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“I did. I never understood why Gaetano let us go so easily. I went undercover, dressed as a server, to stay close to you in case anything happened to you. But then, things took a turn when Damiano grabbed you, thinking he knew the truth. It nearly gave me a heart attack!” My mother exclaimed.
I leaned back on the couch, trying to process the overwhelming flood of information. This was way, way deeper than anything I could have ever prepared for.
“So... you knew everything?” I asked, thinking back to the phone call where she was angry about Cara’s engagement to a Bellavia.
She nodded.
“I had to act like I was completely in the dark. But, to be honest, I didn’t know about you and Damiano until you told me. I did recognize that man and the other one, Luca, I think his name was.” My mother pointed at Giovanni.
“You thought they were a couple at the restaurant.” I said, stifling a laugh while Giovanni gave me a disapproving look.
“I apologize. But you did look great together!” She cheerfully remarked to him, causing his frown to deepen, which made it even funnier.
“Luca’s engaged and Gio has a girlfriend, but he won’t admit it.” I let out a playful smile when he gave me a blank look.
“Shame. I really hoped they would be together.” She whispered to me, having me shake my head in amusement.
My mother sighed before continuing with the story.
“That was when I thought I would show up at your hotel and take you back home. But Gaetano caught me before I could get out of there.”
My eyes widened.
“I have no idea how that bastard recognized me, but he did.” My mother frowned, still visibly angry about it. “He revealed he knew the truth about you, and I was positive he was going to get rid of me right at that moment and go after you next. Instead, he forced me to work for him under the radar, and I was in no position to challenge him.”
My brows raised in realization. Now it made so much more sense why he had reacted so angrily when he saw me at the engagement party.
“I was sent back to Florida, and then I was laundering money for him. He needed a business no one would keep an eye on. I had to put in many hours of work for it to even make sense, and that piece of shit always reminded me how easily he could hurt you if I didn’t listen. He sent me a picture of you sleeping at his house; gun to your head.” She clenched her jaw as she spoke, and a cold shiver ran down my spine.
Gaetano was toying with my mother and had me thinking I was spending quality time with my father.
It had me feeling sick.
“And that was why you bought that property in Greece.” I stated. I didn’t need to hear anymore. I could connect every single thing now.
My mother nodded.
“Yes. One big mistake Gaetano made when he took over was forcing the elders to retire early as a way out. Most have passed away, but there is still one I have always been close to, and he helped me out with the property. I call him Uncle Belen.” She smiled at the mention of him.
“He was one of the very few who actually agreed that I should be the new leader. He’s the type of person who sees everything but stays hidden in the shadows. Ask him anything, and he would have an answer for it. That is how I knew about Damiano’s late fiancée.”
“You threw that in his face at the time. Why?” My tone let her know I was not pleased with it at all.
“I brought her up to see how he would react to it. If he didn’t, that means he didn’t care, and you had gotten yourself into some very serious trouble. So, not only was I trying to get Gaetano off our backs, I would also deal with la Famiglia Bellavia. Which is a hundred times worse than dealing with any other family.” My mother let out a breath, and I could feel all the stress she had to go through.
It suddenly made sense to me why she had such a strong negative reaction to my pregnancy at that time.
I wrapped my arms around her and embraced her tightly, taking her by surprise by the sudden action. My mother had done an amazing job of keeping me safe and living a normal life.
“Thank you for everything, mamá.” I whispered.
“You don’t have to thank me. I did what any other mother would do — to always protect their child.”
Tears welled in my eyes.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t help you.” I choked out.
“That’s not your job, honey. If anything, I’m the one who should apologize for making you live a lie.”
