Page 138 of Flawed

"Get him away from my daughter," I demand.

"Is he... oh God! Chanel, you—"

"Now!" I scream, stepping away from the table and moving around the room.

"Ma chérie," Mom reprimands. "Have you gone mad?"

Why is no one concerned that there's an Abruzzo here?

I ignore her until I'm a few feet from Zara and Luca. I order, "Zara, we're going."

"What? Mom!" she cries out, a tear running down her cheek.

"My stellina," Luca says in a low voice.

"Do not call me your stellina," I hysterically assert.

Pina tries again, "Chanel—"

"Zara, if you don't move, I'm shooting him," I threaten and mean it.

"What? Why?" she inquires.

"Zara, do as your mother says," Dad demands.

She reluctantly goes to the exit.

I warn, "If anyone tries to stop me from leaving with my daughter, I'm shooting this gun. If anyone follows us, I'll shoot you. And if you ever come near my daughter or me again, so help me God, I'll kill you," I say to Luca.

His eyes widen. He repeats, "We need to talk. Things aren't as they seem."

"Save it," I choke out and walk backward until I'm next to Zara. I order, "Text our driver."

"Mom," she pleads.

"Now," I bark.

She pulls her phone out of her purse and obeys. Then she whispers, "You're scaring me."

The truth is, I'm scaring myself. The entire room is staring at me. Yet the only one I'm focused on is Luca.

My driver pulls up to the building, and I tell Zara to go outside and get in. When she's in the car, I back out of the building and slide in next to her. I tell my driver, "Our house. And step on it."

He pulls out and weaves through traffic.

"Mom, please put the gun down," Zara begs.

I glance at my hands and realize the safety is still off. I snap it back on and put it on my lap. I take several long breaths, but nothing calms me.

He knows about her.

Why did no one care he was there?

So much confusion fills me. I stare at the gun with a million fears rushing through me. We get to our building, and I slide the gun into my purse. I get out, and Zara and I go upstairs. We say nothing until the door is shut.

"Mom?" she questions.

I finally look at her and hate myself further.

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