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“What did you get in exchange for lying?”
The doctor whimpers. “Five hundred thousand.”
Dominic snorts behind me, and I have to agree with my cousin. Five hundred grand to ruin my life? That’s all it took?
“Why?”
“I have kids in college, Mr. DiAngelo, a wife who overindulges, and a house mortgage I can’t afford.” He’s trying to justify his actions to seek sympathy. It won’t work. “I needed the money. I’m sorry…I’m so sorry.”
I frown at the broken man in front of me and turn around. I find my dad’s furious gaze when he asks, “What do you think?”
“I don’t think he’s lying. Not now anyway,” I say with absolute certainty. I’ve seen my fair share of interrogations, most done by my hand, others by observation, and I know when a man is broken, and Dr. Murphy is broken. A man tormented by a terrible decision he knew deep down would come back to haunt him in ways he never imagined.
Uncle Leo approaches and hands Dad a piece of paper. He skims the paper, his face turning red in anger before he hands it to me. It’s the actual result. The un-doctored one. I should know. I studied the vile piece of paper long enough that I can recite every word verbatim.
“We found this among his things when we grabbed the doctor from his office. The dumb fuck had it in his desk drawer,” Leo explains. “We have his computer and phone, and we’ll do what we can to trace the caller and payments.”
I hand the damning proof back to my uncle. “Anything else?”
“He speaks the truth. He’s got kids in college, a gold-digging wife, and a heavy house mortgage.”
“What now?” Enzo asks, coming to stand next to me.
Dad sets his hand on my shoulder and squeezes. I agree. The doctor knows too much now. He consciously decided to betray our family, which can never be forgiven. Believing we would never find out the truth was his fatal mistake. The damage he did, all in the name of greed and selfishness, is too terrible and far from over.
Judge, jury, and executioner. It’s the way of our world. The punishment must fit the crime.
I turn around and stand behind the doctor. He’s sobbing words of apology between mumbled prayers to his God. I hope he finds comfort in them and that God forgives him when he stands in front of heaven’s gates. Because I won’t.
I pull my gun from its holster, point it at the back of the doctor’s head, and squeeze the trigger.
25
Rose
Michael waits for me downstairs, and my mood lifts when I round the corner and he sees me. Over the past couple of days, I’ve quickly learned that little surprises Michael. Except for two things, that is. One of those is me and the other is being entertained by his aunt on the living room floor.
“Mommy looks beautiful. Doesn’t she, sweet boy?” Gabriella asks Liam, pulling my eyes from the smoldering look Michael is giving me. I smile at my handsome boy and reach for him.
Holding him in my arms, I rock him back and forth, eating up his happy giggles. I was so worried that the time apart from me would negatively affect him, but I seem to be the only one suffering in that department. And that’s fine by me. I would rather be the one haunted by those memories. Liam deserves to grow up happy and loved and safe. The last item is the most crucial and also the most concerning at the moment, with a blaring alarm that my time is running short.
“I think Mommy looks breathtaking,” Michael comments, coming up behind me. He rests one hand on my waist and the other cups Liam’s hat-covered head. Then he dips his face down to my neck and kisses the bare space my styled updo left exposed. “This outfit is begging to be ripped off you.”
I hum low in my throat and lean back into his warmth. “Maybe I just might let you.”
“There’s no maybe about it, Rose.” Michael nips my earlobe, and I swallow back a moan. Barely. “I hope you’re not too attached to that outfit because it will be in pieces before the night’s end.”
“It better not be,” Gabriella voices, her tone laced with annoyance. “I picked out that outfit.”
“That you paid for with my money,” Michael reminds his sister before he presses one last kiss to my neck and pulls away.
Gabriella surprised me with a mountain of clothes, and I’ve spent the past hour trying on different pieces for my date with Michael tonight. I eventually decided on a navy-and-white cami jumpsuit with a high-thigh split, cinched around the waist with a cute little buckle belt.
Michael’s sister crosses her arms over her chest and frowns at her brother, knowing full well that he got her there. “Fine. Just be more gentle with the clothing. Please.”
Michael smirks. “I’ll try, but I can’t promise.”
“Whatever.” She rolls her eyes and then steps forward to collect Liam. Gesturing for me to hand him over, I do after one last cuddle and kiss. “Get out of here, you two. Liam and I have a night of bonding and shenanigans to start.”
