Page 72 of The Godfather’s Christmas Twins
“That Aldo isn’t their father.”
She sucks in a breath, but her face remains impassive.
“It had me doing some math.”
The color drains from her face, and now I know. Holy fucking hell… I know.
Tears well in her eyes as she looks up at me. The moment stretches, every heartbeat an eternity as I wait for her to say something. To tell me I’m a father.
22
GIA
Istare at Max leaning against his desk looking at me like he doesn’t know me. For as long as I wanted to tell him, I’m now nervous. What is he going to do once he learns the truth? I can’t stop the hope that he’ll be happy and ask us to stay, but the tense expression on his face suggests he’s not eager to know the truth.
“If you’re asking who Dario and Daniella’s father is… it’s you, Max.”
He sucks in a breath. For long moments, he doesn’t say anything, but I can’t read his expression except to know he’s not acting like a proud papa.
“I used a condom.”
Those few words hurt and anger me. “You think I’m lying? You think I slept with someone else?”
“You slept with Aldo.”
I have to look away for a moment because I don’t want to cry. I want to be strong. I finally look back at him. “Yeah, Max, I did because I was forced into marrying him which gave him the right to…” I can’t finish the sentence. Max at least has the good sense to wince, like he knows that was an asshole thing to say.
“You said you ran the numbers and asked me about it. I’ve told you the truth. What’s the point of asking if you’re going to call me a liar?”
It’s his turn to look away for a moment. He takes in a breath and then turns back to me. "Why didn't you tell me?" His voice is low.
I suppose I’m feeling defensive. A burst of anger flares in my chest. "Tell you? How exactly was I supposed to do that, Max? A pigeon? Because you disappeared to Vegas without a goodbye and my father took my phone.”
He flinches, but I press on. "And you know what would have happened. My father would have killed us both for messing up his deal with Aldo. Assuming you’d have done anything, because I suspect you wouldn’t have.”
His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t contradict me. After a moment he asks, “What about last year? Aldo was dead by then. At the end, so was your father.”
I’m being petty when I exaggerate, “Hmm… last year… let me see… Oh, I know. You treated me like I was toxic. Every time I tried to talk to you, you found an excuse to leave."
The memory of his cold dismissals still stings. His attitude now is similar to then.
I did try to tell you then, Max. But you made it impossible.”
"That’s not?—”
“That’s not what? Not true?" I stand, wanting to exert my own power. "You've spent years running from whatever this is between us. And now you're angry that I kept this secret? A secret that kept all of us alive?"
“Fine. But what about now? These past weeks we've been together. You still kept this from me."
I cross my arms, trying to hold myself together. "Should I have told you between your speeches about not wanting kids or a family? Or maybe when you were explaining how wrongit was for us to be together. Because you were too worried about appearances. About what people would think of the great Massimo Giraldi being with his goddaughter. About maintaining your perfect image with Nic and the family." The words pour out, years of hurt behind them. "Well guess what? Your precious reputation is still intact. No one knows except me, and now you."
His jaw clenches. "That's not fair."
"Fair?" My laugh comes out bitter. "You want to talk about fair? You’re not the one who is considered chattel in the family, a commodity to be sold for a man’s power or pleasure. You’re not the one who has to pack up their life because someone else says so. If life were fair, you and I—” I stop short of verbalizing what I’d once hoped for in my life. For our lives together.
He opens his mouth to speak but a knock comes on the door. “Mr. Giraldi.” Marcus’s voice comes through the thick wood.
“Come in.” Max straightens, turning into the Mafia capo he is.