AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No way in hell am I leaving my little sister unprotected.” Marcello’s fists shook with rage as though prepping for a street battle on the courthouse steps.
“Why the hell didn’t you warn us sooner?” Jenny fumed.
“You don’t understand what life has been like lately. It’s been one thing after another. I never planned on keeping it secret. This kind of delicate information is better said in person.”
“The timing is a bit fishy,” Jenny sniffed.
Marcello’s face became unusually stern, resembling their father perfectly. Alessandra took a step back.
“The solution is easy, Alessandra. You’re divorcing that asshole. You need to put yourself first.”
“I have copies of the original papers you signed months ago. Get Drake to sign, and I’ll file them immediately,” Jenny said.
Alessandra’s palms became clammy, and her heart threatened to beat out of her chest. They misunderstood the entire point. But then again, when did anyone take her seriously? When wasn’t Alessandra a pawn, someone for everyone to use and abuse for their own gain? That shit was about to end. She was in charge of her own destiny for a change.
“I don’t want to divorce Drake. I’m sorry, Marcello, but I’m choosing my husband. That’s why I came to warn you.”
Her words exasperated Marcello. “You’re choosing the mook over your family?”
“You are not innocent here. I wouldn’t have been in this marriage if it weren’t for you getting caught. I may not have had a say in whether or not I wanted to get married, but I love my husband. So don’t you dare judge my choice.
“Besides, didn’t you admit to being the one who told Papá about my plans to run away with Luca? You took me to the clinic for an abortion even though you knew I wanted to keep my baby. You never stood up for me when men grabbed me at the table. Did you know if I said no to having sex with them, our father allowed them to rape me? Do you know how long it took me to be able to say that word out loud, Marcello?”
He winced and raised his hands in surrender. “I’m sorry for all the hurt and pain I caused you. I’ve had a lot of time to reflect since the last time we spoke, and you were right.”
“I’m still torn up inside, Marce. You never came to save me. But Drake did. He sees me; he loves me. Our happily-ever-after is a work in progress, but I know we’ll get there one day.”
“You should know better than anyone that love isn’t always enough. Don’t lose sight of yourself, Alessandra. You deserve good things. Hopefully, you’ll let me back into your life as your brother someday. Stay safe, little sister. I hope you’re happy.”
“I’m working on it,” she admitted.
“I love you. Stay safe.”
“I love you too, Marcello.”
He opened his arms, and Alessandra stepped into his familiar embrace, reconciling the pain he had caused her with the love she felt. Once this was resolved, they’d be free from familial obligations. They could work toward forgiveness and redefine their relationship on their own terms. Until then, she was determined to hold this moment in her heart, not knowing if she’d ever see him again.
* * *
Alessandra was ready to climb out of her skin by the time she arrived at her destination. Staring at her childhood home, she couldn’t force herself to exit the car. The expressionless guards made no effort to approach her.
She was about to back out of the driveway when the passenger side door opened, causing her to jump. A broad-chested man slipped in the seat next to her. He was still as handsome as ever, except for his crooked nose that had failed to be reset after it was broken by her father.
“You’ve been sitting out here for twenty minutes. I knew you’d return to me.”
His words grated on her raw nerves. Alessandra knew she’d made a mistake. Like her visit with Marcello, this was necessary for no one else but her.
“Will you shut the fuck up? This is about Enzo Prazza.”
Luca’s eyes darkened, and his expression hardened. “What about him?”
Alessandra told Luca the truth. “Despite everything, you were my first love. Though I didn’t know what love was back then. We were children trapped in a world of hate and pain that clung to one another. I was sixteen when we began dating, and you were already a man. You should’ve known better.”
Luca laughed. “We’re way beyond childish fantasies, Alessandra.”
Alessandra’s grip tightened around the steering wheel. “I’m not doing it for the sake of nostalgia. You’d be a better man if it weren’t for my father. I want to give you a chance to redeem yourself.”
“You keep looking at me as though I’m a boy, Alessandra. There is no redemption for me.”
