Page 50 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Don
I realize now that even if I hadn’t misunderstood his discussion with Roman, Marco isn’t going to let me or anyone else get close enough to love him.
I remind myself that this arrangement isn’t about rekindling anything or fixing Marco.
It's about protecting my father.
But I have to admit, this situation will be difficult.
Living with Marco means constant proximity to the one man who makes my defenses crumble.
The one man who can hurt me by simply existing in the same space.
I remind myself that I’m still not convinced that Marco is innocent.
My father believes Marco is helping him, and maybe he is, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t see it as a way to take advantage.
The evidence could be proof of his help or his slow infiltration.
But what if I was wrong about what I overheard?
I remember his face when I accused him of plotting against my father.
For a moment, there was something that looked like pain.
Marco Calabresi, the fortress of a man who never shows vulnerability, looked wounded by my lack of faith in him.
Or I thought he did, but perhaps that was wishful thinking because it was gone in a flash, replaced by that callous indifference Marco always sports.
If I misjudged him so completely, I've wasted a year we could have had together.
A year when I could have been helping my father in partnership with Marco rather than working against him.
A year in which maybe Marco might have let me in.
Guilt and regret form in my gut.
One home, I go to my room to pack my suitcase, telling myself that this situation will give me a chance to find out whether I really am wrong about Marco.
I’ll be able to see the truth about him and his intentions toward my family.
Whether I've been right or catastrophically wrong, I'll soon find out.
I move to my bathroom, gathering my toiletries into a small bag.
I zip it closed and toss it into my suitcase, mentally checking off what else I need.
It’s only a week, so I don’t need much.
A soft knock interrupts my thoughts.
My father stands in the doorway.
"Marco called. He suggested an alternative to sending you to Luca’s by staying with him.” He frowns with confusion as he glances at my suitcase. “Did I tell you already?”
I feel terrible for adding to his confusion. “No. I… ah… I was thinking of taking a trip out of town…”
“Yes, well, I’ve arranged for you to stay with Marco.” He lifts his hand as if he expects me to balk. “I know it’s not what you want, but it’s better than going to Italy or getting married, right?”
“Right.” I act annoyed for his benefit.
