Page 63 of The Diávolos: Part Two
“For years, Iris trusted his word. After she gave birth to you, she was so focused on being a good mother, she didn’t question Peter anymore, and he took advantage of it.”
“What changed?”
“Yourbabatold her that the Sisterhood was no more. But one day, she overheard him having a conversation with Philip Kastellanos, Aria’s father, about a rival Godfather. They had killed him and his entire family. They had a daughter,” she trails off.
My arm flies to my chest, the racing beat of my heart pulsating under my fingertips. I can sense my throat closing as Eldora continues.
“Iris overheard Peter asking Philip about the young girl. They were planning on taking her away, but she got caught in the crossfire and died.”
“Who was the rival?”
“Georgios Vasilakis.”
I gasp.
Dropping my cup of coffee on the counter, I run to the sink to vomit, the sounds of retching echoing in the kitchen. I can almost feel the sadness and shock bleeding from my broken heart. It must have been Evan’s parents and sister. He didn’t know who killed his family when he told me about them.
It was my father. Mybabamassacred the Vasilakis family and was planning on taking the young girl to the Sisterhood.Does Evan know now? Why didn’t he say anything?
Eldora walks around the island and stands next to me, putting her arm around my shoulders.
She turns the faucet on and splashes some cold water on my face, and I rinse my mouth.
A single tear runs down my cheek.
“How could he do that, Eldora?” I cry, letting my head drop. Eldora rubs my back, trying to comfort me.
“I don’t know. When your mother found out, she burst into his office and demanded answers. Peter decided he was done lying and told her the truth. Your mother was crushed.”
“This is all his fault!” I scream, squeezing my eyelids shut in the hopes of stopping my tears, of stopping what Eldora is saying.
“Kardiá mou, your father loved you. He still does. It doesn’t make what he’s done right, but don’t carry your mother’s burden on your shoulders. You have your own life to think about now.”
I take in her words, but they mean nothing. I need to know. “How did she die?”
Eldora lets out an audible breath. “Years went by, and your mother’s mental state kept declining. At that point, Peter didn’t know how to help her, so he just…stopped. The only thing that kept her alive wasyou. Iris was terrified of what would happen if she left and knew she wouldn’t be able to run away with you because Peter would find you. So, she lived day by day, struggling to stay above water.”
I remember those days. My mother had become a shell of a person, but she’d always put on a smile around me. As much as I knewmamawas suffering, she never let it affect me. And for that, I’m thankful. But a part of me wishes I could’ve done more for her.
“I know what you’re thinking, Giegie. There’s nothing you could’ve done. Your father was set in his ways, and you were so young. Just being you kept her alive.”
“Until she died,” I spit, venom lacing my tone.
Eldora is silent for a few breaths, until I turn to look at her. Her eyes are haunted by the memories she can no longer keep at bay. “What is it?” I ask, my heartbeat accelerating.
“Your parents got into a heated argument in your father’s study,” she continues, not quite meeting my gaze. “Your mother was out of her mind that day and tried to attack your father with a glass paper weight from his desk. I had seen her go into his office. I knew nothing good would come out of that interaction,so I followed her and looked through the crack in the door.” Eldora’s voice quivers, her hands shaking.
“They got into a brawl, and your father pushed her. She…knocked her head on the edge of his desk.” Her breath hitches. “We were both in shock. I couldn’t believe what I had seen.”
I weep silently as I listen.
“I called for help, but she had died on the spot. It was instant. Thankfully, you were with Aria when it happened.”
I try to speak, but I’m choked with tears. Not able to hold myself up anymore, I sink to the floor, clutching my legs like a buoy keeping me afloat.
Eldora sits next to me, her tearstained face puffy and swollen with grief.
Together, we let the emotions of that dreadful day consume us.
