Page 40 of Forbidden Obsession

Her entire body language changed. The emotion emptied out of her eyes, leaving them vacant and cold. She folded her arms, turned from the window, and strolled away.

Her change in demeanor kept me intrigued, and I followed her but didn’t rush her response.

“Benjamin. Non è degno dell'aria che respira.”

I paused at her fluently spoken Italian. He is unworthy of the air he breathes, she’d said.

“Non sapevo che parlassi la lingua.”

She faced me. “I don’t. I mean, I do speak the language, but I’m a bit rusty as I don’t put it to good use most of the time.”

“Most of the time?”

“It comes out when I’m angry.”

“So, you’re angry now?”

She sucked in a deep breath. “I don’t care to talk about Benjamin.”

“Then let’s change the subject.”

“I want you to know who he is first, so I never have to bring him up again.”

I stared at her quietly, assessing the tremble in her fingers and the unease of her voice.

“Go on.”

“He’s my uncle, who raised me and molested me every time there was a thunderstorm.”

My gut tightened, and rage filled me to capacity.

“He made sure to wait until the storm so my cries would be muffled, and the neighbors wouldn’t hear.”

Her eyes clouded with tears.

“He—”

“Stop. Please.”

“You need to know.”

“The only thing I need to know is if his last name is Cattaneo.”

“Why?”

“It’s better if you don’t ask me questions like that, Penelope.”

She closed her lips tight and calmed her breathing.

“They love him. You can’t get him in trouble.”

“And by they, you mean your parents?”

“Yes. Well, Salvatore—Benjamin’s brother.”

“Does your father know about his brother’s sins?”

“No.”

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