"It's better ev
ery time," Iacopo says. He's reaching over for some tissues. He bends down in front of me to wipe up his seed.
The gentleness of his touch contrasts with how roughly he took me. I'm looking at the top of his head.
How can I possibly betray him?
He yawns. "I'd like another round, but I need to sleep. Come on."
So without showering or really cleaning ourselves up, we go to the bedroom. We finish taking off our clothes, discarding them on the floor. In moments, his big body is wrapped around me in bed and we're curled up under the covers.
I wait until his breathing slows down and evens. I hate myself. I hate my dad. But I extricate myself from the bed without waking him up, because I know what I have to do.
I look around until I see his wallet in the pocket of his pants. I can't believe I'm doing this. As quietly as I can, I put my clothes back on. I still have some of his seed inside of me. I choke back a sob. I can cry later, when I've gotten out of the lion's den.
My hand is shaking so hard that it's difficult to put my hand inside of his wallet. I might have to take the whole thing. All I need is his RFID badge. Then I can wipe all the traces of my dad's theft and we can disappear into the sunset.
I hate doing this to Iacopo, but I don't think I have a choice. The whole reason that I'm here is to protect my dad from him. Somewhere along the way, I lost sight of that.
But today I take that back. I am in control of my own destiny, not Iacopo.
I take the wallet and stuff it into my pocket. It makes a big, visible bulge. Time to go.
"What are you doing?"
I freeze in place and slowly spin. "Iacopo."
I thought that he was going to be sleeping for a while, giving me plenty of time to escape.
"What's in your pocket?" His eyes are cold.
"Just...something." I scramble for the right words.
He's walking across the room now, his long legs eating up the distance in no time. I can't move. I can't speak. I think my heart has stopped. His hand is reaching into my pocket.
Chapter Twenty
Mother’s Daughter
Iacopo
I can feel my wallet and pull it out. I look at it.
“You are your mother’s daughter.”
Both of us are silent. I threw those words like a knife. I hit my target. Kelly’s eyes are full of tears.
“Let me explain.”
I raise my hand. “There are no explanations that will justify your actions. You need to pack your things and leave.”
“I thought that I had to live with you.”
“Not any more. You are free and clear in every way. I don’t want to see you again.”
There are tears in her eyes, but I should ignore them. Something tugs at my heart. A better man than I am would put aside his anger and comfort his lover when she’s clearly hurt. But she was guilty of casting the first stone. I found her with my wallet. Actions speak louder than words.
So I watch her, standing by the door, as she walks through the house gathering her belongings. She’s crying as she gathers up every trace that she’s left in my home. It takes a while because she’s falling apart in front of me.