Chapter 42

“Emma? You didn’t want him in your life. I did what I thought you’d want. He wanted money, so I gave it to him on the understanding he would stay away.” He catches my arm this time and hauls me around to face him. “Il mio tesoro, bambina, ti amo.” He’s trying to sweet-talk me.

“Fuck off with your fancy foreign words,” I spit childishly, pushing him away, my hands flat on his exposed torso. “I can’t even speak Italian, so for all I know, you’re calling me names!” I try to tug my arm out of his grasp, but he only pulls me closer, smiling indulgently as though I’m a child throwing a tantrum. In a way, I feel like one and could easily stamp my feet all over his right now. I’m seething.

“Do you want to see him?” he asks, trying a different approach to distract me from what he’s done. He raises his eyebrows in question, and I hesitate.

Not a chance, Carrero. I’m seething with you!

“No! But it still gave you no right to pay off that asshole. He’s my biological fathe