Side to side.
The faces of every life I’ve taken flash before me, their mouths twisted wide open, screaming for help.
This is hell.
This is where I belong.
“Come back to me,tesoro mio.”
But I can’t.
Gianna’s blood runs through me.
And it runs through Lettie’s veins.
What does that mean?
Have I created a monster, for I am a monster?
I am the spawn of the devil.
I thought nothing was worse than being the daughter of a serial killer and a nun.
This, however, is so much worse.
“Lettie? Who’s Lettie?”
Her name brings me back to the now, and I’m refusing to slip away because I can’t. I must fight. It’s a mother’s job to protect her child.
I won’t be my…mother.
I won’t.
Now, it’s my job to be the mother Gianna was not.
The noise softens, and I focus on Lettie’s innocent smile. Her trusting eyes. I focus on the feeling of being her mom.
Peering up at Lenny, I release the guilt and anger and whisper, “She’s your daughter.”
And now, it’s Lenny’s turn to question everything he thought he knew.
“My da-daughter? What?What? No. I don’t…understand.”
Tears stream down my cheeks because the truth is supposed to set one free.Yet all it’s done is confirm that I’ll forever be repenting for my sins.
He doesn’t speak.
I hear his determined footsteps pace back and forth. I need time to compose myself before I look at him.
He mumbles incoherently.
It seems we’ve both been delivered a bombshell.
I can’t comprehend any of this.
It seems so far-fetched. How could Gianna do this? If what my “father” says is true, I’ve been siding with the person I’ve been hunting my whole life.
That’s the reality check I need to measure my breaths and calm the fuck down.