Silent Prejudice

23

I’m dumbfounded. Nothing in my life was what it seemed. I would think at some point I’d stop being surprised, but each new revelation blindsides me. “So, Liv and Marca aren’t yours? Who’s their biological father?” I know it’s not particularly relevant, but my brain is struggling to keep up. Dad shrugs. “Don’t know and don’t really care. I’ve always considered them mine, though I’m embarrassed to say I never felt quite as invested in them as I did you and Gia. I love them. I do. But my bond with them isn’t the same.” “So, that’s why you weren’t worried about Liv dating Nevio?” “Exactly. While the situation isn’t ideal, it’s not as bad as you were thinking. Not like when you set your sights on Nevio. That was a problem on so many levels.” They aren’t related. Livia may be pregnant, but she’s not in an incestual relationship. Oh, thank God! I reach forward and wrap my arms around Dad’s middle. “It’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay,” I murmur, mostly for my own benefit. Dad chuckles. “Yeah, baby girl. Everything’s going to be just fine.” “Okay.” I nod and pull back. “I need to talk to Zeno, though. He needs to know what’s going on.” “So, he knows about me and his mom?” “Yeah, he’s known since we were kids. He saw you guys. That’s why we stopped being friends, but he only explained himself recently. He was pretty upset with you for a while.” I say the last part gently because I know my dad will feel awful. He frowns and has trouble meeting my eyes. “I can’t say enough how sorry I am.” “It’s in the past, Daddy. I promise. Though, I need you to pretend you don’t know that Zeno knows. I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone, but the whole Livy thing freaked me out.” Zeno’s secret is escaping like water through my fingers. I can’t say for certain if Dad will tell Elena. I just don’t know, but the more people I tell, the higher the chances. I don’t want to break Z’s trust, but I felt I had no choice. The possibility of upsetting him pulls at my already frayed nerves. “You have nothing to worry about. I won’t say a thing. Now, you better go home and get dressed. Don’t think you want to show up for work in wet pajamas.” For once, I know the sadness in his eyes is genuine, and it makes my heart hurt. He never wanted to hurt anyone. And how could I possibly begrudge him pursuing the woman he loves. I can’t, and I don’t want him to feel down on himself, so I smile and keep things light. “You’re absolutely right. Thanks, Dad. I know none of this is easy, but we’ll figure it out.” I wave and head back toward the cottage. As I walk, I give Zeno a call on my phone. “Hey there.” His masculine purr sends a zing straight from my ear down to my belly. “Hey. I hope I didn’t wake you.” I can imagine he had a late night since he didn’t leave for the city until after dark. “Not at all. I’m actually headed to the house.” “Oh, good. We need to talk.” The line is dead silent for long seconds, and I realize how that sounds. “Nothing bad, not exactly. I just need to tell you some stuff that’s happened.” “I’m not sure I’m any less worried.” I huff out a laugh. “Sorry about that. Try not to stress, and I’ll come find you once I’m back at the house.” “Back? Have you already been to Hardwick this morning?” “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you everything when I see you.” “How could it be a long story? We haven’t been apart for twelve hours yet.” Again, he has me laughing. “Things happen fast around here. Try to keep up.” He grunts and hangs up. I walk back home with renewed hope that the world isn’t ending—at least, not today. “Jesus Christ. She’s f*****g pregnant?” Zeno paces in front of the windows in his office while I sit on the sofa. I’ve just finished detailing everything I learned from my father and am surprised to find Z is more upset than I expected him to be. “At least they aren’t related. That would have been a disaster. And I know you didn’t want my dad to know that you knew about the affair, but under the circumstances, I had to talk to him. I hope you’re not upset.” After thinking things through, I decided I had to admit to Z that I’d told my dad. There was no other way for me to explain knowing that Livia wasn’t Dad’s biological child. Besides, it’s time for the secrets to come to an end. I feel better knowing I’ve been honest. “I don’t care about what your father knows, but I’m going to wring Nevio’s f*****g neck. How many f*****g times do we have to go through this?” His venomous words crawl along my skin like angry ants. How many times has Nevio gotten someone pregnant? This has happened before? Does Nevio have other children out there in the world? “Z, what’s going on?” I dread hearing his explanation, but I have to know the truth. He stops and looks at me with trepidation—a worrisome emotion to see on a man like Zeno. “My brother … our brother … is a s*x addict. I didn’t tell you about his issues because regardless of what you and others may think, I don’t want to hurt Nevio. People with gambling or alcohol addictions aren’t looked at the same as someone whose weakness is s*x. At least as a man, he isn’t condemned like he would be if he were a woman with the same problem. That is his only saving grace. He cheats and manipulates everyone in his life, and I know that’s the addiction poisoning him, but it’s hard to separate the two. He’s been in and out of rehab. He has a counselor and resources, but celibacy rarely lasts long, and once he has s*x, the cycle starts all over again. s*x in moderation has been beyond his reach.”