“How could you believe that your mother and I don’t genuinely love you?” I didn’t think he would see that much with just a few short words from me. I didn’t mean to hurt him, but the sheen of tears in his eyes was too much for me. My Pop is the strongest person I know, and his love for me should never be questioned.
I didn’t find it soft to walk over and hug him, to apologize for making him sad. “I’m sorry, Pop, I’m truly sorry.” It was nice hearing his words, seeing his emotion, but I’ve thought this one way for so long it would take some time for me to view things differently.
“Don’t worry about the kids. I’ll get the necessary papers together. I’ll have to think of what to say to your mother.”
“Don’t bother; I’ll talk to her myself when the time comes. Thanks, Pop.” We hugged each other, another one of his soul-healing embraces, and all I could think about was that poor little girl and the look of terror and defeat on her face.
She isn’t my sister in the same sense that the twins are, but she’s my blood, nonetheless. We didn’t grow up together, formed a special unbreakable bond like I had with the twins, but she’s still my sister and another one of Ricci’s victims. I didn’t realize that Pop was watching me as I worked through my thoughts in my head.
“You see how you can feel empathy and compassion for that girl, who’s also a product of your enemy? You should never doubt your mother’s love, son. Like you said, she got you the best life she could, starting with a father who loves you immensely. It never mattered to me how you came to be; you were always mine.”
“Thanks, Pop, I know.” I think I’ve missed his hugs. It’s been a while since I let myself enjoy them, not since the night I learned the truth, I don’t think.
I went back to the palazzo where things had settled down and found Sal with both grandkids in his rooms. He looked even frailer than before, and I was starting to fear that this might all be too much for him. He looked up when I walked in, and the other two, who could barely lift their heads off his shoulders, acknowledged me with a nod.
They looked younger, less abrasive even, almost broken. I never noticed how short Jr. was or how dainty Natalia appeared next to the imposing size of her grandfather. These three people, dammit, these people are a part of me too. I never expected to find family here; it’s not what I was looking for. “Where is he?”
“He’s been taken away to get sober.” I gave him a look over their heads, and I could see it in his eyes. He was begging to hold on to any semblance of decency that may be found in his son. He was begging me to give him that hope, but I couldn’t. If he needed to pretend that alcohol had made Alonzo do this, let him, but after the night is gone, I’ll be sure to disavow him of that notion. It’s time Sal gave up his last hope for his monster of a son.
GIANNA
Whoa, when these people move, they move fast, and it’s way more than obvious that they have experience with kids because they made it look simple to pack up everything that was needed while telling me to leave the rest behind for later. Somehow Colton and Mancini had convinced Ron and Connie to stay in the cabin instead of the travel trailer until they got back, whatever that meant.
Poor Ron, who’s had to be the bedrock of our little family here, looked out of his element as he took instructions from the much younger men. I think he was in some kind of awe, like a teenager meeting his favorite athlete for the first time or something. It looked like hero worship to me, which for some reason, made me even more comfortable with them. He and his wife had become so protective of us that I doubt he’d have let his guard down had he sensed any danger.
Instead, he was in the thick of it, laughing and joking like they were long-lost friends. He's impressed, I’m sure, with the SEALs, even though they didn’t share too much about their experiences with him; somehow, I think that only made him more intrigued. But he seemed even more taken with Colton. I can see why; my cousin has a very imposing presence, and there’s a kind of weird power dynamic when he’s in the room.
Even the men here with him seem to all look to him though they could obviously stand on their own. I think he maybe keeps them enthralled with his mercurial moods. One minute he’s gruff and no-nonsense, and the next, he’s muttering about someone named Mengele, and the next, he has a baby bouncing on his hip.