And I had missed him.
He stepped away, a forced smile playing over his lips. “It’s good to see you looking so well.”
I frowned, my eyebrows knotted together. What did he mean by that? Sure, it could have been innocent, but it felt like a loaded sentence.
Like he was saying he was glad I wasn’t fat or something, because that would put this stupid, foolish deal he was trying to make with our parents’ murderer at risk.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay for dinner? Your niece would love to get to know her uncle and—“
He cut me off. “No, I won’t impose any further, Sophia.” His eyes bored down into mine. His was unreadable, and my frown deepened.
What the hell was going on here?
“Just don’t let me down, Sophia. Your family needs you.”
Family.
It seemed weird that he would bring up a family when he had barely been there for me since Lily had been born. Sure, he gave me the money from my inheritance, but that was mine anyway.
There had been no Christmas or birthday cards.
Nothing until right now, when he needed me.
It should have made me angry, and it did. But he was right. He was my family, and I owed him a little help.
After all, what harm would a simple meeting do? I could walk away anytime I liked.
“I’ll be there.”
“Then I will see you then and—“ his eyes darted up the stairs and then away quickly. I knew why.
Lily.
He didn’t want me to bring up Lily around Matteo. And that was fine by me. Gio might not know that Lily was Matteo’s daughter, but Matteo would be able to figure out the dates. At the very least, he would be suspicious.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said in a clipped voice and walked away without looking back.
Tomorrow. Sighing, I shut the door. Tomorrow I would see theman I loved with my entire soul, the man who had given me a beautiful daughter, and the man who had betrayed my family.
And I wouldn’t be able to tell him anything.
How was that going to work? If we did end up getting married, how would Lily fit into the equation?
I wanted to help Gio, but I would not give up my daughter. She was my family as well.
“What was all of that about, Sophia?” Nat’s voice rang out and made me jump. Clutching at my throat, I turned around, and there she was, crouching halfway down the stairs and staring at me like she had never seen me before.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and then another one.
“That was my brother,” I said softly. “Gio. He was just—“ I paused. What could I say to her? How could I make her understand?
There were only two choices. Lie or—
I couldn’t lie, even though it might be easier in the short term. I was going to need my friend.
“I got that much, Sophia.” She skipped down two steps. Her eyes never left my face. “What’s going on?”
Sighing heavily, I pushed my way off the door. “It’s a long story.” Grimacing, I stared at her. “And I’m not sure you are going to understand it.”
