Page 55 of Prideful Union
We agreed on a new beginning, so why is he intent on ruining it already?
CHAPTER 16
Lucia
My mom has finally arrived in Rome.
Santino and I pick her up at the airport, and when I see her across the terminal my heart fills with happiness and dread. She’s my mom, and I love her. I’m going to trust her reasoning for never telling me the truth. But I’m still a little mad. Why keep it from me? What is she hiding?
Santino has been distant since we had sex. he’s also not telling me something, and I’m becoming annoyed to be left out of everything.
“Hi, Mom,” I greet as she gets closer. Luca is also with her. I give him a hug immediately.
“Hey, sis,” he says, hugging me tightly. “What’s going on? Mom didn’t tell me why we needed to come on this impromptu trip.”
“You didn’t want to see me?”
He smiles and ruffles my hair. I smack his hand away. “Of course. I just don’t know what’s going on.”
“Neither do I.” I turn to my mom.
She goes in for a hug, and for just a moment, I freeze as her arms wrap around me. “Lucia.” I can see the pain in her eyes as she pulls back. “Santino.”
He nods. “Giulia. Luca. Welcome to Rome.”
“Riccardo and I came here on our honeymoon,” she says. “I have fond memories of it.”
Hearing her say “Riccardo” and not “your father” is hard.
“Let’s just go home,” I say.
Mom tries to catch my eye the entire ride to the mansion, but I can’t look at her. I don’t know what to think. Why did Mom sleep with Franco when she hated him so much?
Instead, I spend my time talking to Luca. He tells me about his girlfriend.
“Youhave a girlfriend?” I ask.
“Well, don’t sound so surprised. She’s nice. But I don’t know if it’s going to last. She’s kind of boring.”
I chuckle. “Then why are you dating her?”
Luca shrugs while scratching the back of his head. “I don’t know. She’s hot.”
Typical Luca.
Once we arrive back home, I help my mom get settled in one of the many bedrooms. Luca takes off toward the backyard, saying he wants to get a swim in.
“How was your flight?” I ask Mom, setting her suitcase on the bed.
“Lucia, we should talk.”
I keep my eyes glued on her suitcase as I open it up. “I know. I’m just scared. I’m not sure if I’m ready.”
“I need to talk to both you and Luca. There’s something you need to know.”
“Does Luca know Riccardo isn’t his father.”
“Not yet. You know how volatile he can get. He gets so upset, and then he gets drunk and takes off in the middle of the night. I didn’t want to go through that, so I wanted to wait until he was here, with you, to talk about it.”
