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“You two do know I’ve known you were a thing since I was like nine, right? Go on. Have your moment. Don’t mind me.”
“We’re trying to keep things from Lizzy, not you. She’s not ready to carry on the lies about things going on around her. We need her to repeat what she sees, that’s the best way to have people believe what we want,” Gwen says.
“I get it,Aunt Denise,” I tease and wink.
“Where have you been?” Elijah asks. “I thought we were going to go shopping.”
“I wasn’t in the mood. I needed to blow off some steam.”
“The boys aren’t coming?” This he directs toward Gwen.
“No, and they’re twenty-one now. I don’t think you can call either of those two boys anymore.”
“So Gio will be made soon?” Elijah asks hopefully.
“No, Lucas says someone’s blocking the books from opening. He thinks Riccardo is still playing his trump card by pulling Don Barbieri’s ear. Gio’s going to have to force them open.”
“How long will that take? I mean, he has to take the oath before Giuseppe can hand him the family, right?”
“Yes, but I’ve told you, it’s more complicated than that. Gio isn’t going to just become Don after one promotion. This will take a while.”
I can hear the sadness in Gwen’s voice and see the longing in Elijah’s eyes. He stands, places a hand on her backside and tugs her in to peck her lips.
“I’m going to the garage to work on the cars. Let me know if you need me.”
With that, he turns and leaves out of the room. I take a seat at the kitchen island and put down my half-eaten apple, keeping my eyes on Gwen. She looks after Elijah with a long face.
“Why do you do this? You could have taken a clean break and ran off with him to have a happy life.”
“No, I really couldn’t have. Elijah has always wanted things I can’t give him. Besides, I couldn’t leave you girls behind. Beth would never do that to me.”
“Don’t you want a normal life? Why stay loyal to Ava? She can’t stop you from taking off, by the time she found out, you’d be long gone.”
“And I would have betrayed the person who saved my life. There would be no Elijah, no me, if not for Ava. I would protect her with my life just as your mother did.”
“But why?”
“I’m assuming your mother never explained to you why we recruit from the women’s shelters.”
I shake my head. “I always thought it was because they could use the money for a fresh start.”
“And yet, you choose the same types of girls she would have.” She shakes her head. “I used to spend my summers in Brooklyn with my aunt. She wasn’t nearly as wealthy as my mom and dad, but her home was safe, and she paid attention.
“My parents didn’t have time for that. They paid people to watch over what they couldn’t. I wish they would have vetted those people more.
“Ava and Beth picked up on my fear of returning home. Ava delayed her return home one year to follow me home to find out what was going on. What she found was my butler raping me for the twenty-fifth time. My brother wasn’t home, and my parents were traveling as usual.”
“Oh my God, you counted each time. I’m so sorry, Gwen.”
“I’m telling you this so you understand our bond. Your mother came from a physically abusive home. As tough as she was, she couldn’t comfort me. Ava did it, while Beth cleaned up and got rid of the body.
“That woman has killed for me, lied for me, protected me. I would go to the ends of the earth for her and her children.
“I… I can’t give Elijah children. I think in some way this was my way of trying to make up for that. He loves you girls and although he’s making a sacrifice when it comes to me, I think he understands why I must.”
With tears in my eyes, I reach across the counter and cover her hand. “I’m so sorry. For what it’s worth, you’ve been a great mom to me. I know it’s not the same, but I’m glad Mom had you as a friend to watch over me.”
“You don’t know what that means to me,” she sobs. “I had Carleen, she was like a daughter to me. I miss her so much, but I try to give you girls all the love I would give her if I could be in her life.”
