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“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’sdemeanour 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…”