“Given that you’re in my office, without an appointment, I guessed that’s why you’re here.” I shook my mouse and woke my computer up.
“I knew your family was trouble from the start.” I didn’t react, which pissed her off. “You say you love her, but yet you let her leave.”
“And yet you can walk into her life, dump all her truths into a hat, and pluck them out randomly to share with her whenever it suited you.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her shake her head. Clearly unhappy with my behavior.
“You sank your claws into her when she was young and vulnerable.”
I tossed a file I was holding on the desk, growing quickly annoyed with her allegation. “And where was her mother? Oh, wait, you weren’t there. I found a lonely girl by the side of a pond who needed a friend as much as I did.”
“How do I know you and Francesco didn’t manipulate my daughter?”
“Elenora, please, don’t insult me.”
“Can you blame me? Francesco knew the truth. He could have set the entire thing up.”
I exhaled as anger heated my neck. “How can you think so little of the man who still loves you?”
“He betrayed my one request.”
“No, he did exactly what he needed to do to protect your daughter.”
“How could you send her to that house?” She blurted what was really on her mind then jumped to her feet like she might burst.
“You think this was my idea?”
“She’s there, isn’t she?”
“In case you didn’t notice, your daughter doesn’t listen very well, Elenora. You think I didn’t try to stop her?”
“You didn’t try hard enough.”
I swung around my desk, annoyed she was even here.
“The last time I tried to protect her, we spent a decade apart!” I shouted. “Maybe if you had actually shared some history about living in that house, she wouldn’t be there right now!”
“I’m trying!”
“Try harder.”
“It’s not that easy.” She shot a glance over at Oscar, and he shook his head as if to stop her from sharing something.
“What was that?” I swung my gaze between the two of them. When they stayed quiet, I shook my head and pointed to the door. “We’re done here.”
“Your Aunt Noemi,” she held up her hands as if to stop me from physically kicking her out the door, “I think she might have been behind the bombing in the city.”
“What?” I blinked, trying to follow the sudden change in topic. “First you point fingers at myconsigliere, and now you have the nerve to point them at my aunt?”
“I know you saw me with her at the party. You must wonder how she knew me.”
“Yeah, I did wonder.” I felt a headache come on. “But I also know you well enough now not to hold my breath for the answer.”
A knock at the door had my head spinning.
“Pardon me, Mr. Capri,” Sofia approached and spoke quietly with her back to my guests, “there’s someone else here that wants to see you.”
“Who?”