Page 10 of King

Words won’t even form in my mind.

They are related. He is my son.

I hand her phone back to her.

Santino is staring at me, his eyes darting between me and Zina. “What is it?” he says.

I nod.

“No.” He says.

“Santino, go inside.”

“What did you do?” He shouts at me.

“Dad?” Romeo asks, from behind me.

“Santino, go inside and take your brothers with you.” I demand.

Santino’s eyes are flooded with betrayal. He’s never looked at me that way before and it breaks my heart to see it now. He’ll need time to process this, and he’ll have to learn to forgive me. He’s a man now. Maybe he’ll even understand once the initial shock wears off.

Without another word he pushes both of his brothers back towards the church. They follow, glancing back over their shoulders, not fully understanding what just happened, or perhaps not wanting to.

The rain is still heavy around us, but I hardly notice the weight of my clothes, soaked and clinging to me. When I down at Zina she’s biting her lower lip.

Guido stands behind her and my eyes drift towards him. He looks just like me. Even at his young age,sixteen, his jaw is strong and square, his hair is dark, and his shoulders are broad.

But he has his mother’s dark brown eyes. Warm and gentle. Although angry as he stares at me now.

“What do you want form me, Zina?” I ask in quiet acceptance of the truth.

“I want what you owe me and our son.” She says, not harsh, not a demand, but perhaps a plea.

“What is it that you think I owe you and the boy?”

“A father—” She stammers in disbelief. “Doesn’t he deserve that?”

“Zina, you’re insane. How do you think that would ever be possible? I don’t even know you anymore. I don’t know him.” I throw my hands in the air in frustration.

“You have to get to know him. He’s your blood. No less than Santino, or Romeo, or Dante. He is your son.”

My heart aches as her words settle into me. No less than Santino…

It’s true. He’s mine. But we are years apart. And I can barely get my thoughts into a single, coherent line to understand what is happening.

Bella, my beautiful wife is gone. My heart aches for her.

And Zina - my lost love - is suddenly back and threatening my peace and stability.

“I need to think.” I say sternly.

“No, you need to what’s right.” She snaps, glaring at me, her brown eyes glittering as though flaked with gold.

“Zina, I need time - “ I say with more force.

She shakes her head. “You’re a better man than this.” She mutters. “I expected more from you.”

Always defiant. Still defiant. I used to love making her do what I wanted. Bending her over with her hands tied behind her back -

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