Page 47 of Bride By Initiation

Mom sees me first, and her eyes light up. "Ah, Zara, you're here."

She comes over to hug me.

I hug her hard, and she pulls back. She tilts her head, asking, "Zara, is everything okay?"

"I need to speak to Dad alone," I tell her.

She wrinkles her forehead. "Why?"

"I just do. Please, Mom." I blink hard, and my eyes well with tears.

"Zara, what is wrong?" she repeats.

"Mom, please let me talk to him alone," I beg.

"My preciousfiglia, what is going on?" Dad inquires, stepping up to us, concerned.

"Please go, Mom," I plead.

She looks at Dad.

"Zara, whatever you have to say, you can say in front of your mama. We don't have secrets between us. You know that," Dad asserts, and puts his hand on my back.

I shrug it off.

He tosses his hands in the air. "Whoa. What's going on?"

The worry in Mom's expression deepens. "Zara, please. Talk to us."

I realize I'm not going to get my father alone. I hate that I'm going to hurt my mother, but I lift my chin and meet my father's eyes. I step backward to put some distance between us, then accuse, "What have you done? Who are you?"

Shock and hurt fill his features. He peers at me closer, asking, "What are you talking about?"

I pull the envelope out of my purse and turn to Mom again. "Mom, please go."

She glances at my father, then at me.

He steps next to her and puts his arm around her. "No, you stay. We don't have secrets."

"But you do. I know you do," I say, my voice quavering.

"Zara, what is going on?" Mom asks again.

My father grabs the envelope from me. He opens it, pulls the stack of photos out, and tenses.

Mom glances at them, and her face turns pale.

I blurt out, "Why are you with the Abruzzos?"

Dad's gaze, dark and penetrating, meets mine, and he sternly says, "These are not photos you should have. Who gave them to you?"

I huff. "Does it matter?"

"Yes, of course it matters. Where did you get these?"

"It doesn't matter. Why are you with enemies of our family?"

"I want to know right now, my beautifulfiglia, who gave you these?" he asks, his tone commanding.

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