Page 73 of Flawed

Frustrated, he glances between us, then adds, "There's more to this story. I want to know the truth of this, Chanel."

I plead, "Please, Dad. You have to drop it. If you don't drop it, I won't come back here."

His head jerks back. "You threaten to get rid of your father?"

"No, I don't want that. But I have to protect my baby how I see fit. Just like you and Mom always protected me."

"What are you protecting her against? If he's so terrible, then it is my job to take care of this man for you," he claims.

"Just a person who shouldn't be a father. That's all," I state, but Luca's face comes to mind as I say the words. And it hurts because I actually think Luca would be an amazing father. But there's just too much around him that's dangerous.

My father rises. He shakes his head and starts pacing the room.

"Pierre, this is good news. We're having a grandbaby," my mom chirps, then squeezes my hand again.

My father goes to the bar and pours a shot of scotch. He downs it then returns to pacing.

My mother rises and goes to him. She demands, "Pierre, stop."

He spins, his eyes full of fury and hurt.

She places her hands on his cheeks and says in French, "We are having a granddaughter, and that is what we will focus on."

"I will focus on finding out who the father is and why Chanel is so scared to tell him," he seethes.

I rise. "Then I won't come here again."

My parents turn toward me. Mom says, "Do not say that." She spins back to Dad. "You will not speak of this again, do you hear me, Pierre?"

He clenches his jaw and stares at her.

She softens her tone. "It's time for dinner. We will continue this conversation, but it will not include anything about the father. Do you understand?"

My father grinds his molars.

She cups his cheeks again, softly repeating, "We are having a grandbaby. And we will have her and our daughter in our lives."

He finally glances at me then back at my mother, caving. "Fine, Sophia, I will not speak of it." He walks into the dining room.

Relief hits me. He won't be drilling me anymore, but my resolve to keep my secret only grows stronger.

No matter what, I need to take the truth about Luca to my grave.

13

Luca

Two Months Later

"Your wound is finally closed,"Phil, the physical therapist, states.

I glance at the scar tissue on my thigh. I'm over the physical therapy sessions Jacopo insisted I do. I'm still pissed at Brody for shooting me. Then again, I knew that night it was the right thing to do.

Jacopo grilled me for hours. I had to be very careful to keep my story straight and not waver from anything while on pain medication. I didn't even want to take it, but Jacopo insisted, which I think he did to try and find a hole in my story.

He still isn't happy Brody got away. He doesn't know Aidan was there. I expected him to order another hit on Brody, but he's backed off for some reason.

And it's good that Aidan took the bullets out of my Glock. Jacopo checked it while I had the bullet pulled out of my thigh. Once he was satisfied I did my best, he praised me for killing his three guys.

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