Page 115 of Flawed

She picks up her cereal bowl and tosses it in the sink. She steps closer to me. "Fine. I'll change the subject. Tell me who my father is."

My chest tightens. It's the only other thing I hate talking about more than the tattoos and credit cards.

Zara glares at me harder. "Just like always, right, Mom? You're going to clam up and not tell me anything, and I'm supposed to just accept it?"

I continue to stay silent. The guilt and ache I always feel about Luca never end. I still think he'd be a great father. If only he weren't an Abruzzo.

Over the last few years, I've seen Luca at the club. He's never touched me since that last night several years ago.

I still go into that corridor, watching others, secretly hoping for him to appear, even though I know it's not smart for either of us.

Sometimes he does.

He always keeps his distance. He's never once locked the door like he had in the past.

A lot of times, there are people in the hallway watching. It creates a barrier of safety between us. But I always feel his stare. It's the same look he's always given me.

The flames haven't died down between us. His mere presence sends a surge of tingles through my skin. I always resist the urge to run to him and somehow figure out how to escape our realities.

It's a fantasy we both know isn't possible.

He's dangerous and can't protect me. If I crossed the lines in this club and associated with an Abruzzo and he with a Marino, there's no way bad things wouldn't happen.

Plus, I can't get any closer to Luca. I have to protect Zara.

Her urgency to figure out who her father is never stops. It grows bigger with time and scares me.

I can't say I blame her. I would want to know, too. But nothing will change my mind about Luca. And I have no doubt if he knew about her, he would insist on inserting his life into hers.

Zara shakes her head at me, sarcastically laughing. "You're such a hypocrite, Mom."

More hurt fills me. "I'm a hypocrite? How?"

She answers, "Tell me again your reasons for not telling me about my father."

"He's dangerous," I state for the millionth time.

"Is it going to kill me?" she asks.

"No."

"Will he physically hurt me?"

Say yes to shut her up.

I can't lie, so I reply, "No, he would never hurt you."

"Then what is it, Mom?" she fumes.

I do everything I can to maintain my cool. "Like I said, he's a dangerous man. You don't need to be in his world."

She laughs, and disgust fills her expression. "And this is where you're the hypocrite."

I cross my arms. "How?"

"You work for a Marino. So does Papi," she seethes.

I take a deep breath. "The Marinos are good people."

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