Page 62 of Innocent Union
I blink. “You’re sorry?”
“I am.” She wrings the program in her hands. “I haven’t been kind to you. I know. I was stubborn. The truth is, I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Mia. But I know you’re a good man, Killian. I’ve seen it. The way you talked about your mom … I can tell you loved her. You were a good son. You’re a good husband to Mia. I don’t like the mess you’re in, but I don’t blame you for saving me. I applaud you for that.”
“Thank you, Giulia.”
“You see,” she says, lowering her voice. “When Franco used to live with my family, he did unspeakable things to me.”
I tense, understanding what she means.
“I put up with it to protect the kids. It made my heart hard in some ways. But my love for my kids has never wavered. That’s why I’m so protective of Mia. She was my baby before the twins came. But knowing you saved her from being assaulted—” She stops, her breath hitching. “Well, that means a lot. I had no one to save me. She’s lucky to have you.”
I stare at Giulia in awe. I never expected this from her, but learning these things about her, it all makes a lot more sense. I also feel like an ass for judging her.
“Mia is lucky to have you, too,” I say. “Let’s put everything behind us and start anew. I’d like to have a good relationship with my mother-in-law.”
Giulia nods, smiling slightly. “That sounds good.”
I open my arms to her. “How about a hug?”
“Now you’re pushing it.”
I chuckle. My first laugh since my mom died.
Giulia waves at Mia as she walks away. Mia joins my side. “How did that go?”
“It went … surprisingly well. Your mom is a woman of many layers.”
Mia slips her arms around me. “I just want everyone to get along. Which reminds me, I still need to make amends with Cecilia.”
“You will. Time is too short to not get along with your sister. I’d do anything to get my brother back.”
She tightens her arms. “I’m here for you, Killian. You know that.”
“I do.”
We arrive at the reception, which is being held at a recreational center. I could have had it at my house, but I couldn’t stand the thought of so many people walking through it. I needed a place where I wouldn’t be reminded of my mom.
The place is full of food and people mingling.
I’m ready to go sulk into a back corner and wait for the day to be over when the doors to the rec center open, and Patrick O’Connell strolls on in.
I stand up straighter. “What the hell is he doing here?”
He’s with a few other men, who walk off to join the other guests.
Patrick sees me and walks over. “Killian, so sorry for your loss. Your mother seemed like a kind woman. Shame she had to die so soon, wasn’t it?”
I tense. It almost sounds like Patrick is saying he did something to my mother to make her die earlier. But that can’t be. I may be after his power, but he wouldn’t murder my mom.
Would he?
I’m trying to take over, and he’s in my way. What better way to distract me than to make me deal with my mother’s funeral.
I face Patrick head on. “What did you do?”
“I did nothing. Just wanted to say my condolences again. But do you have somewhere private we can talk.”
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
