Sinclair let out a weary sigh, his expression betraying the weight of the news he carried. “The same,” he replied, his tone flat. “War is on the horizon. I fear it’s only a matter of time.” The heaviness of his words seemed to settle over everyone present, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Cesar pressed on, his voice quieter but no less intent. “And the Russians?”
“Maxim has made his intentions clear,” Sinclair responded without hesitation. “The Bratva will have no hand in what’s to come.” His words were resolute, leaving little room for interpretation.
Cesar considered this, then remarked, “That has to be hard for Vladmir, considering who his daughter is married to.” The observation hung in the air, a reminder of the personal stakes woven into the larger conflict.
Sinclair’s lips curled into a smirk, a flicker of dark humor in his eyes. “Trust me, Don Vitale. Of all the deaths to come, she is the only one who I am sure will emerge unscathed.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Massimo
Breakfast had just been served when the butler entered, escorting Miranda into the room. Immediately, everyone at the table stood as a sign of respect. The butler then pulled out the chair to the right of Sinclair, directly across from where I was seated, and Miranda took her place.
Though irritation surged within me at the arrangement, I kept my thoughts to myself. Miranda moved slowly as she settled into her chair, her eyes locking with mine and holding my gaze for several tense moments. The quiet tension between us was unmistakable. She broke the silence with a pointed question: “What are you doing here?”
“I came to bring you home.”
Her reply was sharp, laced with bitterness. “Why? I’m sure your pregnant mistress needs you more than I do?”
Just as I was about to respond, Cesar kicked my foot under the table, signaling me to hold back. He stepped in, hoping to defuse the situation. “Miranda—” he began.
Miranda cut him off immediately, her tone commanding and unwavering. She raised her hand, stopping him with a regal gesture. “Let me stop you right there, Cesar,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “This conversation has nothing to do with you. So please mind your own damn business. As for your two-timing brother, well, he has a lot to answer for, and I’m not going anywhere until he does.”
Sinclair watched the exchange with a grin, reaching for his glass and reclining in his chair. It was clear that he was enjoying the spectacle as Luca looked anxiously at Cesar.
The situation was about to escalate, and I knew things could get ugly very quickly.
Miranda leaned forward, her hand reaching for the butter knife in front of her as she directed her attention to me. “Tell me, Massimo,” she said, her voice steady but loaded with accusation. “Did you know she was pregnant before you married me? Or were you hoping I never found out?”
Cesar, alarmed, jumped to his feet. “Don’t answer that!” he shouted. “Miranda. This is a private conversation best done behind closed doors and not in front of company.”
Miranda refused to be silenced, her tone growing even more defiant. “Oh, I think the time for civility has passed, don’t you, Cesar?” she sneered, unwilling to back down. “The whole world knows what happened. You can’t put that genie back in the bottle. Now sit down and shut up!”
Shock spread across my face as I slowly turned to Cesar, who looked ready to strangle my wife. No one had ever dared to speak to him in such a way and lived to tell the tale. Yet, to my utter disbelief, my brother quietly retook his seat.
Miranda’s voice cut through the tension, unyielding. “I asked you a question,husband.”
Determined to face the matter head-on, I met her gaze and replied, “I had a life before I met you. A vivid one. I won’t apologize for that, just as I’m sure you understand, since you weren’t without fault yourself.”
“Is that your polite way of saying I wasn’t a virgin?”
I shrugged, refusing to be drawn into her trap. “You called my past into question.”
“So what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, right?”
“No,” I said quickly. “All I’m saying is that I can’t be blamed for what I didn’t know.”
“Sure looked like you knew to me.”
“Looks can be deceiving.”
“Apparently,” she scoffed, exhaling deeply. “Is it yours?”
I shrugged once more. “Possibly. I won’t be sure until a test is done.”
Overwhelmed, Miranda closed her eyes and shook her head, her composure crumbling. “I can’t do this,” she whispered, tears streaking down her cheeks. “I can’t live like this anymore. I’m a simple country girl, Massimo. I had a life, school, and a plan for my future. Now it’s all messed up. All the lies and deception are too much. I don’t know what’s real anymore.”
