Page 81 of Lorenzo

Edoardo sits to my right.

Alessio sits to my left.

No one has eaten much since I told them about Rachel Monroe.

Matteo is the first to speak.

“She helped set up her own twin?”

His voice carries disbelief more than anger, though anger is coming.

Tomasso, in as much disbelief as his twin brother, stares at the table. “She discovered she had a twin and set her up for murder?”

No one answers immediately.

The two of them have always been easy to tell apart for those of us who know them. Matteo has a more serious demeanor. Tomasso smiles more easily. There are subtle differences in their faces and their expressions.

To anyone outside the family, the resemblance is close enough to cause frequent confusion.

To them, the idea of mistaking one for the other stopped being amusing a long time ago.

Matteo looks at Alessio. “And you had no idea.”

“No,” Alessio says. “Why would I?”

“I’m not blaming you.”

“It sounds like you are,” he says defensively.

“I’m trying to understand how anyone could do that.”

Tomasso lifts his eyes. “You can’t.”

Matteo turns toward him.

“You can explain the plan,” Tomasso continues. “You can explain what she gained. You can explain how they used the resemblance. But you can’t understand looking at your twin and seeing someone disposable.”

His voice is quiet, appalled.

Matteo’s jaw clenches.

Victoria reaches for the serving spoon and places more potatoes on Matteo’s plate even though he has barely touched what is already there. It is the kind of thing she does without interrupting the conversation, a small act of comfort without words.

“Genevieve may never have known Rachel existed,” Julia says.

“That makes it worse,” Dante replies. “Rachel knew everything Genevieve didn’t.”

“Or someone told her everything,” Ricardo says.

Everyone looks toward him.

His eyes are on me. “Right?”

“Donna is working both theories at the moment.”

“But even if that were the case,” Dante says, reaching for his wine, “they would have to ensure it’s something Rachel would be willing to go along with. That would take time.”

“Yes,” Mario says.