Page 69 of Ti Amo

“When did this start?” he asked, looking Dominic directly in the eye.

“Her trip to Sicily. When we first went to visit Franco.”

“Gio—.” Catalina tried to interrupt, and he shot her an angry glare. Her words faltered, and she silenced.

He then returned his attention to Dominic. “You fucked her the night she was to meet her new husband?” he asked.

“It happened.”

“Ah. It makes sense. Catalina returned talking of how changed she was. How wonderful the trip was for her. Shit happens, right?” Neither of them said anything. Giovanni directed his attention to his sister. “You didn’t think you could tell me that you had feelings for your brother.”

“He’s not my brother,” she answered softly.

“He’s your fucking brother!” Giovanni hissed.

Catalina flinched.

“Say it. Say it.” Giovanni demanded through clenched teeth.

“Okay!” She shouted through her tears. “He’s my… brother.”

Giovanni relaxed back into his chair. “Now answer my question.”

She shook her head sadly.

“Nothing to say? You marry Franco, but continue to fuck your brother like some common slut.”

Catalina put her hands to her ears and squeezed her eyes shut. She stammered her speech through her tears. “I love him, Gio. I love him like you love Mira. I didn’t just fuck him I fell in love. It was my heart that did it. Not something ugly or wrong. We didn’t mean to disrespect you or our family.”

Giovanni slammed his hand down on the desk glaring at her. He rose from his seat and went around his desk. He grabbed her by her chin roughly forcing her face up. Her hair fell back and he inspected the faded bruise on the side of her face. “Franco did this?”

“Yes. He beat me. Over and over again, he tortured and beat me. He did things to me Giovanni, horrible things.”

“Stop lying!” Giovanni shouted at her. He let go of her face and walked away slipping his hands in his pockets. He faced the wall and rocked on the back of his heels. “Bella says that I need to understand the complications that made you liars. I think I understand. After all I know what it’s like to long for someone that’s beyond your reach, and I know what its like to live with the shame and guilt of betrayal. But I am yourfratelloand the fucking head of this family. You two took liberties that weren’t yours to take.”

“May I speak?”

“Why the fuck not? You seem to do whatever the fuck you want to anyway,” Giovanni said.

Dominic rose. “I won’t make excuses for what I’ve done. I will only tell you that I love her with everything in me, and I love you too. You and Lorenzo took me in as a brother. You practically made me the man I am. I am as loyal to you as I ever was. I have not lost sight of my role in this family. I just simply fell in love.” Dominic went to his knees and grabbed his hand kissing his ring. “Perdonilo, prego perdonilo.”

Giovanni touched the top of Dominic’s head and then pulled his hand back. “Get up!”

“Giovanni please, Domi didn’t betray you… this is my fault, he tried to stop it I swear he did.” She rushed to him crying. The door opened and Carlo and Carmine entered. Dominic looked over to them and knew they were for him.

Catalina began to scream. “NOOO! You can’t! You can’t dammit!” she shouted rushing to her brother, swinging her arms and hands at him angrily trying to fight him for even considering hurting her Dominic. Giovanni had to restrain her, but was surprised by his sister’s strength. She screamed to the top of her lungs kicking her feet and fighting him.

“Andiamo, Domi,” Carlo said.

“NOO!” Catalina shrieked. She managed to break free. She shoved Giovanni and raced to the door. “You can’t. None of you understand.”

“Enough, Catalina!” Giovanni snapped.

“You go to hell! You can’t kill him! He’s going to be the father of my child!”

Carlo stepped back.

“It’s true. I swear it on Mama, on my life. I’m pregnant.” She looked to her brother with pleading eyes. “Franco was gay. He never touched me. The baby is Domi’s. You can’t kill him!” she shouted.

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