paths crossed, Dinara, am I right? You joined our race camp for a reason.”
“I did,” I said firmly, not looking away. If I’d lowered my gaze or tried to avoid the topic, Remo would have seen it as an admission of guilt. I was definitely guilty of seeking Adamo’s closeness initially to find out about the Falcones and to use him to get in contact with Remo, but sleeping with him or spending so much time with him had never served that purpose. My body and soul had yearned for it. When I was with Adamo, I rarely longed for the rush of drugs that had haunted me for so many years. He was my drug of choice. “My father was always careful to divulge as little information as possible to me about my past. I knew you were the only one who could reveal the parts he left in the dark.”
“So you think I’ll do that? Why would I reveal information without asking for something in turn? And unlike your father you don’t have anything of value to offer.”
For a moment I was thrown off. My father had always insisted Remo wouldn’t help me with my past. I’d be lucky if I wasn’t killed by the crazy Capo. Again I noticed the flicker of challenge in Remo’s eyes. Remembering Adamo’s words about his brother’s manipulation skills, I straightened my shoulders. “My father must have offered you a lot for my mother. There’s nothing he’d rather do than kill her with his own hands. But whatever he offered was never enough for you, which means he’s got nothing you want. Maybe you are as twisted as everyone says and just want to hold her fate over his head to taunt him, but then the peace which lasted many years doesn’t make sense.”
Remo’s smile widened. “Go on. I’m starting to enjoy your analysis.”
“Maybe you waited for me to show up. Maybe my father isn’t the one you want to hand information to.”
“And why would I choose you, Dinara?”
“Because it’s my past. It’s my right to know the truth. No one else’s.”
Remo inclined his head. “Well said.”
“So will you tell me everything?”
“I will but first I want to talk about Adamo.”
“Adamo’s a grown man. He can protect himself.”
“Oh, I know, but I have a feeling you might be in need of his help again soon for a path you can’t walk alone. He’ll do what you ask of him because he cares for you and because it’s a path he can’t resist. You should be sure that what you want from Adamo doesn’t end the day you reach the end of that path, because if it does, you better end it now.”
“Adamo and I aren’t in a serious relationship. We have fun together. That’s all.”
Remo leaned closer, and I shied back involuntarily. “Whatever’s between the two of you extends beyond fucking. You two share the same vices.”
“Adamo and I need to figure it out by ourselves.”
Remo gave me a look that sent a shiver down my back. I didn’t resent him for his protectiveness of his younger brother. If Adamo ever met my father…things wouldn’t be any different. Dad would try to scare him away or at least scare him into treating me right. If he wasn’t Remo Falcone’s brother, he’d probably even kill him. Maybe he’d do it anyway if he considered it the only option to protect me.
“Maybe we should talk about the reason why you’re here now. Ask whatever you want to know.”
“Did my father know all these years that my mother was alive?”
Remo nodded. “I never told him otherwise. I had no reason to kill her.”
“You didn’t, but my father had. So why didn’t you allow my father to kill her himself? I can see it in his eyes that he wants to do it. You are the only thing standing in his way,” I said.
“Because,” Remo growled. “That’s your privilege. I told your father I’d keep her in my territory until you were old enough to decide over her fate. I’d have thought you’d come along sooner to kill her.”
I froze, realizing the gift laid out before me, the gift Remo was offering. Dad had never mentioned that tidbit of information. Of course, he hadn’t. He wanted me in the light, and what Remo was offering led into the depth of hell. “You’ve kept her for me so I could kill her?”
Kill my mother. I had lost count of the times I’d considered it in abstract fantasies,