Page 17 of Sin and Redemption

“I realize I’m not the son-in-law you wanted, but I’ll do everything I can to be a good husband for Sara.”

Flavio scoffed but didn’t say anything.

Did he think I didn’t know I was the wrong man for Sara for more reasons than I cared to admit?

“It’s not you, it’s about circumstances.” Romero approached me and touched my shoulder, surprising me with the move. “I think Sara wants to protect her honor and the unborn child. She doesn’t really want a husband.”

I smiled bitterly. “I know this marriage will be on paper only. I don’t expect Sara to act like a wife.”

If Romero worried that I might want to consummate the marriage, he didn’t need to. I would never touch Sara again unless she wanted me to, and the chances of that happening were nil.

“That’s good. We should make the announcement as soon as possible.”

“Let me talk to my parents first, so they won’t find out through the gossip mill, and then you can pick a time and place where you want to announce it.”

I left without talking to Sara again. Everything felt surreal. My life had turned upside down. I needed to talk to someone. Primo had left for a mission soon after I’d left home, and this wasn’t a topic I wanted to discuss over the phone. I considered going to Amo, but he had a lot on his plate with Cressida.

When I pulled up the driveway to my parents’ house, I felt a sense of relief. I parked in the driveway and was immediately greeted by Bacon. He was almost deaf, a fate many white dogs shared. When I had to work too much, my parents took care of him, and I never took him into the city with me. I rarely slept there anyway, and if I did, I slept in one of the rooms the Famiglia had for soldiers from out of town. What would happen now that I was going to marry Sara? I would have to look for a place for us, but I wasn’t sure if I could take Bacon with me. He needed company, and here, he always had plenty. After I’d petted him and the four dogs belonging to my parents that were allowed to roam free, I walked toward the front door. Mom was already waiting in the doorway. She was in gym clothes, and her sweaty hair was in a messy bun atop her head.

The moment she saw my face, she came out to meet me. She touched my cheek and tilted her head back to look at me. “What happened?”

“I’m fine,” I said automatically. I didn’t want her to worry about me. I could take care of myself. “Only hungry.”

I walked inside, followed by Mom. She still regarded me with worry as she put everything for a sandwich on the table. I sat on the bench and grabbed two slices of bread.

She watched me prepare and eat two BLTs in silence but never took her eyes off me as she leaned against the kitchen island.

“I’ll marry Sara,” I said after I’d taken a swig of water.

Mom’s eyes widened, and she sank down on the chair across from me. “That’s why they wanted to see you?”

“They didn’t talk me into marriage. I was the one who suggested it when I found out that Sara is pregnant.”

Mom leaned back in her chair. Her lips parted, but no words left her mouth for at least a minute. “Okay.” She blinked. “Wow. That’s not what I expected.”

She pushed to her feet and began pacing the kitchen, rubbing her forehead as if she could feel a headache coming. “This is a lot to take in for the both of you. How is Sara handling it?”

“I didn’t get the chance to talk to her alone. But she’s…” I blew out a breath, not sure what to say.

Mom nodded. “And you?” The compassion in her eyes annoyed me. I wasn’t the victim here.

“I’m doing whatever’s necessary to make up for my sin.”

“Max—”

I raised my palm. “Don’t. You’re my mother. You’d find an excuse for every crime that I’d commit.”

“No, I would not,” she seethed, her eyes flashing with anger. “But you and Sara were both victims in this.”

I got up, frustrated. “I’m not the victim. I wasn’t hurt.”

“Yes, you were! You were forced to do something sexual you didn’t want to do. You’re a victim.”

Was she blind to the fucking truth? “I’m not a fucking victim, so stop calling me one. I’m a fucking rapist.”

Mom blanched. “You’re not! That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, and you’re not stupid, Maximus, so stop saying it. I’m sure if you talk to Sara, you’ll see that she doesn’t see you that way.”

“She can’t even look at me.”

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