T
Ricardo listen to the person on the other end of the phone “Okay, I understand that.” He listens again. “I don’t believe that for a moment.” “Who are you talking 10? I frown
“Because no parking lot is that big, my speedometer doesn’t lie, and when I drop off my Lamborghint for parking. I do not expect your fucking
valet driver to go joyriding around New York in it.” Alessio’s eyes widen and I chuckle.
“Because there are fifty extra fucking males on the clock,” he snaps. “How do I know?” Itis eyes nearly bulge from their sockets. “Mecause this is a collector car worth two million fucking dollars. Of course I know the speedometer reading
“Holy. “Alessio mouths, wide–eyed. “What the fuck?” “Here you go, two mineral waters, the waitress says.||
Ricardo holds his hand up again when he sees our drinks arrive.
Isip my drink and stare out over the restaurant; I get a vision of Vee sitting at her desk. Her long hair was in a ponytail and her big poury lips were
My heart sinks.
You think you know someoor
I think back to all those years ago and the night we spent together; I see us rolling around in my bed[]
On my desk.
In the shower.
A collage of naked skin and orgasms, the uncontrollable fire that hurmed between us
The look on her face in the morning. My stomach twist
“Earth to Gabe.” Alessan waves his hand in front of my face to bring me back to the here and now
I glance up at him. “Huh?“||
“What the hell are you doing?” Its frowns.]
Tah?
“What’s wrong
with you this week?” Ricardo asks. You‘
off with the fairies”
“Nothing “I snap. I’ve got a lot on my mind, that’s all.
“Like what?“]]
“Like how many ways there are to break your ugly face.” I snaps 1 open the menu. Mind your business. My phone vibrates on the table and I answer as the boys go back to their conversation.[]
“Gabriel Ferrara.“]
“Hello Mr. Ferrara, this is Dr. Granger
My heart stops. “Y¶
“The resales of the paternity test are in, sir.” I close my eyes as I brace myself.
“It’s a positive match, it’s confirmed without a doubt that you are the biological father of both children.“||
Unexpected emotion fills
and 1 get a lump in my throat. They’re mine.
of the ear as Mark drives me one from ww||
ant to marry that pron Kaye ran, illegitimate children?
The missed out ne so much, ad my chabirents lives, time I can never get bark||
s
heg anbag hair, and a face that I knew well. The deep sense of familiarity & got from her, the one person naunartz) |
I get a student her at her workplace, legi
And yet
My mind is fearring with a mill
marios, none of them good.
The car polis be a stop out the front of my building and or both stul is die car
“Good luck,” Mark says softly, he knows I’m walking into the gallows tochoirt the person who loves me the most.
“If Lesuild change H. “I whisper||
he car att take the elevator to any floor, the double dones open and the scent of something delicious instantly fills my senses.
My Brains and close my eyes||
How is this happening?|||
case in my office and then I find Artan in the kitchen. I lean on the doorjamb and watch her for a moment
I walk into the apartment and put any briefcase. În may
i doing what the loves, the best damos cook ip New York city if you ask me.
Westing an apron, she’s puming something in the oven while things seeking on the hotplates, a million things on the gr
the looks up and sers me and smiles. “I didn’s hear you mane in.“||
smile as the kisses me. I see her glass of red wine ||
*tirinking on a school night?”|||
“Im celebrating” the pours me a glass |]]
he pauses me my glass of wine and holds hers up to mine. Thirty for days until we get married “|–
picy glass with hers. Something smells delicious. What is my chef serving tonight”
“we have a kingfish resicion followed by a ragu with creamy polenta and tiramisu for dess¶
“How do you have the energy to make a thirre course med for me every night?“]
g after you is my favorite thing to do “
“Looking after
My heart sinks. “We need to talk
the states and goes up onto her toes to kiss me “I know, best first the suits.* the takes me by the band and feads me to a stool bey the kitchen counter where 1 zil
down. “Now, I know that you wanted the black: ~||
I stare at lej as I pretend to listen, but my mind rem
to Ver in the bank. Cut the bullshit, Violet. Do you have something to tell me?)
The tears welled in her eyes, and by the link on her face, I instantly know it was true
The way it got a hole is my heart
How could she have done this? How could she have hidden my own children from me for six years? My mind returns to us in the shower that night, naked and kissing in mach
The level of intimacy!
ran between its was like nothing I’ve experienced before or sind
1 prieved for her for years, and to dunh
“Gabriel?“||
I get a lump in my throat. She had my hates the entire time.
1 glace up with no idea what Ariana has been saying, “The sorry?”
“Are you not listening to me at all?“||
“Forgive me, I’m… Busy day.“||
Tavo in tell pie?” she s
She looks up at me with her big brown trusting eyes]
Tell her
1.1
in go
fur work tomorrow.”
“Oli,” she replies. “How long will you be gone?“]]
“A few days.“]]
“Okay,” She smiles. To yo
you want me to come?“]]
“No.” I sip my wine. Tl be working the whole time, I le||
*so anyway,
by, back to the suits.” She changes the subject and once again my mind goes back to the unfolding catastrophe My life is a mess
Violer
The sound of their cries echoes through the silence, wings flop against the water as they take off |
A hird in flight is a beautiful thing
I sit on the back porch and stare out over the lake. My life is a mess and at a time when I should be frantic, I feel eerily calm.||
The truth is out and damn it, it feels cathartic
He knows
I’m not carrying the secret alone anymore ||
I always knew that one day the truth would come to light, and as every year ticked over, I got a little more terrified
Not only of Gabriel. But of the children hating me for not telling them the truth about the donor sperm and 1Vr() Fin gladars
The children are still young, and I have had to have the conversation with them about who their father is yes, hopefully they’re young enough that they can forgive me
“Mons” Dom calls from inside. “A car just pulled up I close my eyes as I prepare for battle. “He’s here“]
