Page 34 of Stolen Wife

Chapter Thirteen

Santino

As he left to handlethe arrest, he adds, “Your brother is going to be brought in for questioning as well.”

I’ve been waiting in the room for two hours when Morel comes back in. “We’re separating them right now. We’ll bring in Mrs. Marchetti and then you can speak to her.” My anxiety kicks in and I’m out of my seat, ready to get this all over with.

I tap my fingers on the file that holds secrets, lies, and a man taken too soon. The door opens, and my mother smiles widely. “Santino, my baby.” She throws her arms around me, but this time I don’t hug her.

“Mother.” She backs off, tilting her head in curiosity. I feel like a bastard for hurting her, but I’ve been through hell and my life has been nothing but one fucking lie after another.

“What’s wrong, mio figlio?”

“What’s wrong is that for thirty years, I believed that bastard you’re married to was my father, but you hid him from me.” I open the file to their picture and lift it so she can see.

Immediately she breaks down in tears, collapsing onto the chair. Taking the photo from me, she says, “God, I still miss him so much.” Her voice cracks and I finally notice the frailty of my mother. She brushes her hand over his face as tears continue to fall. She closes her eyes, bringing the picture to her chest, cradling it. “He’ll kill me now for sure now that you know.”

“Who are you talking about? Your husband?”

It takes her a few minutes to calm down enough to speak. She looks around the room and sees the camera. “I don’t know who’s watching, but it’s best I tell you the truth either way.” She takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “Thirty-three years ago, I met your real father in Sicily where I grew up. He was handsome, just like you, although he was shy and well, we fell in love. He was only there for a business trip and had never been there before. It was wonderful. He asked for my hand and my father agreed. We were poor, and he saw the promise in your father’s eyes when he said he’d take care of me. We were married about two months later and then I came back to America with him.” She breaks down again, sobbing into her handkerchief.

“I loved him so much. It took a while for us to get pregnant with you, but we felt so blessed. Then one day, a new client came into your father’s office and wanted his services. Even though your father turned him down, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Your father was beaten badly and had gone along to protect me and our unborn baby. He couldn’t wait to see your face. He loved you so much, but we didn’t realize that I had captured the eye of the up-and-coming boss of the family, Rafael. At the time, his father had run the operation. When he saw me, he made passes at me, but I refused him always. I’d never betray your father. Things were quiet until two days after you were born. Your father had to finally go to the office and handle some things, but he never made it home. He was gunned down right there.”

“And you still married that bastard.”

“I didn’t know it was him, but I had my suspicions. Then they pinned it on the D’Angelo family almost immediately. The arrest was made that night. I cried for days on end, so much so I was sent to the hospital. When they were to release me, I learned that the state had taken you away from me. I had to find a way to get you back, but it wasn’t that easy. By losing my mind over your father, they believed I was an unfit mother. That’s when Rafael made me a deal. If I’d marry him, he’d get you back for me.”

“I didn’t want to, but they already had you living with another family. I needed my sweet boy, so I agreed. The day of the wedding, the papers were signed to bring you back home. It took a few weeks, but you were mine. I got to hold you and love you every day.”

“Did you know it was him who killed my father?”

“It was the day your brother was born. We had been fighting like crazy because I was still in love with the ghost of your father. I’d been ready to leave with the both of you boys, but he beat me so badly and I went into labor early.” I slam my hand down on the metal table. She pats my hand. “Calm down, Santino. I can stop if you want.”

“No, please continue.” I’m already picturing what I want to do to that son of a bitch.

“Rafael didn’t take me to the hospital right away, though, because he wanted to make sure none of the bruises were visible. I only had a red mark on my face that cleared up before he allowed me to go. Your brother almost died, and he blamed me for it. Then after they put him in the NICU, he came up to me and said, ‘If my son dies, I’ll kill your little bastard like I killed Benedetti.’ He laughed and said, ‘God, I looked him right in the eyes and told him that I was going to enjoy his wife and I sure have.’ I suffered in the hospital for three more days, hemorrhaging. The only thing that kept me alive was the fear that he’d harm you because God knows how much I ached to go to your father.”

I can’t even explain how angry and sad that makes me. Fuck, I’d never hurt a woman, especially a pregnant woman. “Is that why you stayed with him all these years?”

“Yes. When you were leaving to start your own life outside of his organization, I told him that I was going with you. That nothing could stop me. The next day he had you arrested for murder. I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. Everything wrong in your life is because of me. Your father’s death was because of me.”

He trapped her like an animal, using me as the bargaining chip. I can’t stop myself. I pull my mom into my arms. “No. It was because of him. If you never married him, I’m sure he would have forced you. He just tried to butter you up. In all these years, he’s loved the control he’s had over you. I never wondered why you stayed. I knew you feared him. I just didn’t know it was because of me.”

She pulls back and caresses my cheek. “When I saw Giada, I just knew she needed to get out of there.”

I cut her off with another hug because I can’t let on that I have her, at least not with ears everywhere. “You’re coming with me.”

She pulls away and stands. “He’ll kill you.” She’s petrified of him, but I’ll never let him touch her again.

“He’s already tried several times. Rafael and his father think I took Giada.” I made sure I said that loud enough for the camera because I want them to believe that I don’t have her. Someone on their team must be watching, but my guys are also watching, and my phone has been recording it all.

I pull back and say, “He’s been arrested, and we’re going.”

I grab her hand and the file and head to the door. My gun is under my coat, and I’m ready to use it at a moment’s notice. Morel opens the door and says, “We’re going to drop you off under a police escort. He’s locked up, and Rafael is in questioning right now.”

“Good, but they have eyes everywhere.”

“Speaking of, we picked up that officer. One was an actual officer out of the 9th district who is being questioned as well and the other was his thug cousin who works for the D’Angelo family.”

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