Page 65 of Die for You

“I need to talk to you,” he says as we circle each other.

“About?” My interest is piqued.

Does he know about Lettie?

“About…you.”

“What about me?”

He pauses, which costs him as I strike him in the knee. I don’t hold back, and he jumps back, flinching. But he doesn’t back down.

“I…your—” Lenny is at a loss for words? I don’t know what to think.

“Spit it out.”

“It’s not something you can just spit out.”

“That’s never stopped you in the past.”

“This is different.”

“Why?”

This banter just riles me up even more, and I attempt to hit him again. He disarms me this time.

We stand staring at each other, the mat beneath our bare feet, our chests rising and falling.

I don’t know what’s happening, but it doesn’t seem good.

“Lenny, you’re scaring me.”

“I’m sorry, I just…this is something that will change everything. I just need you to trust me. Please listen and—”

“Hello, Valentina.”

I turn over my shoulder and see a man standing in the doorway. I don’t know who he is. I’ve never seen him before.

“Who’s this?” I ask Lenny.

“I’m your father.”

Lenny flinches, and that’s because what this stranger says is true.

Lenny wouldn’t have brought him here if he didn’t believe him or didn’t have the evidence to prove it.

“Lenny?” I question, my quivering voice betraying me.

He nods slowly, confirming this man’s claims.

“I…don’t…how?” Constructing a coherent sentence is clearly not feasible.

Lenny attempts to comfort me, but I shrug away. “Start talking.”

“My name is Francesco, and I was married to your mother.”

“That’s impossible!” I scoff, shaking my head. “My mother was a nun. I don’t need to listen to this. More ploys from you, Lenny? I’m disappointed by your predictability.”

I turn to leave.