She nods.
Leaning in, I wrap my arms around her and give her the biggest hug, not wanting to let go. I know she said this won’t be the last time I see her, but I’ve learned life is too damn short and youneverknow what could happen.
I struggle to let go, not wanting to lose her. Can’t I just force her to come with me? I’m not above kidnapping my own mother.
“It’s okay, Liana,” she soothes, and I hadn’t even realized tears were shedding from my eyes again and the sniffles had taken over.
“Everything will be okay.”
I nod into her hair. “I know, Mom, I know,” I whisper, and she tenses just a bit, but I ignore it because I couldn’t hold back saying it any longer.
She’s my mom whether she fully remembers or not, and I know she feels our familial connection. I just have to pray she makes the right choice and she makes it soon, because with Ignazio knowing we know about my mom, I’m not sure how much longer we have before everything comes crashing down.
51
MASSIMO
“Sooo, has anyone talked to Mom or Dad yet?” Gui asks, breaking the silence while Liana is in the spa talking to her mom.
“Well, obviously I haven’t,” Gio says.
“I’m not sure how I’d handle speaking to either one of them after what they’ve done,” I grumble.
“We’re going to have to break the silence eventually,” Gui says.
I let out a sigh, knowing he’s right and I’m the one who’s going to need to do it. I’ve just been avoiding it because what the fuck am I supposed to say? They kept a child from their parent for over a decade. That’s grounds for a fucking war in our world. And for it to be my wife they did this to? I don’t fucking know how I’m going to manage this.
The call waiting pops up on my phone and I see it’s my dad calling.
What a fucking coincidence.
I’m tempted to answer it, but I press ignore, knowing I can’t click out of the call I’m on with Liana.
“Dad just called me,” I say.
“Oh, look, he’s calling me now,” Gui says. He smirks and looks over at Gio. “Guess we know the order of favorites now.”
“That’s so fucking dumb, Gui. He’s only calling you because he doesn’t know I’m in Sicily right now.”
The smile on Gui’s face flattens.
“Give it to me, Gui,” I snap, holding my hand out to him.
He slaps the phone down into it and grumbles, “Whatever.”
“Dad,” I say.
There’s a pause on the other line, then he finally says, “Massimo. I just tried calling you but?—”
“I’m talking to you now, so what do you want?”
“Is that anyway to speak to your father?”
“When your father’s a lying son-of-a-bitch, I’d say yes.”
I’m not sure what my plan was when answering his call, but I can’t help the anger that takes over my body when I think of him now.
“Massimo, you better be careful because you’re toeing a fine line right now.”
