Page 4

FOUR

zina

T he taxi stops outside the gates of his estate, and I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. Guido was furious that I wanted to come here alone. He’s scared of what they’ll do to me - and he wanted to be here to protect me. But I need to have this conversation in private. It hurt Guido immensely when his father refused to accept him last time, even though I tried to warn him it would happen, and it would take time. Emotions are raw, untamable things. And I’m not ready to expose him to the same hurt again.

Giovanni finally agreed to see me again and this time the shock is over, and we can have a real conversation.

Giovanni, the king of the mafia underworld.

He has power beyond imagination and his reputation is daunting.

When I hired a private investigator - with the sole purpose of getting me solid proof that he is Guido ’s father - I was warned that Giovanni has become ruthless and cold since I knew him. I was told not to approach him with the truth because it would cost me my life, or that or my son’s.

But what choice do I have? And if he is still the same man I was once in love with then he isn’t going to kill me or our son. That’s not who he is. He values family. He would never hurt his own blood.

But I am not his blood.

My hands are shaking slightly in my lap.

I sit up straighter in the taxi, pushing my shoulders back and flicking my hands to try to dispel the overflow of energy causing anxiety.

“Thank you.” I mutter to the driver, pushing the back door open and climbing out. “If you don’t mind waiting, I don’t think I’ll be longer than an hour.”

“Yes, mam.” He says with a nod.

When I’m out of the car, he turns it around and parks on the other side of the road. I look towards Giovanni’s massive estate.

I can do this.

I tell myself for the hundredth time.

When I walk towards the security gates I half expect the guards to tell me to fuck off, but they don’t. With a polite greeting the gates swing open and I am free to walk inside.

My heart is beating loud and fast in my chest when I reach the front door.

The doorman pulls it open and smiles at me.

“Miss. Lucas. Please follow me. Mr. Rivas is waiting for you in the sun room.” He gestures for me to follow.

My heels click against the marble floor, echoing through the otherwise quiet mansion until I step onto the wooden floor of the sunroom. The sound of my heels changes and becomes softer.

Giovanni doesn’t stand up or even look at me when I walk in.

The doorman bows ever so slightly, then turns away, pulling the door closed behind himself to give us privacy.

Giovanni’s voice is calm when he speaks.

“Come inside. Sit down.” He demands.

I make my way to the pale grey sofa and sit opposite him, crossing one leg over the other and placing my purse next to me on the sofa. I brush my hands over my thighs to push my dress down where it’s riding up my legs.

“You look lovely.” He says his eyes tracing over me with a coldness I don’t recognize. Maybe he has changed. Maybe he would kill me.

“Thank you for seeing me.”

“You caused such a scene at my wife’s funeral , I don’t think I had a choice, Zina.” He snaps angrily.

I sigh loudly. “He’s your son, and he wants to know his father. I waited as long as I could but how can I say no to him when all he wants to do is?—”

“For fuck’s sake, Zina. Do you understand what you doing by coming here? You’re causing havoc. It’s your fault that Guido never had a chance to know me - you’re the one who kept him from me.” He says with dark accusation on his voice.

Anger spikes inside me. “Are you serious?” I snap. “So, you would have wanted me to come bursting in here while your wife was still alive? You don’t think I was hiding him out of respect for her? You should thank me!” I shout.

“Thank you?” he says, standing, his fists clenched at his side.

“Yes.” I snap, remaining seated, refusing to let him chase me out before I’ve had my say.

Giovanni stands over me, peering down at me, trying to intimidate me with those piercing green eyes of his.

I shake my head and stare back at him just as fiercely.

“I’m not leaving.” I whisper.

He turns away in a huff, storming towards the bar to pour himself a drink. He doesn’t offer me anything.

If I don’t turn his mood around, I’m going to get nowhere again.

I let out a huff of air and force myself to speak calmly.

“You’re the one who pushed me away, Giovanni. I thought we were going to run away together. I thought we were in love. I loved you. I know that much.” I say, closing my eyes. When I open them again, he’s staring at me from across the room. The coldness in his gaze has softened a little.

“I never wanted to leave.” I continue. “But I did it because you wanted that of me. Somehow you always got what you wanted.” I shake my head with regret. “You have no right to be angry at me for hiding Guido from you. You know I made the right choice. But now - it’s only fair of you to give us a chance. You abandoned me. Not the other way around. Don’t forget that.”

Giovanni clenches his jaw and lifts the glass of whisky to his lips, draining all of it from the glass in one tilt of his head. He slams the glass down onto the wooden counter top.

“All of that is in the past.” He tries to argue.

I sigh in frustration.

“We can’t change the past. We were young. I was stupid to believe you loved me. But I refuse to let you push your own son away now.” I snap, finally standing up because my body is trembling with anger and I can’t sit still anymore.

“I never—” he starts, but his words trail off.

“You never what?” I demand.

