Page 155 of Bride By Initiation

"My mind is not poisoned."

"You don't unbury the dead. Is this your husband's doing? I'll kill him!" he snarls.

"No! Sean has nothing to do with this!" I declare.

"Then who is it?" he demands.

"I don't know."

"Don't lie to me!"

My eyes fill with tears. "I'm not! And Finzia is your flesh and blood. Do you even know your sister's dead?"

"Zara!" Mom gasps, putting her hand over her mouth.

The color drains from Dad's cheeks. He opens his mouth and slowly shakes his head. "What are you talking about?"

"You didn't know, did you?" I push.

"Zara, how did you get that information?" Mom asks.

Surprised, I ask her, "You know about Finzia and Aurora?"

"I told you I don't keep secrets from your mother. Of course she knows about them," he says.

"Then we should welcome her into our family. She doesn't have anybody anymore. Her parents are dead."

Pain flashes across my father's expression, but then he snarls, "Good. Another Abruzzo off this planet."

My insides quiver. "You're not being fair. He wasn't one of them."

"He was."

"Why are you any better when you've killed our family friends?" I challenge.

"Zara!" Mom reprimands, her voice shaking.

Dad's eyes blaze. "You don't know anything! I suggest you stay out of my business."

"Then explain it to me," I demand.

His face turns red. He fumes, "They were enemies. Traitors."

"Like you were?" I accuse.

His head jerks backward, a mixture of disbelief and betrayal on his face.

"Zara!" Mom scolds again, rushing to Dad's side and putting her hand on his shoulder.

He glances at her.

"Just tell me the truth. I'm not a child anymore."

My parents stare at each other.

"Let's just be honest for once and for all," I plead.

Mom shakes her head. She quietly tells my father, "This is getting out of control, Luca. Maybe the truth is best."

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