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“But old women are fine?”
He curses softly in Italian. “Caterina. I do not kill old women and I do not kill children.”
“Is Nonna Mia dead?”
“No,” he says softly. “Your brothers took her to the hospital.”
I arch an eyebrow. “But they couldn’t find Luna?”
“She is, apparently, very good at hiding. Nico is an expert tracker, and that is the only reason that he was able to find her.”
Interesting.
“So now my brothers think you took a shot at our great-aunt and tried to kill my kid.”
“Caterina, I…”
“Here’s what is going to happen. Luna and I are going to get on that plane. You are going to contact Marco, and let him know that you didn’t do this. He won’t believe you, but you’re going to let me talk to him. Then, you’re going to release me from this farce of a marriage, and you’re going to leave me and Luna alone. Forever,” I say, holding my chin up.
He glares at me, some of that darkness returning. “No.”
“No?”
“No. I will not leave you alone. She’s my daughter, damn it.”
“She’s my daughter,” I whisper. The ferocity in my tone is more of a scream than any sound I’ve made so far.
Elio steps back.
“She ismydaughter,” I say quietly. “I gave birth to her. I raised her. She is my child. And the second I became involved with you, she was put in danger.”
“Why didn’t you introduce me as her father?”
The question almost throws me off, but I narrow my eyes. “Because you haven’t earned it.”
“And Gia has?”
“Yes,” I state.
I don’t explain.
For a minute, Elio stares at me. Finally, he speaks.
“I do not have to negotiate with you, Caterina,” he growls. “I can take what I want, and be done with it.”
I hear the threat.
And he’s not wrong.
Anger rips through me again, and I put my hands on my hips. “You are a monster, then.”
We stare at each other.
From this close, I can see every detail on Elio’s face. I watch his eyes as they search mine, I see the muscles in his jaw work.
He doesn’t like when I call him that.
“You may call Marco. But we will be on the plane when you do it. And Caterina,” he glances at me, his intense grey eyes drilling into mine. “I did not do this.”
