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“What do you mean, no? The babies are coming!” he yells at me.
“I lied, I thought it might convince him to let me go,” I admit, watching him clutch his chest and breathe a long sigh of relief.
“I still want to get you checked out. Nic, you stay withSerena.” He wraps his arm around me and starts guiding me away but I stand firm.
“Did you know?” I look down at Serena, still in shock from all that I’ve learned.
“I knew he cared for you, I’ve always known that, but I had no idea he was so dangerous.” She strokes her hand through his hair. “He was just my sweet boy,” she sobs, and I drag my hands out of Dario’s and move toward her.
“I’m so sorry.” She looks up at me full of regret.
“I wish you’d have told me what you went through all those years ago,” I tell her.
“And risk being another one of the DeMarco whores that went missing?” She shakes her head. “I was one of the lucky ones. At least I got to know him. I swear to you he wasn’t all bad.” She looks down at her son.
“Come on, Serena, we have to get out of here.” My brother shows some compassion when he tries to help her up, but she refuses.
“I’m not leaving him out here alone.” She shakes her head defiantly.
“Then I’ll wait with you.” I use the trunk of the tree to support me as I slowly kneel beside her.
“Madalina, you can’t stay out here. I need to get you checked over,” Dario argues.
“I’m not leaving her here, I promise I’m fine.” I look up at him.
“Nic, run up to Vito and tell him to call out a recovery team,” he tells my brother, before taking off his jacket and wrapping it around my shoulders. Then, crouching down between Serena and me, he wraps his arms around us both.
“Thadeo killed my dad,” I say my thoughts out loud after a few minutes of silence.
“I had my suspicions,” Serena admits, “so did Cassio.”
“Cassio was blackmailing Dad over it. That's what my father texted me about, earlier. I promise I had no idea until then. But it’s the reason I left you alone and allowed this to happen.” He looks broken.
“Don’t blame yourself.” I stroke my hand through his beard.
“How could I have been so stupid?” I feel his fingers tighten against my shoulder.
“Because you’d started to trust him, and you liked the idea of having a brother.” I smile sadly. The two of them were becoming so close and all along it was part of Cassio’s twisted, little plan.
“My father won’t go unpunished. I swear to you. I’m done. I promised you I’d kill the man who killed your father, and I will. I’ll kill him, then I’ll leave his dynasty to rot. All that matters now are the three of you.” Dario kisses my temple and reminds me that just minutes ago I had a gun to it.
“I want to speak to him first,” I tell him, looking at him square on so he knows how important that is to me. Thadeo DeMarco no longer scares me. He’s a coward.
“All in good time.” Dario tucks my head into his neck and strokes my hair. “For now, let's just be happy that you and the babies are okay.”
We step back into the house three hours later, all of us tired and drained from today's events. Serena decided to have Cassio buried in the woods where he shot himself. She wanted to grieve for her son without having to hide who she was. Dario says he’ll come up with a reason for his disappearance tomorrow when his head is a little clearer. Serena decides to go straight to her room for a lie down and I’m about to head up for a shower when I hear Greta’s voice.
“Mr. DeMarco, your father is waiting in your office,” he tells him, and although she looks a little concerned, she doesn’t appear shocked by the state I’m in. I’m sure she has seen many things during her employment.
“Please, tell him I will visit him tomorrow. I have to take care of Mrs. DeMarco tonight.” I can hear the restraint in his voice.
“No.” I shake my head, starting to make my way toward Dario’s office.
“Madalina, wait, he’s dangerous.” Dario rushes to put himself in front of me.
“I guarantee you that, right now,I’mmore dangerous. Get out of my way.”
“I can’t let you.”
