Page 17 of Innocent Union
“Mom, are you saying Franco …”
She nods. “He raped me, Mia. All your older siblings know.”
“So, I’m the last to know?” It stings being left out of the loop. But this moment isn’t about me. It’s about my mom.
“You were so young when it happened. You didn’t need to know. Over the years, I’ve come to terms with it. The twins were the product of …” Rape.
“Oh my god,” I say. I clasp my mom’s hand. “Are you ok?”
“I’ve dealt with it for the past twelve years. I chose to have Lucia and Luca. I don’t regret that, even though those two make it really hard to like them some days. But I always love them. I don’t see Franco when I look at them. I see myself. And that’s what I choose to focus on. But it does pain me knowing how much they’ve missed him over the past year. I was ecstatic when he died, but I couldn’t show that to Lucia or Luca. It would break their hearts and confuse them more.”
“So, they don’t know?”
“No,” Mom says fiercely. “And I’m not sure I ever want them finding out. It will only make it harder for them to marry well if people know the truth. You know how Mafia men are. They don’t care if you were forced; they’d find a way to blame me. Which in turn would hurt Lucia and Luca. Especially Lucia. You’re paying the price for Cecilia’s actions, and it’s not fair. I don’t want Lucia to have to pay for Franco’s actions. That isdefinitelynot fair.”
“I get it. Oh, Mom. I just wish I knew.”
“There wasn’t anything you could have done. You were a child when Franco did this to me. He’s gone, and I hope you have a better future now because of it. We just need to find you a good Italian husband to marry.”
I settle back in my seat. “That’s proving especially tough. No one wants me, Mom.” Maybe someone does … My mind flashes back to how Killian looked at me as we danced. “Why do you hate Killian so much?”
“I don’t hate him,” she says, almost self-indulgently.
“Mom.”
She sighs. “Ok. I just dislike that he’s Irish. I know how the Irish mob can be. Very unpredictable. And Killian isn’t even a boss. He’s still working for Antonio. I want you to be with someone who can provide influence to our family.”
“And what? People like George Johnson are supposed to help me with that?”
“You make a point,” she says, inclining her head toward me. “George Johnson wasn’t the best man we could have found. But I know someone better for you is out there. I just know it.”
“If Killian became boss of the Irish mob, then that would provide our family with a lot of power. It would be a strong alliance.”
Mom waves a dismissive hand. “Now, you’re just talking about fairytales, honey. I don’t want you married to Killian. We’ll find you someone better.”
“But what if there isn’t anyone better?”
“How do you even know Killian wants to marry you?”
I pause. “I don’t,” I admit. “He hasn’t asked me if you’re wondering. But he’s been kind to me. Mom, he stood up to the men saying mean things to me at the party. Doesn’t that count for something?”
“Not Killian,” she says pointedly. “So, stop asking. It’s not going to happen.”
I drop it, even though everything within me wants to scream. I deserve more than the men Antonio and my mom have found for me. They don’t respect me. Killian does.
But if my mom says no, then …
It really isn’t fair Cecilia got to run off with Theo when everyone told her she couldn’t. Why was she allowed to break the rules, but I have to follow them to a T, even though it’s breaking my spirit?
In the morning,after getting a good night’s sleep, I’m ready to see the twins. After what my mom told me about what Franco did to her, it’s made me look at them in a different light. It’s not their fault, of course. But just knowing their father is Franco and not my dad changes things a little.
As normal, Lucia and Luca are bickering over who gets the bigger waffle when I come down for breakfast.
“You always get it,” Lucia grumbles. “I want it.”
Luca grabs the waffle and stuffs it into his mouth. “Ha. Now you can’t have it,” he says around his food.
Lucia pouts and slouches in her seat. I’d find it funnier if I wasn’t still reeling from what my mom told me.
