I’m waiting for a hole to open in the floor and swallow me up before I die of mortification. Obviously, everyone in this room is more than aware of what Alessio and I were up to last night. And again earlier this morning.
“We’re…um…” I try to explain what’s going on between us, and there really is no explanation. “Friends.”
I land on that and decide it sounds good enough. Friends with benefits could sum up our scenario. We’re not exactly enemies anymore.
“Speaking of friends,” Bianca pipes up brightly, clearly looking to change the subject, “since you’re friends with Luna, maybe you can tell us what she’s like. I’ve always wanted another sister.”
“Did Saint tell you that Luna’s dad was also the girls’ father?” Lucky asks me.
I stare at him in shock. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Mom had a fling with Tomasso Revello, and she ended up pregnant with Camilla and Bianca. When my father found out she was having Tomasso’s babies, he was furious and threatened to kill her. That’s why Mom and the girls ended up living in Maryland until they came to us a few days ago.”
“Luca,” Antonella chides from the stove. “We don’t need to go into old news now.”
“Hey, we’re one big fucked-upfamigliahere,” Lucky says, grinning. “No sense in hiding it.”
I’m sure my mouth is hanging open. The odd resemblance I noticed in both Camilla and Bianca to Luna suddenly makes sense.
Holy shit.
Luna has half sisters.
And they share a mother with her husband. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the implications of that one.
“Does Luna know about this?” I ask.
“Not yet.” Lucky snickers. “This is going to be one hell of a return from a honeymoon.”
That is, quite possibly, the understatement of the century. I don’t know how Luna will react to this unexpected news. I do know she was very close to her brother who passed away. I’m sure learning that she has two half sisters will be comforting toher in a way. It’s kind of messed up that she and Priest share the same half sisters, though.
“You really are one big family now, aren’t you?”
“Not quite,” Antonella says sadly from the stove.
I know she’s thinking about Alessio. I’m not sure what Scorpion’s reaction to her was or what Priest’s will be. She must have faced an impossible decision—either lose her life and sacrifice her daughters, or give her babies a chance at life while leaving her sons behind.
“Maybe Alessio will come around.”
“He’s always been stubborn. Even when he was a boy.” Antonella’s voice breaks on the last word. “I missed so much.”
Her three children shoot up from the chairs and surround her. I stay where I am, eating the pancakes she made. They’re delicious, fluffy, and perfectly shaped, laced with a generous dose of vanilla.
I feel like an outsider, intruding on this familial scene. As Lucky, Bianca, and Camilla start talking over top of one another, I finish up my pancakes and stand, intending to slip out.
“Hey, where you going?” Lucky asks. “Get over here,mia sorella.”
I have no idea what he just called me, even if I’m kind of touched by the inclusion. But I hesitate, still not wanting to wedge myself into their family reunion.
“Yeah, get your butt over here,” Bianca adds.
“Group hug,” Camilla announces in a singsong voice.
And even Antonella smiles warmly at me, and I see the flash of resemblance to her son. “Everyone can use a hug, no?”
I go to them and find myself wrapped up in an embrace. And…it doesn’t feel wrong, even if I’m not a part of this family and never will be. If there’s one thing I learned from losing my parents and Lily in the plane crash, it’s never to say no to anembrace. I would give everything for just one more hug from each of them.
Tears prick my eyes, and I sniffle, hoping that Alessio can at least find peace with his mother’s decisions one day. And maybe find it in his heart to forgive her too.
