Page 66 of King

“Stop.” Zina shouts, standing and grabbing my arm, pulling me away. “This has to stop. This isn’t going to solve anything.”

She gently pulls me towards my chair.

“Thank you, Giovanni. It means so much to me that you stood up for me. But seeing it happen breaks my heart. I don’t want you to fight with your sons. I’m sorry this is what it’s come to.”

She bites at her lower lip, turning her eyes to Santino and Romeo.

“I was outside your room last night, Santino. I heard everything.”

Santino and Romeo both turn as white as ghosts. The blood drains from their face and they look sick with worry.

“What is she talking about?” I ask, my stomach knotting.

“I know about the plan to kill me tomorrow night.” She says slowly.

My body is ice cold when her words reach me. It can’t be true. My sons wouldn’t so this.

She’s still facing them. Santino is glaring at her in disbelief.Deny it. Deny it, Santino.

Zina takes a deep breath. “The thing is - I understand why you want to get rid of me. I understand that you think I don’t belong and you miss your mother. But I’m not trying to replace her. I’m not trying to make your lives more difficult?—”

“It isn’t true?” I say to Santino, a statement and a question.

He presses his lips together.

“It is true?” I stammer. “You were planning to kill her?”

Santino looks down, his face turning red. “I have to fix things.” He mutters quietly. “Romeo and I wanted to make things right.”

“This is not how you do it!” I shout. The rage burning through me makes me want to tear them apart. I’m in disbelief. How do I punish them for such an unspeakable crime?

I feel her hand brush over my arm. “Gio.” She says gently. “It’s ok.”

“It’s not.” I say, shaking my head.

“It is. Nothing happened. It’s not going to happen.” She turns her eyes to Santino and Romeo again. “I forgive you. I would like to let this all go and move past this. I don’t want to fight. I don’t want there to be so much hate. But I can’t change things alone. We have to work together.”

“What will you do to us?” Santino asks her, his voice dry.

“I don’t understand what you’re asking.”

“What will you do to us in retaliation? As punishment.” He huffs bitterly.

“Nothing.” She shakes her head. “I’m serious. I forgive you. I don’t want this go any further than tonight. It’s over - right now.”

“Why?” Romeo blurts out. “We were going to kill you.” He looks broken by his own words.

“But you didn’t. Ok. It was a mistake. A stupid idea. Born out of anger and misunderstanding. I’m letting it go.”

Santino sits down slowly. He can’t believe she’s been so gentle about this.

Neither can I.

If I overheard someone plotting to end my life, I would not be this graceful, this understanding.

Across the table, in full view of my sons, I take her hand.

Threading my fingers tightly through hers I squeeze it.

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