She nods.
“Why, Isabella? Why now after all these years?”
“I have cancer, Shae.”
Oh, wow.
“I haven’t told the boys yet, so I would appreciate it if you kept that information to yourself. I’m going to tell them, it just has to be the right time. I don’t know how this is going to play out, and I wanted to get you into Dante’s life. If something happens to me, I want him to know who his father is and the family he rightfully belongs to.”
“He belongs to Rex. He’s an Ambrosi, Isabella.”
As much as it pains me to say that, as much as I would love Dante to take on the DiMarco name, I know what it would do to Rex.
“You’re right, he is, and nothing will change that. They will always be brothers. But I would really like for him to get to know his sister as well. I’m hoping you can tell him how amazing his father was.”
Overwhelmed, I drop my head back and stare at the ceiling.
“I kept tabs on you because you’re Dante’s sibling. I have an old friend of a friend who works for the government. That’s how I was able to find you. I wish I could’ve done something to get you away from the Blacks, but my hands were tied. I couldn’t risk it. For all I knew, your father’s murderer had the same connections as me and knew who you were and where you were. I couldn’t risk your life by drawing attention to it.”
As fucked up as her explanation is, I get it.
“Is my life in danger now?”
“I honestly don’t know. I have no reason to believe it is, but in this world, you can never be sure.”
I blow out a breath, looking down at my hands.
“You look so much like your mother,” Isabella says softly. “Your parents would be so proud of the woman you’ve become.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, choosing to stay silent because my thoughts are racing around so fast I can’t seem to get them in order. Several moments pass.
“Now what? How am I supposed to go back out there and look Dante in the eye without seeing my father? Without wanting him to know who I am? How am I supposed to go to bed with Rex tonight and lie to him when he asks me what happened?”
“I hate that I’m asking you to stay silent. It isn’t fair to you, and it isn’t fair to my boys, but I have to figure out a way to do this without anyone getting hurt.”
“You mean without anyone getting murdered.”
“This is a fucked-up life we live, Shae. It’s not pretty, and it sure as hell isn’t easy, but one thing I’ve learned is that family means everything. Blood means everything. And I will find a way for this to work out. I just need you to give me more time.”
Ambrosi blood doesn’t run through Dante’s veins, DiMarco blood does. But does that mean that if push came to shove, if someone figured out who I am, Dante would protect me? And what happens if Sal Ambrosi wages war with me? What will Rex do?
The questions running through my head prove to be too much. Right now I just want to go home so I can process all of this.
“You’re running out of time, Isabella.”
“Shae,” Rex calls. The door handle jiggles again. “Unlock the door.”
Isabella places a hand on my shoulder, and I jerk away. She pushes to her feet, unlocks the door, and sticks her head through the crack.
“She’s fine, sweetheart. The food just didn’t agree with her. Give her a second to freshen up.”
“Let me in, Mother.”
I hear some shuffling, and next thing I know I’m lifted into Rex’s strong, warm, familiar arms.
“I’m taking you home,” he says against the side of my head.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I lean against his chest, grateful that I have someone to take care of me.