At least he’d had the sense to dismiss the work crew so the room was silent but for the rustle of Mira’s clothes and the crunch of her shoe on floor grit as she stood.
“You knew?” Her voice shook. Her face, so filled with discovery and enchantment a moment ago, was crumpling into shadows of disbelief. Denial.Say it isn’t so.
He set aside the box, hands flexing with the need to draw her into his arms. He could see her beginning to tremble. He could feel their connection fracturing and he wanted to keep her from leaping to conclusions even though they were the correct conclusions.
He wanted to hold on to her because he could see her pulling away from him, retreating to the farthest corner of the room, staring at him as though she didn’t recognize him.
“How long have you known?” she asked in that voice that threatened to shatter.
“Years.” There was no other way to do this except bluntly. “When Otto began targeting GPS, Silvio told me it was likely because Otto had learned Silvio was your father.” Rocco looked to the shallow well that was the safe, hidden all these years by ugly, unnecessary flooring. “My guess is that Otto came here after your mother died, read that note and sealed up the truth.”
“Ottoknows Silvio is my father.” The words were punched out of her. “Why didn’t he tell me?” She was aghast. Bewildered.
“Silvio told me there was a nondefamation clause in their marriage contract. I don’t think Ottocouldtell you. Not without a financial penalty of some kind.”
“He called her a whore. To my face.” She pointed at her flushed cheeks. At eyes growing bright with seething anger. “Wait.” She stood straighter, eyes widening it shock. “You knew all of this when we met in London?”
He couldn’t bear the look on her face. He closed his eyes against it.
“Oh, my God.”
“Mira, listen. Silvio has always regretted that he couldn’t have a relationship with you—”
“He never even tried,” she cried.
“Because your mother wanted to hide this as much as he did.”
She gasped and recoiled as though he’d struck her.
“Not because she was ashamed of you.” His throat felt as though a clawed hand took a grip on his windpipe. He had known this would be bad, but nothing could have prepared him for how bad this was. He held out a hand, urging her to bear with him.
“When we met in London, I only meant to talk with you. For him.”
“Oh? He must have loved hearing how that went!”
“I didn’t tell him.”
“Shocking!” She took a few steps. Her hand covered her trembling lips. “Why?” she asked, turning to face him with tears in her eyes. “I don’t understand why you would do this to me. You asked me to live with you. You said you wanted a future with me.”
“I do. Amato. I’ve tried to let you know how much Silvio means to me, so you would understand when this came out, and see why I couldn’t betray him by telling you.”
“So you betrayedmeinstead.” She set a hand on her chest and blinked eyes that had turned desolate. Her mouth trembled with injury. “That tells me how much you really care about me, doesn’t it? What is it about me that asks people to lie about the most important things?”
“Mira.” He took a step toward her.
“Don’t you dare touch me.” She pressed up against the wall. “Don’t youdare. What has all this been, anyway?” she asked with angry confusion. “I have been helping you take out your primary competition while you’ve been trying to keep me from finding out who my father is. That is not a fair and equalrelationship.” She spat the word with contempt.
“Mira.” He rubbed his eyes. “I am with you because I want to be. Silvio is angry we’re together. His family expects to meet my fiancée, but…”
“Hedoesn’t want to meet me,” she said, eyes bulging with pain.
“Mirabella. Don’t do this to yourself. Come.” He held out his arms. “Let me explain.”
“Are you seriously blamingmefor being upset that every person in my life who ought to care about me has lied to me?You, most of all? I’ve said it before and this time I really mean it. Go to hell, Rocco.”
She walked out.
He snatched up the box of valuables, fearful she’d slip on the ladder since she was upset and it was the only access point right now.
