Page 115 of Sins of the Son

I wasn’t surprised. Word would have gotten to Renata that she had failed in killing Milana. She would have known it would be only a matter of time before we learned of her involvement.

I leaned against the doorjamb and crossed my arms. “Any thoughts on where?”

Enzo’s hard gaze raised to mine. “Hopefully to hell.”

“Milana survived.”

Enzo’s shoulders sagged as he closed his eyes. “Thank God.”

I hated to cause my son more pain, but he deserved the whole truth. “She’s pregnant.”

He rubbed his eyes. “The baby?”

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “Too soon to know.”

In a flash, Enzo rose and punched the wall before turning and throwing his back against it and sliding down to the floor. He buried his head in his hands.

I joined him on the floor and placed my arm over his shoulders.

His voice was tortured when he spoke. “I should have listened to you. I brought that venomous bitch into our family.”

“You couldn’t have known.”

He lifted his head and grimaced. “But I knew. I knew she was a cold, calculating bitch. I just… thought if there was a chance the baby was mine….”

“I know, son.”

“I never thought she was capable of this.”

“We all know that. No one blames you for this. No one.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t blame myself.”

We sat there in silence for several minutes.

Finally, he spoke. “What do I do now, Papà?”

I hugged him closer. “You come back to the hospital. You support your brother. We see Milana through this. And then we figure out the rest as a family.”

I rose and held my hand out to him. After a moment’s pause, he took it and rose. “There’s something I need to do first.”

* * *

The flames shot high into the air as we stood and watched the cottage burn.

It was his first true architectural project.

He had poured his heart and soul into it.

My son loved that cottage.

Although he never said so, I knew he had built it with his future bride in mind.

And that woman had not been Renata.

CHAPTER 41

MILANA

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