Your sister will never be safe from your father as long as I’m alive. By the time you read this, the Range Rover will be at the bottom of Lake George.
You need to tell them Aurora was in the car with me.
Maggie knows to do this as well.
We must keep Aurora safe. This has to be kept a secret. Only the three of us know.
Aurora’s life depends on it.
And if the day comes and you’re given the opportunity to kill your father, you have my blessing.
May he rot in hell.
Burn this after reading.
I love you. I’ll be waiting for you on the other side.
Mom
Tension is on every man’s face as they listen.
When I’m finished, Damien leans forward, resting his elbows on the table, and steeples his fingers. “Why the hell would you keep this from us?”
The betrayal and hurt bleed through his voice.
We’re brothers.
Family.
And I’ve been lying to them for years.
I drag a hand across the back of my neck, guilt clawing at my spine, and shake my head.
Antonio studies me, not saying a word, as if calculating how to deal with the situation.
How to deal withmeand whether I’m someone he can still trust.
“Where is she now?” he finally asks.
I keep my tone neutral as I say, “Chicago.”
“Chicago?” His eyes narrow. “What the fuck is she doing in Chicago?”
“Maggie’s family friend took her in.”
“She’s with that friend now?”
“Shewas.”
Antonio leans forward slightly. “Where is shenow?”
“She married into the Ricci family.”
His chair scrapes back as he pushes up from the table. “Excuse me?”
I expected that piece of information to make him the most reactive.
“And since I’m laying everything out,” I go on. “She just had Andre Ricci’s baby. My niece. Named her Evalina.”
