Page 57 of Luca

I sit up and tears fill my eyes. “My father…killed my mother?” I choke out in a broken whisper.

“I’m so sorry. I think your mother was trying to leave him, and he found out.”

I was so young when she died. I don’t remember them fighting or her being scared. I do remember thinking she acted differently around him, but to a five-year-old, what does that really mean?

“He killed my mother.” The words play on repeat in my mind. “He took my mother from me. The one person who cared about me in that godforsaken house. He ripped her from me because he’s a monster and she knew. She knew!”

I jump from my seat with rage like I’ve never known coursing through me. Would my life have turned out differently had she been around? I don’t know. It certainly would have been a hell of a lot better. Especially if she’d succeeded in running away from him. But he couldn’t have the smallest shred of humanity. No. If he wasn’t going to have his way, he’d mow down anyone in it, including his own wife.

“How could he possibly murder the woman he married? Who gave birth to his children? How could he do that?” I can’t stop asking how. It’s screaming over and over in my head. How? How? How? “Does my brother know? Does he know the man he idolized his entire life is the kind of monster who could do that to his family? A man who could tear apart his children’s lives because he’s a horrible human being?”

“I don’t know what your brother knows, Giada. He never mentioned it to me.”

I don’t suppose he would have even if he did know. If a man is okay with his father murdering his own mother, what kind of loyalty would that inspire from his men?

“I need to call Carlo.”

“Why? How is that going to help you?” Luca asks.

“I don’t know,” I reply, pacing the floor in front of him. “I just need to know if he knew. If he knows about the man he’s spent his miserable life being loyal to.” My brother is a monster like our father, there’s no doubt in my mind, but what made him that way? I grew up in the same house, and I sure as hell didn’t turn out like Carlo.

Luca studies me a few moments before pulling his phone from his pocket. “This goes against every bone in my body, Giada. When I said I’d do anything to protect you, I meant it, but I also said I wouldn’t lie to you again.”

“He can’t hurt me. He doesn’t even know where I am.”

“He doesn’t need to be in front of you to hurt you.”

I consider his statement, but it doesn’t deter me. Grabbing the phone from Luca’s hand, I dial the number I’ve unfortunately had memorized for years.

“Hello?” Carlo answers.

“It’s Giada.”

“Where the hell are you? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“I’m not telling you that.”

“You little bitch. Do you know what your disappearing act cost me?” he yells into the phone.

“I do. And you know exactly what it would have cost me if I’d stayed.”

Luca is looking on with pride in his eyes that I’m standing up to my brother. It’s not the first time he’s seen it, but it is the first time he’s been able to show me how he feels about it.

“I need to know something, Carlo. For once in your life, I need you to be straight with me.”

“You don’t get to make demands. Just wait until I find you, Giada.”

“Shut up and listen. I found something out today and I need to know if you know about it.”

“Jesus Christ. What?” Carlo sounds annoyed with the conversation, but that’s par for the course with the two of us.

“Did you know our father killed our mother?”

The icy laugh that comes across the line sends chills racing down my spine. “I see you’ve been talking to Tomasso.”

My gaze clashes with Luca’s and I put the phone on speaker so he can hear everything Carlo is about to tell me. Do I think it will help him or Finn with their plan? No. But I need someone else to hear this because I can barely believe what I’m hearing myself.

“What do you know, Carlo?”

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