, but I just hope that you two can grow and have a life together.
” She patted my hand, her eyes falling to the black band around my ring finger.
“Plus, I need some grandkids.” My mother laughed, throwing her head back in delight.
Anastacia remained silent. I knew she didn’t want to talk about children yet.
She wanted to enjoy her life a little first, and to be honest, I wanted to enjoy us for a bit.
I’d only just got her properly, and I wanted to show her the world before we enjoyed days filled with diapers, lullabies, and baby giggles.
“Oh, I’m just kidding. You two have all the time in the world.” My mother looked over at Ana who nodded in agreement.
And we did. We had plenty.
My mother’s demeanour shifted after dinner, almost as if she was holding onto something but was waiting for the right moment. I knew her all too well to know she was hiding something.
I sipped my coffee as she sat beside me, her eyes flicking between her mug and Ana.
“Mama, what is it?” I asked, turning to face her.
“How did you know there was something on my mind?” She looked nervous and worried, which only made me feel sick to my stomach.
“Mama, come on. I know you,” I breathed. “Tell me.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose, letting out a deep sigh before apologetically looking up at Ana one more time.
“It’s about your father,” she whispered, looking down at her knotted fingers. “I know this will be hard to hear.” She sighed, composing herself.
I knew it was bad, I had a sickening feeling that I already knew what she wanted to say, what I’d been dreading to believe.
Ana’s eyes flicked up to meet mine with a reassuring glance. I’d put that woman through hell, been an absolute bastard, but yet, she still sat there being supportive without needing to say a damn word.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“I found a letter,” Mama whispered. “I didn’t even know his desk had a hidden drawer but?—”
“What was in the letter?”
Please don’t say it, Mama.
“The letter was an alliance agreement between your father and Victor’s enemy, Quincy Dion.” Her voice trembled as she continued. “Your own father betrayed us. He betrayed his best friend, all for money.”
The room spun as I processed her words. He fucking lied to me. When he took his final breaths, he fucking lied. He screwed over everyone who ever trusted him, including his family. He didn’t think about the repercussions of his actions when he sold out his best friend.
“Why?” I seethed. “Why the hell did he do it?”
My mother’s eyes filled with sorrow. She was betrayed as well. She was kept in the dark just as much as I was. Alright, I was nineteen at the time and probably had no clue what his Don title entailed, but he could have confessed in his final moments. He could have come clean.
“I don’t know, Lorenzo, but it was there in black and white.
He gave them everything—Victor’s secrets, his shipment details, his plans, everything.
” She gripped my hand tightly. “He arranged for Victor to meet him that night. He pretty much signed his death warrant for him, only it went the opposite way.”
My mind raced as I remembered the upcoming days to that night. It all made sense now. He’d been shutting himself away, sneaking around at all hours of the night, and to be honest, I thought that was just part of who he was. I never read too much into it until tonight.
“If you’ll excuse me for a second.” Ana stood quickly, not wasting any time heading out onto the patio.
“Mama—” I started.
“Go. This is as big for her as it is for you.” She patted my hand softly. “I was used to your father’s betrayal, you weren’t. We don’t know how much Anastacia knew, so go after her.”
I kissed my mother’s cheek. “I love you, Ma.”
I headed out onto the patio, my eyes falling on Ana. She had her back to me, and her hair blew softly in the wind. I took a slow, deliberate step forward, my gaze never straying. I was never one to be easily distracted, but she had a way of drawing me in, whether she intended to or not.
“I remember so much about that night…” She sighed, keeping her back to me. “I was so excited to see him that I waited up late. I even put fucking bows at the ends of my braids.”
“What happened?” I asked, wrapping my arms around her waist from behind.
“He shouted at me for not being asleep, and then because I showed weakness when he raised his voice, he gave me this look of disgust." She sighed. "No crying in front of him or anyone else. That was one of his rules."
“Ana…”
“Artem, my father’s right hand at the time, was the only one who truly ever cared for me in that house.
But he disappeared without a trace, and after that day I’d never felt so alone.
Sure, I had my grandparents, but they didn’t live with me, and even though my babushka asked for me to live with her and dedushka, my father said no. ”
“Stop, it’s okay, you don’t need to talk about it.” I cupped her face, as she nuzzled her cheek into my palm.
“I used to want him to love me as much as he loved my brother, but I knew what I was good for. I knew he would eventually use me by handing me off to a man I didn’t know.” She whispered. “I just thought he’d have the decency to let me meet him first, but I guess that was too much to ask from him.”
“I’m so sorry I played a part in that. I’m so fucking sorry, and if I could change it even the slightest bit, I would.
” I half smiled. “But I wouldn’t change marrying you.
You are the only person who has kept me on my toes.
The only one who isn’t afraid to put me in my place, and the one that makes me feel something. ” I forced her to look up at me.
“Our fathers were as bad as one another, both power and money hungry. I don’t blame your father for what he did to mine.
I don’t even blame you for wanting revenge for what you thought happened.
” She sounded so sure of herself. “If your father didn’t betray mine, mine would have stabbed yours in the back. It was inevitable.”
“We won’t pay for our father’s mistakes anymore, but believe me when I say I’ll spend a lifetime paying for mine.
” I brought my lips to within an inch of hers.
“Your father doesn’t deserve you, mi amore .
” The Italian endearment rolled off my tongue with a smoothness that made my own heart flutter.
Or whatever it did. This shit was all new to me.
It was the first time I’d called her that, and I knew it wouldn’t be the last.
“And you deserve me, do you?” she whispered.
“Yes, I do. ” I smiled, and it was the first time I truly felt as though I was worthy of her.
That I deserved every single part of her.
I pressed my lips against hers, as if needing to seal my words.
She responded eagerly, her hands wrapping around my neck as she deepened the kiss.
The taste of her, the feel of her body against mine, was a reminder of what we were building together, a bond that transcended the chaos of our fucked up worlds.