Page 78 of Corrupted Union

She grips Emilia’s arms. “Do you know where he is?”

“No.” Emilia gently untangles herself from Mom. “But we’re here to find out.”

“We?” Mom finally sets her eyes on me and looks shocked. “Francesca? Why did you come?”

“Uh, same reason as Emilia. I want to help,” I add lamely.

“Oh. Ok.” She eyes me over for a moment. I swear, it’s the longest she’s ever looked at me. Then she promptly turns back to Emilia. “Well, I don’t know where Franco took him. He could be anywhere. He could be hurt.” She sobs. “He could be dead.”

“It’s ok, Mom. We’re here.” She wraps her arms around Mom, who only cries harder. Watching Emilia soothe our mom makes me realize how at home Emilia looks doing it.

It makes me realize that this was never my home, not with how my mom treated me. But Leo’s home isn’t mine either. Not after what just happened between us.

So, the question is, do I even have a home to belong to?

* * *

Cecilia isthe first of our siblings to greet us. It’s clear she’s been crying, given her puffy red eyes. She’s clutching the cross around her neck. “He’s gone,” she sobs, immediately running into Emilia’s arms. Mom backs away to give us some space.

“He’s not gone,” Emilia comforts her. “When Franco gets back, I’m going to make him tell us where Antonio is, and then we’re going to help our brother. Trust me.”

Mia comes running down the stairs. “It’s been chaos. Two men showed up out of the blue and grabbed Antonio and took him away. Franco went with them. I never thought he could do something like this. I thought he loved us.” It’s clear Mia knows nothing of the abuse Mom has endured from Franco.

Mom comes back into the room, the twins on either side of her. They both look scared and confused. As five-year-olds, they don’t quite understand what’s happening.

Now that I know the truth, when I look at Lucia and Luca, I can see a little bit of Franco in them. But since Franco and my dad looked so much alike, I never even questioned my mom’s story about the twins being Dad’s children. My eyes go to my mom. Yes, I have a complicated relationship with her, but she’s also endured a lot since Franco forcibly moved in with us. Abuse. Rape. I wish I could talk to her, comfort her, but she’d probably ignore me as usual.

Mom meets my eyes for a second, frowns, and turns away.

While Emilia comforts our younger sisters, I force myself to go over to my mom. “Are you ok?”

“Of course I’m not ok,” she snaps. “My son was taken, and I don’t know where he is. If he’s even alive!” A sob escapes her. Lucia pats Mom’s hand.

“It’s ok, Momma,” she says. “You don’t need to cry.”

She whimpers, crying harder.

Luca walks over to me, presumably tired of our mother crying. “Where have you been?” he asks me.

“I live in LA now, remember? You were there for my wedding.”

“Oh, yeah. I remember. I’ve missed you.”

I startle at his words, not expecting them at all. “You—you missed me?”

“Yeah.” He shrugs. “You’re my sister.” He gives me a quick hug before running off. My heart feels instantly warmer.

Lucia walks away to join her brother, leaving Mom and me to stand next to each other. Cecilia and Mia are taking up all of Emilia’s attention.

“Mom, let me help you,” I say, pushing the words out.

She looks up from her hands, tears streaking her cheeks. “Help me how? Unless you can get Antonio back, you’re no help to me.”

I immediately turn away from her, fighting back my own tears.

The door opens, and Franco steps through entry. Emilia detangles herself from Cecilia and Mia and storms over to him. “Where is he?”

Franco steps back, eyeing Emilia over in a way that feels more intimate than an uncle looking at his niece. “Where is who?”

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