“Ciro,” Padre said in a dry, scruffy voice. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Don’t talk too much. Just rest.” I stood, retrieved his cup of water and placed the straw at his lips. “Drink.”
He sipped a little, then brushed the plastic cup away with his hand.
“I have been resting.” He studied my face. “Why were you in San Francisco?”
As if he didn’t know why. Roman surely told him where I’d gone and who I was seeing. “Roman needs to keep his mouth shut.”
Padre snorted. “Maybe you shouldn’t tell him everything you do.”
“Sure. It’s my fault.” I sat on the chair next to him. “He’s my brother and somebody needs to know my whereabouts.”
“Yes. But you must be careful who you trust. Not everyone can be trusted.” He cleared his throat. It felt like he was talking in code. Was I not supposed to trust Roman? Why would he put those thoughts in my head?
“I can trust, Roman, Padre.” Although, I was doubting myself.
“Roman can be trusted. How is she?” He placed his hands on the small pillow on his chest.
“Isla sends her love. She’s worried about you.”
“Why isn’t she here?”
“Padre…” I sighed and removed my phone from my pocket when I felt it vibrate. I glanced at the message from Fabio. He wanted me to call him. Well, he’d have to wait.
“You must mend what you broke. True love only comes along once in a lifetime. Take a chance or you’ll regret it.”
“What are you talking about? You loved all your wives.” I laughed, shaking my head. It was unfortunate each woman had her life cut short because of my father. He had pissed off a lot of people, and I feared the same would happen to me.
“I never loved them as much as your mamma, Gia. She was everything to me. Isla is everything to you.”
“And you want me to put a target on her back, like mamma.”
“You just protect her better than I did. Gia should have never left the estate that day.” He sneered. “It was a set up.”
“What was a set up?”
“Her murder.”
My blood ran cold. “You told me it was a random occurrence.”
“I lied.” He closed his eyes, appearing exhausted from his burst of energy. “The maid helped Cara and her brother.”
Cara… The name sounded familiar.
“Who is Cara?” I asked him.
“The whore I was with before your mother.” He waved me off. “Get Isla back. She’s a good woman. We need heirs to carry on our bloodline.”
“Please tell me you loved Roman’s and Luca’s mother. And you loved Rosa’s mother.” I couldn’t imagine Padre marrying those women and not loving them.
“Yes, I loved them. And that’s why Cara found a way to get to them.” He yawned and was fast asleep.
I stood and paced the room. His old lover murdered his wives. Why in the fuck had he not killed the bitch?
The door opened and Roman appeared. I grabbed his bicep and pushed him out into the hallway.
“What?” he asked.
