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Guido quickly comes to my side, glaring at him, angry and defensive.

I pull Guido behind me. “It’s ok.” I whisper to my son.

Through the doors the guests are murmuring, trying to guess what is going on.

Giovanni is standing in the doorway, neither in nor out.

“Giovanni, if you won’t speak to me in private, I will have to say what I came to say here - now. Where everyone can hear.”

In a second, he has closed the space between us. His hand locks around my throat as his eyes are filled with warning. Rain splashes down onto us, quickly drenching him and causing his dark hair to stick to his forehead.

“Don’t you dare.” He growls. “Whatever spills from your lips is a lie.”

His fingers loosen, but the heat of his gaze remains intense.

The rain soaks through my black coat, through my dress, and bites cold against my skin.

His sons are standing nervously on the steps of the church, shifting, tense, waiting.

“He’s your son, Giovanni.” I whisper.

Santino hears me and his eyes shoot wide.

“Dad?” He stammers.

“It’s not true, Santino. She’s lying.” He says quickly, glancing back, but I can sense the panic in him. He canseeit. The boy looks just like him. It’s been sixteen years since he chased me away and Guido is sixteen years old.

I was three months pregnant the last time I saw Giovanni.

I never told him.

What was the point?

But Guido deserves to know his father. He deserves to have the same security his brothers have.

And I won’t back down until Giovanni agrees.

I’ve been respectful enough to stay away for the sake of Bella, for the sake of his family. But not anymore.

“What are you trying to do, Zina?” Giovanni says, a harsh whisper against my lips. He’s leaning close, terrified that someone else will hear.

He glances nervously towards the door, the guest are slowly creeping closer with curious stares.

“Get back inside. This is none of your business.” He shouts at them and they jump in fright before hurrying away.

“Dad.” Romeo says, his words tight with questions.

Giovanni shakes his head. He drops his hand from my throat and takes one step back, trying to regain control of himself.

“Zina, please don’t do this.” He whispers to me.

“I can’t walk away again. It’s not fair of you to ask that of me.” I reply.

“Dad - it’s not true is it?” Dante says, walking out into the rain, his eyes narrowed towards Guido. “She’s a liar, like you say.” He snaps.

Giovanni doesn’t take his eyes off me.

Guido takes a step back as Dante closes the gap between them.

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