Page 65 of Merciless Monster

“Why? Because I love you?”

“No, because of what I need to tell you next.”

I have an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach. What is he trying to tell me?

“What is it, Dante?”

“I’m a Don.”

“A what?”

“The De Lucas are the most powerful mafia family in Italy.”

It feels like he’s just slapped me. He may as well have. I’m sure it would have been less painful than the dagger he just plunged into my soul.

Angelo is the son of a mafia kingpin! Oh, Lord! No! Anything but this.

“Mia. Are you alright? You’re very pale.”

I hear his question, but I cannot bring myself to speak for fear of what I may say. This is a nightmare. Am I dreaming? Please let this be a dream, God. Surely, my life cannot go from soaring heights to the depths of the abyss in an instant.

“Mia.”

“What did you say? You’re in the mob?”

“Yes.”

“What the fuck, Dante? How could you keep this from me? You let me fall in love with you. You made my son fall in love with you. And NOW you tell me this! How could you do that?”

I grab my sandals and get up.

“Mia, wait. Please. We have to talk about this.”

“Not now, Dante. I need to be alone.”

“But,” he says and gets up to follow me.

“Alone, Dante!”

* * *

I’m heartbroken all over again. How could Dante lie to my face? Finance! In finance, he said. This isn;t fucking finance. It’s crime!

I’m as mad as a snake right now. I could just punch his fucking lights out as I stomp across the sand to get back to my car. I don’t know where I’m going to go when I get there. I’m too upset to go home. Angelo will read me like a book. He always knows when his mommy is upset.

Gina! Does she know about this?

Come on, Mia. Grow up! Of course she knows. She’s his cousin, you idiot!

I have to talk to her so I drive over to her and Jeff’s house. I know he’s away at the moment so she’s likely to be alone.

My phone rings. It’s Dante. I switch off the phone. I cannot talk to him right now. The drive to Gina’s only makes my rage worse. I ring the gate buzzer once I get to her housing estate.

“Hello,” she answers into the intercom.

“Gina, it’s me. Open up.”

“Mia?”

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