“I never—” he closes his eyes. “I never loved you.” The lie that spills from his mouth is so obvious even a blind man could see straight through him.

“I see.” I say, tilting me head to the side. “Not that it matters.”

He’s trying to hurt me. He’s trying to make me leave.

“I’m not here to upset your life, Gio.” I say gently, walking towards him and reaching out to touch his arm. He flinches away from my touch.

I reach out again and this time he doesn’t move. I gently trace my hand over his bicep. The muscles flex beneath his shirt and my mind instantly flashes memories of how gorgeous he was, his body pressing into mine as he lies over me, pinning my hands above my head.

The image sends a thrill pulsing through me.

“Gio, please, he is your son.” I say quietly.

The door bursts open and Santino storms into the room.

“What is she doing here?” He demands. His voice echos off the walls.

“Santino stop—” Giovanni says, turning towards his son with command in his tone.

“No, she has no right to be in this house - mom’s home. ” He snaps at his father.

Giovanni realizes what he’s done by inviting me into this space.

“Santino, I need to speak with her - this was the only private place?—”

“I don’t care.” He yells.

Behind him Romeo and Dante arrive, hearing the noise.

“Dad.” Dante mumbles in disbelief. “Why is she in our home?”

“She’s leaving.” Giovanni sighs.

“No. I’m not.” I snap angrily. “You said we could talk.”

“Get out.” Romeo screams at me, launching at me with his hands reaching towards my throat and his eyes flaring like a wild animal.

I yelp in surprise, lifting my hands over my face to defend myself, but Giovanni has grabbed his son and isn’t letting him near me.

“She’s a slut.” Romeo screams. “She’s a hoe wrecker, a whore.”

“I—” I stammer, wanting to defend myself. “I didn’t know your father was married when I met him.” I say.

“You found out at some point - you found out he was married, and you begged him to leave our mother. You wanted to tear our family apart.” Romeo is beyond rage. His voice is breaking in anger.

I look at Giovanni, waiting for him to defend me - to tell them the truth. I never asked him to leave his wife. He made promises. I wanted it. But I never asked him to. I was hurt when I found out about her - that he lied to me. I wanted to leave him at first and he begged me not to.

“Giovanni,” I whisper, pleading with my eyes.

“Don’t even speak to him, you whore.” Romeo screams at me, trying to tear loose from his father’s grip.

“Get out.” Giovanni says, his eyes have turned even colder than before. “Leave.”

“I won’t.” I shout. “You promised you’d speak to me.”

“Get out!” He demands with more force.

I swallow hard and turn fully towards him, setting my shoulders back firmly. “I will destroy your name, Giovanni. If you refuse to be decent, of you refuse to give me what I deserve to ask for - I will tear your world apart, piece by piece. I won’t stop until everyone knows who you are. The liar. The cheat.” Anger bubbles from my lips as I spit the words at him. I never intended to threaten him this soon. It was meant to be a last resort. But I also didn’t expect him to let his son speak to me this way.

I deserve so much more respect than this.

If he wants to play a darker game, then I will play.

Giovanni bites down on whatever he wants to say and tilts his head towards the door.

“Fine.” I snap. “But this isn’t over. I mean what I said.”

I grab my purse from the sofa and storm out of the sun room, leaving him and his three sons to deal with each other.

Outside, the taxi is waiting for me in the quiet shade of a tall tree.

I climb inside and quickly brush away the tears spilling down my cheek.

I hate him.

I hate him with every piece of my soul.

And I will destroy him.

* * *

It’s late at night when my phone rings.

I roll towards the nightstand and tilt the screen towards me as I blink at it, trying to see who it is.

Giovanni .

I answer quickly, my heart racing.

“How dare you threaten me?” He growls deeply into the phone. His voice a rumble of threat and warning. I sit up in bed, instantly furious.

“How dare you think you have any control over what I do? I raised our son on my own. I fought tooth and nail to give him a good life. You have lived in luxury, your boys have everything they could ever dream of. Including a future rich in wealth and power. Guido deserves the same and I will stop at nothing to give my son what he deserves. Do you understand me, Giovanni?” I snarl.

The silence on the other end of the phone makes me wonder if he hung up. I glance at the screen. The timer is still counting.

“If you don’t accept our son - and me - I will reign hell down on you.” I say darkly. “I will never stop. If you want to get rid of me, you’ll have to kill me, Giovanni. Do you understand?”

“What the fuck do you want from me, Zina?” he snaps.

“I want to move in to the house. Guido will be accepted into the family as your son. You don’t have to announce it - but you have to treat him right and give him what he deserves of your estate.”

“You want to live here?” he asks in disbelief.

“Yes. I will give you until tomorrow night to decide.” I hang up the phone, my heart pounding in my chest as I set it back down on the nightstand and settle into my bed.

Sleep doesn’t come through.

I toss and turn all night, wondering if I’ve made the biggest mistake of my life. But I’m determined. And I won’t back down.