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“Okay…” she huffed back down on the edge of the bed. I folded my arms across my chest and stared at her expectantly. “I hate Salvatore.”
I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing. Was that it? Not many people liked him, so it wasn’t exactly a shock. “Well, I already knew you weren’t his biggest fan,” I joked, but her face stayed rigid.
“I don’t trust him and I like to think I am a good judge of character. I know he is your… family and I hate to speak badly of people you love, but he is not a good man Gio, and I think you should be wary of his intentions.”
I smiled as I reached out and stroked her cheek. “Okay bambola. I am under no illusion Sal is a good man. He doesn’t try to be. He is what he is but he does care for this family in his own way. But you don’t have to like him.”
Anger burned red hot in her eyes and my smile faded. She pushed my hand away from her face. “Don’t patronise me, Giovanni! You are not listening to what I am saying. I can see the signs… I can feel it… it is not right.”
I frowned as I saw how stressed she was getting over this. “What isn’t right?”
“Sal. The way he is with Cecilia, for example. He is… he acts… like Henry did with me.”
I froze. “What?” My voice came out as a low growl. What was she talking about? I had seen Sal around mamma all my life and he had never seemed hostile or manipulative in any way. Yes, he was protective of her and they argued now and again, but mamma argued with everyone.
“He has a hold over her, Gio. Not a healthy one. I asked her if she loved him and she said she would never love another man after Vinny. So why is she doing this? Why is she going with him? It can’t be out of choice. He must be forcing her in some way. He is manipulating her and controlling her. The way I have seen him look at her… it’s unnerving. I think he is borderline obsessed with her. And then there was the night of the club…”
She paused and looked up at me with so much worry. My mind was already spinning, trying to unpick and think carefully about everything she was saying, but I couldn’t see it. I had only ever seen how much he cared about her in all the times I have seen them together.
“What about the night at the club?” I gritted through my teeth. I knew from the look in her eyes I wasn’t going to like what she was about to say.
“I didn’t tell you because Cecilia swore me not to. She is dealing with Sal by herself, Gio. Just like I thought I could deal with Henry alone. And she knew if I told you, it would cause a huge amount of trouble and that is why I really need you to breathe and listen. Do not react.”
“Liv…” I growled impatiently.
“I walked in on Sal pinning your mamma to a table by her throat when they were arguing.”
Rage coursed through my veins, like a flood of darkness as my chest rose and fell in angry breaths. He laid a hand on my mother. He dared touch her with force. Suddenly, I felt fury like no other that my papi would have felt if he was still here to protect her. If he was still here, this wouldn’t be happening full stop.
“Gio…” I heard Liv’s worried voice behind me as I stormed out of our room towards mamma’s wing. Throwing open her bedroom door, her frightened eyes widened from her position on the edge of her bed. She was surrounded by suitcases and looked so small in comparison to the mountain of possessions she had packed.
“Gio?” she whispered.
“Is it true? Has Sal dared to lay his hands on you?” I bellowed. Mamma’s big brown eyes looked behind me at Liv, who I knew had just come sprinting into the room.
“You told him?” Mamma shouted in anger.
“I’m sorry Cecilia. I had to. You shouldn’t be with Sal.”
“This has nothing to do with either of you. Just leave me be,” she snapped.
“Is it true?” I shouted in rage, losing the last of my control over my temper.
She hid her face behind her hands and her lips trembled. When she pulled them away, she looked me square in the eyes. “Yes. But it is not black and white Giovanni. I hurt him too. I slapped him before Liv walked in and saw us.”
I growled out my frustration as I paced the room, my fists clenching and unclenching at my sides. I would go fucking ballistic if I was in a room with him again. Family or not. No one touches the women I love.
“Why? Why are you going with him mamma?” I yelled and all the colour drained out of her face. “And do not stand here and feed me more bullshit. I have had enough of the fucking lies in this family. Be honest.”
“He is in love with me. He always has been. He agreed to stop the alliance if I accepted him.”
I froze as I stared at her. “He blackmailed you to be with him? To leave your children and move in with him? What else is he doing, mamma? Has he forced himself on you?” My voice trembled with red-hot fury and she shook her head quickly.
“No. No. He wanted Raya and Sani to come with me but I didn’t want them to. They are happier here. I will come and visit them. It will all be okay. Just let it go, Gio.”
“Let it go? Listen to yourself mamma! You are being forced to be with a man you hate! Why? To protect me and Elle from a forced marriage?”
“Yes. That is exactly why Gio. I have had my big love story. I have experienced the wonder of true love. I will not allow Sal or the Aianis to take that away from you or Elle. You do not need to worry about me, darling boy. Sal will look after me. I know he is no gentleman but he loves me and he will care for me even if I do not reciprocate his feelings. There is no way out of this. Sal will kill anyone who stands in his way and I will not allow that to happen.” She stepped forward and raised her hand to my cheek. “I am a big girl. I will be fine. You will see. It is a small price to pay for my children’s happiness.”
