Page 89 of Till Death Do Us Part

There was more to this, though, and we both knew I sensed it. The other certificate glared at me. Daring me to deny its presence. It was a death certificate with the name of Mamma’s first husband on it. He’d died while they were still married.

“Okay,” I said, my voice forceful, but trembling. “Are you going to tell me my father killed this man?” I shoved a hand at the certificate, then crossed my arms over my chest.

Felice nodded. “But let’s get this straight. This has nothing to do with your Mamma.”

“How can it not?”

“She either chose to marry the first man or he forced her. Either way, he abused her. Your father fell in love with her when he went to Sicily with Dr. Sala. She was in bad shape. You can imagine what happened after that.”

“Babbo killed him so he could marry her.”

Felice nodded again. “He made it look like an accident. He’s good at that.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because if you think you can change his mind about me, forget it. There’s a reason why he despises men like me. Your Mamma was married to one, and he’d almost killed her because she put her dress over his suit coat.”

Men like me.Men who belonged to the mafia. I glanced at the man in the picture. He had a stony expression on his face, like it was unmovable.

“You’re not him,” I whispered.

“I am, but I’m not.” He studied my face. “Have you tried telling Emanuele that?”

Yesterday’s conversation echoed in my ear:

“You don’t know him,” I whispered. “He’s not—”

“I know him,” Babbo said. “Do you, really?”

No, but I didn’t really know my father either.

“Why did you tell me this?” I asked again.

Felice took a step forward, and I took a step back.

He nodded toward me. “That’s why.”

Chapter31

Roma

Lolita was a married woman. And it seemed as soon as her wedding was over, everyone turned their attention to me, asking me countless questions about when it was going to be my turn. At the post-wedding brunch the next day, Jack stood up, tapped his glass with a spoon, and announced our engagement. He tried to slip a ring on my finger, but it was too tight.

I thought it was symbolic, but he didn’t seem to care. He told me he would get a new one to replace it in the next couple of days. I didn’t say anything, only made anuh huhsound, because I was going to have a talk with Babbo. I refused to marry Jack.

My stomach turned when I looked at him. When I looked at Alfonso and his wife too.

Then there was Felice.

After what happened, I could tell he was on edge. Babbo too. It was as if they were both worried about what I’d believe about the other.

Lo popped her head into my room at Babbo’s villa in Tuscany, giving me a wave that showed off her wedding rings.

“I thought you were supposed to be packing for the honeymoon?” I asked.

“I have time. We’re not leaving until tomorrow.” She pointed out the window. “It’s so dreary. I’m so happy the rain held off until after the wedding.”

“You looked stunning, Lo. Everything was so beautiful.”

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