Page 51 of Doll Face

He shrugged. “Wasn’t like he was a great father, and I doubt he’d be a decent grandfather.”

She tilted her head. His bitter tone surprised her. “Do I sense a touchy subject?”

Matteo didn’t say anything right away, and she remained silent to either allow him to gather his thoughts or to end the conversation. Then he began to talk.

“As the son of the Romanelli don, my father made sure I learned from the ground up,” he said quietly. Carefully. “Solider to capo, to his consigliere. Every step of the way he beat the softness out of me.”

She never knew he’d been abused as a child, but it made sense. It made her sad to think of him as a little boy being groomed by his cold, heartless father. It certainly explained a lot, including how he was so quick to push her aside. The knowledge made her sympathize with him in a way she hadn’t expected or wanted.

“Maybe our children can be educated in England. Far away from all the bullshit.”

Her heart stuttered in surprise at his words. “I didn’t think we’d have a choice in that.”

“Maybe I am being unrealistic,” he muttered. “I just don’t want any child of mine to have the heartache I’ve had.”

“Heartache?”

He nodded, not answering, so she prompted him.

“Was it the woman you loved?”

“She, uh, was killed by a rival Famiglia.”

He had been talking about her, completely confusing her. If she asked him, would he tell her a name? And if it wasn’t her name, how would that make her feel?

“What was her name?” she asked softly.

“Her name was Macy.”

Gianna’s heart skipped a beat, and her mind went blank. Did he know she was Macy? He didn’t look like he knew who she really was. So what the hell was happening? How could he say he loved her if he ordered her death? Then a thought blazed to life.

“You said she was killed by a rival family?”

He nodded, staring her in the eyes. “Yes, that’s what I was told.”

The truth and sincerity in his dark gaze were undeniable. She had no idea what was happening. Everything she thought she knew was being turned on its head.

“I’m not quite following. You don’t know what happened to her?”

He shook his head. “I was shown a picture and told that she was killed as a warning to the Romanelli house.”

Maybe she was crazy to fall for his bullshit story, but something urged her to believe him.

“You told me that you were in a war. Was it with them?”

“Yeah. I’ve done some bad things in my life. Never thought I’d perform genocide, though.” He stared her in the eye. “I don’t want you to fear me. I’d never hurt you.”

“I don’t fear you,” she said softly. “Fear comes from the unknown, and I think I’m beginning to understand you.”

He blinked and his brow furrowed in confusion. He looked at her like he couldn’t figure something out.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

“Um, yes. Sorry. Lost my train of thought for a moment.” He cocked his head, studying her. “Fear comes from the unknown. I’ll have to remember that.”

Never in a million years did Gianna think she could reconnect with Matteo, but if he was truthful, then Pietro Romanelli was more despicable than she thought.

“Would you mind if I came back again?” he asked quietly. “I think it’ll help our married life. I-I like this dialogue we have going.”

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