Gross.
“Mel,” Dad mumbles. “Let’s talk about thisalone, okay?”
She shakes her head decisively.
“It’s always another time, Cesare. Alwayssoon. Never right when I need you.”
“Mel—“
“You told me I was the one!” she screams at him. A tear wells in her eye and rolls down her cheek. “And then two weeks later you met Felicity and I was cast away, back to being yourmaid!”
My eyes dart to my father.Holy shit.
The guilt is all over his face.
“But you stillneed me, don’t you, Cesare?” Melinda says coldly. “When that skinny bitch you married says no, that’s when you need me, isn’t it?”
“Dad—”
“I’mhandling it, honey,” he growls. He drags his gaze back to Melinda. “Put the gun down, Mel. I’m not having this conversation while you’re?—”
“You never want to have this conversation!!!” she bellows.
There’s a wild look in eyes. A feverish darkness.
A madness.
Fear curls and tightens in my chest.
“Well, we’re not fucking having it while you're pointing a gun at?—”
“Please!” Melinda screams. “Pleasetell me how much you care about her!” She laughs coldly. “Thebackupdaughter.”
My eyes dart to my father, the question bubbling on my lips. But the second his eyes meet mine, cold, brutal certainty stabs into me.
“You knew.”
The words fall like a choked prayer from my lips.
Dad doesn’t respond. He doesn’t protest, or deny, or yell, or…anything.
Just looks at me with this frozen deer-in-headlights expression on his face.
“Holy shit…” I breathe, my blood turning to lead in my veins. I stare at him breathlessly, unblinking, my mind churning to a stop.
“Honey—”
“What’s my name.”
My father’s lips press together. He looks at Melinda. “Put the gun?—”
“What. Is. My. Name.”
“Yes, tell her, Cesare,” Melinda spits. “Tell herwho she is. Tell her how her?—”
“Enough!” Dad barks. His gaze is haggard as he looks back to me. “Honey, it’s complicated?—”
“It’sreally not!!” I roar, shaking even as that sluggish feeling still creeps through my system. My eyes stab into him. “What’s my fuckingname.”
