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“You want to help what?” I was surprised as I looked over my shoulder at her.
“Haven’t you ever wondered, Antonio?”
“Have I ever wondered what?” I was starting to get frustrated and annoyed.
“Who my dad is,” she said.
I looked over at Alessandro, and he shrugged.
“I don’t know who your dad is. I’m sorry. Maybe your mom was a hoe and slept with a bunch of men and she doesn’t know.”
I thought that would upset her, but she burst out laughing. “Really, Antonio? Is that how you’re trying to hurt me? Is that how you’re going to stick the knife in?”
“I’m not trying to stick the knife in. I’m just saying.”
“Do you really think my mom was sleeping around? My mom, who is by your dad’s side twenty-four seven cleaning up every single mess that he’s ever made in his life, treating him better than his wives treated him? You really think my mom was sleeping around?”
“I don’t know. Maybe she had an itch that she needed to get filled.”
Elisabetta laughed again. “And I think the only one that was filling it was your dad.”
Her words didn’t surprise me. Alessandro looked back at her.
“So what are you saying, Elisabetta?”
“I’m saying that I think I’m your sister.” She wrinkled her nose. “And if what I think is right, that makes me a Marchesi as well. That means, for better or worse, I’m in on this shit with you. That’s why I’m back home,” she said. “I want some answers.”
11
Callie
“Wow. That was absolutely crazy,” Josh said as Antonio and Alessandro left the restaurant.
“Yeah, it was a little bit,” I said, nodding and biting my lower lip. I still felt flustered and warm from my interaction with Antonio. I’d wanted to kiss him, to slap him, to press myself against him. I had wanted him to take me. I hated him, and yet I still needed him. I wasn’t sure what this hold was that he had on me, but I hated it. I wanted to feel free of him.
“What made you choose this restaurant, Josh?” I asked, paranoia setting into my brain.
Was Josh in on it with Antonio? He looked slightly annoyed and frustrated.
“What is it?” I said, leaning forward. “Please don’t tell me that you told him we’d be here. Don’t tell me that you—”
“No, of course not.” He shook his head vehemently. “I would never do that to you, Callie. I got the coupon from Valentina.” He made a face. “Now I’m pretty sure I know why she gave it to me.” He shook his head.
“Why do you think she would’ve given you the coupon because of me?”
“Because she said, ‘Why don’t you take Callie on a date here sometime?’” He rolled his eyes. “And I know this isn’t a date. We’re just friends, but—”
“But you were still hoping I’d think it was a date?”
“I was hoping that you’d give me another chance, yeah. You can’t blame a guy for trying. I mean, even Antonio seems like he’s trying to get back on your good side.”
“Or into my pants,” I said, muttering under my breath.
“What did you say?” he asked.
“Nothing.” I shook my head quickly.
I didn’t want to pour my heart and soul out to Josh. I didn’t want to tell him that I’d lost my virginity to Antonio and that he’d been the most amazing lover, and I thought we were falling in love and that we were possibly soulmates destined to be with each other and how I’d already planned to tell my father that I didn’t care if he thought that Antonio was a bad boy. I still wanted to be with him. The mere thought of me having the thought that I would say that to my dad made me want to puke. I was an absolute idiot. Now, I understood why Valentina had always called me naive, immature, and gullible because I was. I needed to stop thinking that true love existed.
