Page 57 of To Hell

“Et…tore,” My mother, in her embellished egg-white body-clipping dress, stutters as her green eyes settle on Zoe beside me. I’m sure she recognizes her.

We are at the wedding venue in one of Carmine’s properties. My mother said she wanted an outdoor wedding, and whoever was responsible for the decoration has done a great job stirring a fairytale-like ambiance out of the garden.

“Mother,” I lean in to kiss her and feel her body tensing, “You look beautiful,” I draw back and point at Zoe.

“I would like to introduce you to Zoe…” My mother brings her hand to her throat and then breathes. “Hi,” she smiles. She is a master at concealing her true emotions. After all, she deceived the entire neighborhood and her click of friends that she was happy with my father.

“And Zoe…” I clear my throat, “This is my mother, Aurora.”

“Lovely to meet you,” Zoe says nervously. I slip my arm around her waist and start to stroke the side of her hip. I feel her body loosen a bit.

“Lovely to meet you too. You look good,” my mother finds something to focus on, and I appreciate that.

“Not as good as the happy bride,” Zoe chimes anxiously. I have observed she gets extremely angsty around crowds.

“Thank you,” my mother lifts her eyes from Zoe, and when they land on me, they turn serious. “Can I borrow your date for a minute?”

“Sure. I mean… Yes.” Zoe closes her eyes and breathes, “Yes, please.”

“I will be with you shortly…” I start to say, but as soon as she slips out of my grip, Cesare dives in to get her in his arms. I’m not sure where he came from but at least she is with family. I glare at him, but he seems uninterested in me.

“Have you lost your mind?” My mother takes my arm, masking the situation with a smile at the person beside me. “What do you think you are doing?” She leads me away to a secluded area, but not too secluded so it doesn’t appear like there is trouble in paradise.

She is the center of attention, so eyes are meant to follow wherever she goes.

“I know what I’m doing,” I, on the other hand, do not have the same grace to mask my gruffness with a smile.

“Do you?”

“Yes…”

“No, you don’t,” she grits. “What were you thinking, Ettore?” she hisses, her voice barely above a whisper. “Bringing Zoe here is dangerous. After the news of her death hit the tabloids, your school became a tapestry of her pictures. Everyone mourned her. Now, after the Met Gala, her story is being eaten up by the media, and Benedetto will be on her back in no time. Your father will see her and what do you think he would do? Come around with flowers, Virgilio?”

“Mother,” my tone is arctic, “I have it under control. Let it go. No one can recognize me. I’ve taken every precaution. Zoe’s presence is a risk, yes, but it’s a calculated one. I will never be seen in public with her again.”

She mumbles something about me being stubborn and how she is sure this won’t end well, but my eyes are already sweeping across the heads of guests to find Zoe still with Cesare, who is now handing her a glass of champagne.

“She can be your mother again starting tomorrow, but let her be just my wife for today,” Carmine appears before us, stretching his hand for my mother to take it.

“Carmine,” I give a courtesy bow, and he nods.

Where my mother is the size of a fox, Carmine is a polar bear. Dull coal hair with a few white strings and pale brown eyes. Always clean-shaven.

I let go of my mother, and he takes his bride in his arms, kissing her tenderly on the forehead.

“Our first dance as husband and wife,” He takes her in his arms and leads her to the platform.

I know my mother. She won’t let this slide.

But she knows me too. I won’t be listening.

Chapter Thirty

ZOE

“Are you drinking that or what?” Cesare points with his chin at the champagne flute in my hand. I’m gripping the thing so hard it is about to shatter.

“I will,” I gulp choppy air down to try to settle my stomach, my eyes constantly flipping to Ettore and Aurora in the distance. I can’t shake the feeling something was unsettling about our encounter earlier. “Thank you,” I add as I flip my eyes to the deciphering green eyes in front of me. I manage a small smile for him.

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