I could never mistake the high-pitch disdain. That voice used to haunt my nightmares. The woman I can’t stand as much as her idiot son.
“Well, if it isn’t the monster maker,” I say, narrowing my eyes at Sonya Stewart.
“Excuse you? How dare you talk about my son when you’re running around town drinking like some whore,”Sonya snaps in a low tone.
That’s one way that mother and son differ; Sonya never wants to make a public scene. She pretends to be a member of high society, and heaven forbid one of the stuck-up socialites hear anything negative about the Stewart family.
“You’re the one who raised a whore, Sonya. So, let’s keep the name calling to a minimum, shall we…” I smirk before taking a sip of my drink.
“I don’t know what my son sees in you. My Ross has always been too good for you.” Sonya squints her cloudy blue eyes at me.
I roll my eyes at the woman. These aren’t words I haven’t heard a million times before coming from my so-called mother-in-law. She’s told me how little value I have from the moment I said I do.
However, this is the first time that I’ve stood up for myself. I usually would just quietly take all the bullshit she spewed at me without making a peep. It was much easier to not pissoff mommy dearest so her psycho son wouldn’t punish me for upsetting her.
“Yes, Sonya. A woman beating, cheating, narcissist is the top of the top. I couldn’t possibly do any better. You raised a real winner,” I say loud enough to garner attention.
Sonya’s eyes widen as she looks around, noticing that people are starting to eavesdrop on our conversation. When she looks at me again, her face is red with embarrassment and anger.
I have to admit it gives me a sense of smug satisfaction to see the evil witch so flustered. I finally found my voice again, and I won’t be going back into my shell. I’ve lived in fear for too long. And today is part of my liberation.
“Why you little bitch,”Sonya whispers through clenched teeth.
I hold up my hand, cutting her off. “Go away, Sonya. I don’t care what you have to say or what names you call me. Save it. The only thing you can do for me is talk your good-for-nothing son into signing the divorce papers when I send them.”
“If anybody is good-for-nothing, it’s you. You nig…”
“If you want to keep breathing, I suggest not finishing that sentence.”
Sonya whirls around with large eyes as she takes in the sight of Luca Dalonzo. And what a sight he is. His imposing height and scowling face make him look like an avenging angel.
My avenging angel.
“I beg your pardon,” Sonya gasps.
“You heard me, bitch. Move around before I move you.”
Sonya looks at me, then back at Luca, before she grumbles under her breath and saunters away. I would’ve normally chastised Luca for being rude, but hell, I was way worse than he was. Besides, if she had finished calling me what I know she was going to, even God himself wouldn’t have been able to pull me off of her.
“Luc, what are you doing here?” I smile up at him.
“Looks like saving you from yet another restaurant run-in.” Luca smirks.
I giggle, shaking my head, patting the seat beside me for him to sit down. Luca takes a seat and kisses my lips. I do my best not to swoon, but the man is as protective as he is gorgeous, so it’s difficult. But I manage when Karlie interrupts our canoodling.
“What do you mean by restaurant run-in? Oh, and I’m Karlie by the way. Nice to officially meet you,” Karlie says in the nonchalant way of hers.
Luca turns to her with a twinkle in his eyes and nods. “Nice to officially meet you as well. Your cousin seems to attract people from her former life who like to confront her in eating establishments.”
“Yeah, first Ross, now mommy dearest.” I shake my head.
“I forgot about Ross with his bitchass. What’s up with these people.” Karlie frowns. “Looks like you have a slew of stalkers.”
“I know, right?” A few months ago, I couldn’t pay Ross to pay attention to me, butnow I can’t get rid of him.
Even though I blocked Ross on all social media accounts, I know it’s him sending me messages from fake accounts. Either that, or he’s gotten some of his shit for brain mistresses to do it. Either way, I have had to adjust my settings on all my accounts to avoid messages from people I’m not friends with.
“Coniglia, who is bothering you that you didn’t tell me about?” Luca questions with that crazy gleam in his eyes that I pretend not to see.
