Page 50 of Prideful Union
“Yes.” Her cheeks flush slightly. “It sounds so silly now, but it’s how I used to feel. I just want to make us work, Santino. It shouldn’t be this hard.”
“I agree. It shouldn’t be.”
“Then why don’t start over? No more challenging each other. We talk to each other. We respect each other. What do you think?”
I tell her the truth. “I think that sounds nice.”
She raises her glass. “Then let’s toast to it. A new beginning.”
“A new beginning.” Our glasses clink as they touch.
I can’t help but wonder how long our new beginning will last.
Antonio calls me,asking about Franco’s hair and if I ever did the DNA test.
“I did,” I tell him over the phone. “But why didn’t you? You sat on his DNA for years.”
“I know. Because it didn’t matter to me who Lucia and Luca’s father was. None of that mattered. It shouldn’t matter to you.”
I lean back in my seat. “It’s starting to not bother me as much. But what bothers me the most is that I was lied to. I asked Giulia to her face if the rumors about Franco being Lucia’s real father was true or not, and she told me those rumors were false. A blatant lie. How can we forge trust between us, Antonio, if I know you were lying to me. Because you had to know the truth.”
“I did know,” he admits. “But it wasn’t my story to tell. But now that you ] know, I hope you can understand why my mom lied. What Franco put her through with the rape … it was a lot for her.”
I sit up straight in my seat. “What about a rape?”
Antonio is quiet for a moment. “You didn’t know that part, did you?”
“No,” I say slowly. “I did not. Antonio, what else don’t I know?”
He sighs. “It’s really not my place to say. For some reason, I would’ve thought my mom would have told Lucia already.”
“No. She’s coming to visit in a week to talk to Lucia faced to face.”
“Right. Shit. I didn’t mean to say anything.”
“Well, you did. So, tell me.”
“Fine,” he says. “After my father died, when Franco moved into our house, he raped my mom. Repeatedly. That’s how she ended up pregnant with Lucia and Luca. She didn’t tell any of us for years. She wanted to protect us from the truth. She also wanted to protect the twins from the truth that they were born from rape. I know it’s something she still carries with her. If mymom hasn’t told Lucia yet, then Lucia doesn’t know. She wanted to spare Lucia that truth.”
“Giulia was raped,” I say, processing it all. “So, she didn’t cheat on your father?”
“What? No! My mom loved my dad. But she had to do a lot of things to keep Franco’s attention off us kids. She sacrificed a lot.”
This changes everything. I judged Giulia for something that was not her fault. No wonder Lucia told me Giulia was happy to see Franco dead.
I was wrong.
And now, I feel even shittier about how I’ve treated Lucia.
“I’ll have to talk to Lucia about this,” I say.
“If my mom wants to tell her herself, then she should have the right. Maybe hold off on telling Lucia until my mom gets a chance to talk to her.”
“I kept the DNA test a secret until I had the results. I can’t keep more secrets, Antonio. But I’ll take what you said into consideration.”
“Fine. But I don’t want to let this come between our working relationship. You know the full truth now, and you know why my mom lied.”
“I do. I have to go, Antonio.”
