Chapter 22. Surprises

“What do you mean?” Alexandre asked.

“Jacobi was your father’s best friend,” she replied.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered under his breath, throwing her an incredulous look.

“Your father was very close to Jacobi. When he wanted to marry me, he introduced me to his best friend and we arranged for Jacobi to be the best man. We never knew that Jacobi wasn’t actually what he claimed to be. He always teased your father, telling him that he wouldn’t mind taking me as his own wife. Alessio and I got married and a few months later, I got pregnant. Jacobi seemed nicer and very much supportive. Somewhere around the eight month of my pregnancy, Jacobi and Alessio returned home from a mafia meeting. I was in the bedroom when I heard Alessio’s groans of pain…”

***

Several years ago

Alicia laid down on the bed feeling very uncomfortable with her large stomach. Her back was killing her, so was her swollen feet. Her babies began to kick hard and she wi