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Giovanni bites down on whatever he wants to say and tilts his head towards the door.

“Fine.” I snap. “But this isn’t over. I mean what I said.”

I grab my purse from the sofa and storm out of the sun room, leaving him and his three sons to deal with each other.

Outside, the taxi is waiting for me in the quiet shade of a tall tree.

I climb inside and quickly brush away the tears spilling down my cheek.

I hate him.

I hate him with every piece of my soul.

And I will destroy him.

* * *

It’s late at night when my phone rings.

I roll towards the nightstand and tilt the screen towards me as I blink at it, trying to see who it is.

Giovanni.

I answer quickly, my heart racing.

“How dare you threaten me?” He growls deeply into the phone. His voice a rumble of threat and warning. I sit up in bed, instantly furious.

“How dare you think you have any control over what I do? I raised our son on my own. I fought tooth and nail to give him a good life. You have lived in luxury, your boys have everything they could ever dream of. Including a future rich in wealth and power. Guido deserves the same and I will stop at nothing to give my son what he deserves. Do you understand me, Giovanni?” I snarl.

The silence on the other end of the phone makes me wonder if he hung up. I glance at the screen. The timer is still counting.

“If you don’t accept our son - and me - I will reign hell down on you.” I say darkly. “I will never stop. If you want to get rid of me, you’ll have to kill me, Giovanni. Do you understand?”

“What the fuck do you want from me, Zina?” he snaps.

“I want to move in to the house. Guido will be accepted into the family as your son. You don’t have to announce it - but you have to treat him right and give him what he deserves of your estate.”

“You want to live here?” he asks in disbelief.

“Yes. I will give you until tomorrow night to decide.” I hang up the phone, my heart pounding in my chest as I set it back down on the nightstand and settle into my bed.

Sleep doesn’t come through.

I toss and turn all night, wondering if I’ve made the biggest mistake of my life. But I’m determined. And I won’t back down.

FIVE

giovanni

It’s been the longest night of my life as I pace up and down the carpet of my bedroom.

“Who the hell does she think she is.” I mutter to myself.

“What the fuck does she expect from me.”

My body is aching, and my mind is racing. I’m already exhausted after losing my wife. And I was already exhausted from a year of fighting cancer by her side. And now I’m weighed down by this as well.

This stress.

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