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I cast my eyes down, touching the raised embroidery on the duvet. “I know. My grandmother loved him but said she didn’t want to be poor.”
He scoffed. “My grandfather wouldn’t have exactly been poor, but he wouldn’t be as wealthy as his family.”
I flicked my gaze at him. “Status matters to her as much as money. He must have known she’d never agree to come between him and his family.”
“My grandfather wouldn’t have listened anyway. He said he was an immature, romantic dreamer. He couldn’t see beyond what he wanted. He regretted it and thought himself an idealistic fool.”
I grinned. “Yeah, he still was idealistic, but I loved that about him.”It’s something I like very much about you, too.“But, come on, Rocco. None of that’s new. They both married someone else. That’s history.”
Rocco came and sat down on the edge of the bed. “It’s not that simple, Adelina. Grandpacrawled backandbeggedmy grandfather to let him back in the family.” Rocco’s voice was full of disgust.
I understood why Rocco thought doing so was terrible. He had a lot of pride, and the idea that his grandfather had to beg embarrassed him. But Mama and I begged for money and shelter at social services. Mama crawled back to her parents, too, like his grandfather. Even grandmother believes Luca made the right decision to return to his family.
I lifted my shoulders. “So, he ultimately chose himself. That doesn’t surprise me. Grandmother loves my grandfather. Luca told me that he fell in love with your grandmother in Italy. It all worked out.”
His face narrowed. “Constance did more than that. She married his enemy, Reginald Belfiore. The one man he hated more than anyone else, and she knew it.”
I snorted. “What kind of choice did Luca think my grandmother had? It’s easy to criticize her when she had to do what her family told her.”
Rocco tutted and wagged his finger. “È passione, It’s passion, Adelina. It doesn’t always come with reason. All he could see washisConstance with the man who treated him like he wasn’t good enough because he worked a real job. He couldn’t get over it. He set out to punish them and get his revenge.”
Rocco stopped speaking to talk to Maggie, who brought in a tray of tea and water. He offered me some, but I shook my head, and he opened the water and drained most of it.
I moved the pillows to prop myself up and crossed my ankles. We thanked her, and she left.
I sat taller, tensing. “Why are we talking about this now? It’s over. Love wasn’t enough. She needed family and stability. Theywere both under pressure, but she had little choice. So let’s leave the past in the past.”
“I wish we could, but it didn’t end there,” he said, frowning, rubbing his jaw. “He saw the great love of his life in the arms of the guy keeping him out of society. He couldn’t take it and bided his time until he heard about your father, Judge Colby.”
I pressed my lips together and crossed my arms.
Rocco continued. “Everyone knew Eric Colby was a conman who took bribes and made shady deals. But he had some power in the courts.”
I pursed my lips. “My father’s a useful idiot. So? He left his job when I was young—”
“He left because he got his big dream, to become a poet, but it wasn’t that simple. Grandfather helped him become rich, giving him good investments and loans. He was a rising star in the courtswithmoney. Just the kind of man your grandfather admired. When your grandfather took the bait and arranged a marriage for his daughter, your mother Lorelei, he offered to publish his poetry.”
Bile rose in my throat, and I covered my mouth. The papers left for me in Italy were real. Mr. Marini gave my father a literary contract.
“Your grandfather hadn’t expected that your father never wanted to be a judge. He gambled the money he made and quit his job. And your grandfather almost got rid of him, but—”
“Mama fell in love with him,” I snapped. “So Mr. Marini helped my father while he blackmailed my grandparents. He beat my mother, neglected my brother, and…” I squeezed my eyes shut. “He hurt…he hurt.”Assaulted me.“When did his conscience kick in?” My voice filled the room. My skin itched with prickled heat and sweat. I scratched hard, clawing at my arms and throat vigorously.
“Adelina, what are you doing?”Rocco’s voice raised. He reached his hand over and tugged my arm, but I swatted it away.
“Don’t touch me,” I hissed.
His jaw tightened, and he went quiet. The tension between us grew because I knew he wanted to take me in his arms, but he wouldn’t because he also needed me to feel safe. I could also see the wheels turning, and they were bad. There was more, much more for him to tell me. I was sure of it; it was my chance to know the truth. “Please, tell me the rest.”
Rocco’s eyes widened, and his jaw clenched. “Grandpa…He told me he never cared to know the details, only that he was happy when Reginald sold his property or sent money to cover loans he bought that your father defaulted on—like the property your family had sold. But he finally saw your father for who he was. He pushed for him to stay in jail and dry out. Get some anger management counseling.”
I clenched my jaw. “Judge Colby was released and went right back to it.”
His head fell forward. “Grandpa said you and your mom left the state. He thought you got away and were starting over. It’s not an excuse, but he changed once he found out about your father’s domestic violence and trying to sell you. He even got involved in a sting with the police. But the little girl was arrested the night it was to happen, and her grandparents stepped in. He vowed to change his life and promised to become a better man. He hadn’t expected to meet you….”
That little girl was me stopping on the beach that fateful night.
Resilience is your superpower, Adelina. Luca told me.