of a smile plays on her lips.
“Who was that?” I ask.
My mother just waves a hand. She sits back down in front of the stack of papers, lets out a shaky breath, then squares her shoulders and signs the house away. When it’s done and the agent has the papers tucked under her arms, we bid her goodbye and both let out heavy sighs.
“It’s done,” my mother says. “Things will get easier from here.”
“I hope so.” My voice sounds more strained than I’d anticipated. Cracks are appearing in my armor, and I know I won’t be able to be this strong forever.
The edges of my fingers brush over my phone, and all I want to do is call Kit. I can’t, though. I pushed him away.
Not for the first time, I wonder if that really was the right decision.
After the papers are signed, we move the last of the furniture out of Nonna’s house and say a final goodbye. I squeeze my mother’s shoulder and hold back my tears, knowing this is the final step in a very difficult few months. When we close the door and hand the keys over to the agent, my mother starts to cry again.
“I couldn’t have done this without you, Serena,” she says, wrapping her arms around me. “You’re an angel. I’m sorry for pushing you to be with Angelo. I thought you needed a man to help you along, but I see how strong you really are.” Her eyebrows tug together. “Robbie told me about the teaching position in Woodvale that you gave up. I had no idea, Serena. You gave up an opportunity to stay back and take care of the family, and I want you to know I appreciate it.”
Her words should make me feel better. I should feel validated, like I’m finally being seen. Even the fact that my mother recognizes the teaching position as an opportunity should make me feel better.
It just feels like too little, too late.
As my mother pulls away from me, a black Camaro stops on the curb. My stomach drops to my feet as a bitter taste coats my mouth.
Angelo.
He steps out of the car, grinning across the front lawn at us. A horrible feeling snakes through my heart. It ices my veins and roots me to the spot, reminding me of the decade I spent under Angelo’s thumb. He still has a hold on me, even after so long apart.
The real estate agent makes a surprised noise, clearing her throat. “Mr. Berretti. I think there was a miscommunication. I was going to hand over the keys to your agent this afternoon.”
…What?
“No need,” Angelo says. “I’ll take them now.” His eyes are honey-brown now. Soft and triumphant and trained on me.
“That’s not really…” the agent trails off when Angelo extends his hand. I watch her gulp, sensing the power and anger in the man who stands before her.
I get it. I’ve been there. Hell, I’m there right now. My pulse is hammering so hard I’m sure he can hear it. My mother pulls away from me, spreading her arms toward Angelo.
“Honey, come here,” she says. Honey?
Angelo wraps my mother in a tight hug, still staring at me. I stand on my grandmother’s—or I guess Angelo’s—front porch, frozen. Afraid.
Then, the reality of what’s happening crashes into me. “You…you bought this place?” I hate how much my voice trembles.
“Baby,” Angelo says, backing away from my mother and taking a step toward me. I move backward, my heel hitting a step.
“I’m not your baby.”
“I bought this house for us. So it could stay in the family.” His voice is sugar-sweet. He’s laying it on thick, but I still see the menace swirling beneath the surface. I can feel it, like a thousand venomous snakes hissing under his saccharine words.
“You what?” I frown, horror freezing me as Angelo advances.
“He bought Nonna’s house, Serena,” my mother pipes in. “For you two to live in together.”
My eyes widen as I break my gaze with Angelo to stare at my mother. “You knew?”
“Angelo called me last night, before I signed the papers. Didn’t you, son?”
“Son?” All I’m able to do is repeat words, scrambling to understand what the hell is going on.
The mystery buyer who offered us five grand above asking with no conditions is Angelo fucking Berretti. The monster from my nightmares. The man who terrorized me for a decade. The man who blamed me for the loss of our baby.
Angelo advances, his eyes dropping to my lips. I swear to