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“Don’t fucking say it.”
A hand lands on my chest and pushes me away. I have tunnel vision right now.
“Okay, enough,” Romero says as he continues to push me back. “Alessio has been trying to find Gabby for the past four years.” Silence descends through the room at his words. “He promised her he’d be back in a week, but the shit with the Serbians happened and he couldn't get back to her for a while.” Romero releases me. I don’t move, my chest heaving, the rage still coursing through me. “By the time he did get back, she was gone, so no, it wasn’t a thank you fuck. He's pretty obsessed with Gabby.”
I grit my teeth. That’s an understatement. Obsessed doesn’t even compare to how I feel when it comes to Gabriella.
“You have to come to terms with it. You don't have a choice. There is no way I'm letting my woman walk away from me again, and I’m sure as fuck not losing my son today. You walked into a home uninvited. I fucking told you not to come. I was trying to figure things out with Gabriella. Instead of working things out with my woman and getting to know my son, you fucking showed up, and you brought everyone with you. Not once did any of you actually talk to my son. Not once. Until you can grow the fuck up and realize how disrespectful you were, I don't want you around my child.” My chest is heaving, and I turn on my heels and storm out of the house.
The way I’m feeling right now is worse than I have ever felt. My anger pulses through my body, wanting to be unleashed. Usually, I kill someone or fuck someone to unleash it. Neither of those are an option right now. Instead, I'm gonna get into my car and drive to Gabriella’s. We need to get this shit sorted because there is no way I'm losing her or Anthony. Not a fucking chance.
Chapter 19
Gabriella
Isigh as I sink down onto the sofa with a glass of red wine in my hand. It’s been a long fucking day, and I’m exhausted, emotional, and angry.
“Sweetheart,” Dad murmurs.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “I couldn’t cope, Dad. I was trying my hardest to keep it together to get home safely with Anthony in the car. I couldn’t break down. I couldn’t listen to your anger and disappointment on top of everything else.”
He shakes his head. “I reacted badly,” he says. “You’re my daughter, Gabs. I’m always going to be worried wherever you’re concerned. It was a shock to say the least, but that man dotes on you. He truly cares about you.”
I scoff. “Dad, Alessio and I had a few nights together. That was it.”
He looks at me, his brow raised, and I inwardly cringe. “Trust me, Gabs, that man is besotted with you. He was furious today. He couldn’t go against them, not in front of me. But I have no doubt he’s giving them what for right now. You cannot blame him for what his family thinks.”
He’s right. I know he is. “I reacted with my anger, Dad. I shouldn’t have kicked Alessio out, but I do think getting Anthony DNA tested against Alessio will stop all the doubts.”
“I agree, but not because some people think you’re a jezebel, but because it will help you and Alessio forge forward together. When you get hurt, your instinct is to run, and sweetheart, you can’t do that any longer. You have Anthony to think of now as well.”
I take a large sip of wine, wishing it was something harder. Then again, if I did that, I’d be a hormonal wreck. “I know. I react instead of taking a couple of moments to collect myself.”
It’s a trait that I took from my mum. She was so passionate about everything, but the moment she was hurt or angry, she reacted quicker than blinking. The woman would never let anyone hurt her, not after my father did.
“What do I do?” I ask, needing someone to help give me some clarity. I have so many swirling emotions going through me right now that I doubt I can get through tonight without breaking down. I’ve cried enough today. Of course that’s how Alessio found me, in my most vulnerable state. I still have no idea how he managed to enter my house without me hearing.
“That, Gabs, is something only you can decide.” His voice is soft and filled with understanding. “But you don’t have to decide right now. Take it day by day.”
I take another sip of my wine. “Any idea how I go about setting up a DNA test?”
He chuckles. “I’ll organize it all for you. Don’t worry, sweetheart, everything will work out in the end.”
Oh, how I wish that were true. But we both know there’s no such thing as a perfect or happy ending that will come naturally. For that, we have to work hard at fighting for it, but at the moment, I have no idea what I’m fighting for.
He gets to his feet. “I’ll be back tomorrow. Maybe you’ll have some answers. Maybe you won’t. But a new day brings new hope, Gabs.”
Ugh, why is he always so damn philosophic. “New hope? I doubt that. But whatever happens, I will ensure Anthony and his dad have a relationship.”
He smiles brightly at me. “You’re your mother’s daughter, Gabs. She could have hated me for what I did.”
I scoff. “Could have?”
His lips turn up at the corners. “Okay, she did hate me, but she never once kept me from seeing you.”
I bite back my retort—that it was the other woman in his life who did that.
“She was essentially a single mother. Of course I paid for anything either of you may have needed, but money isn’t the be all to end all. She raised you alone, and Gabby, I’m very proud of the woman you have become. You own up to your mistakes, and that takes a hell of a lot of guts. But you do and you try to rectify those mistakes.”
