Love in Purgatory (De La Fuente Family 2)

But she knew what she had to do with Dante, and once she knew her twin was okay, she’d be with the man she loved. It wouldn’t be easy because Dante was stubborn as hell, but she was optimistic for a future with him. She honestly didn’t want to think about a future without him because that wouldn’t be something that she could accept.

Sudden shuffling outside her bedroom door drew her attention so, without waiting, she moved and yanked the door open and found Diego. She pulled him into her room and led him over to the chair, pushing him into it, as she perched on the edge of her bed.

He looked shell-shocked and she didn’t know what to do to snap him out of it, but then he met her worried gaze.

“You knew,” he accused, quietly.

She nodded, and felt that all fight had left him.

“Aiden’s known since he was a kid...how long have you known?”

“What? What do you mean that Aiden’s known? I don’t understand.” Her mind was spinning. How could he have known? He was only a child when it all happened.

“Aiden was hiding in the closet when his mom begged Dad and Mom to marry. He heard everything but didn’t really understand. He admitted to forgetting about it after his mother’s death, and that it had been a long time until he thought about it. When he did, he wasn’t sure whether or not he’d dreamed it up so he left it.”

“Poor Aiden...how are you? You’re too quiet and that’s frightening.”

He sat back and looked relaxed, but she didn’t let that fool her. Diego was the brother to act first, instead of thinking.

“I’m numb...I’m also old enough to know that Emiliano is still our father. He put his name on our birth certificates; he’s never treated us differently than the others. There’s a small piece of my heart that hurts because he didn’t father us, but I know he loves us and always has. It’s weird but it isn’t, if that makes any sense?”

“It does,” Emelia whispered.

“How long have you known?” Diego raised a brow and waited.

She might as well go for broke. “I overheard them talking when I was eighteen,” she admitted. “I wanted to tell you so badly, but I wasn’t one hundred percent

sure that what I heard was fact so I kept quiet. Then it just went on and it became harder to talk to anyone, so I didn’t bother and tried to ignore it. I couldn’t anymore, which is why I asked them about it two days ago.”

“So that’s why we got the call and they told us now.”

Emelia nodded and braced herself for her brother’s anger, which never came. It still could, but he really was quiet.

Her anger and upset had happened so long ago, and the other day, it was Dante’s rejection that had broken her heart more than anything their parents had to say.

Unable to keep her distance from Diego, Emelia stood and climbed onto his lap. He hesitated and then wrapped his arms around her.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I was upset at the time and didn’t want you to suffer as well, especially as you were going through an ‘I hate everything’ time. I didn’t want to risk you rejecting Father, and then, like I said, it had been left so long that I didn’t want to bring it up...do you forgive me?”

“God, Emelia.” He kissed her forehead. “I don’t even have to think about that because, of course, I forgive you. You’re my sister, my twin. That means more to me than anything.”

She still felt uncertain by Diego’s lack of response to what he heard because she expected his volatile self to appear. But no, he was subdued.

All she could hope for was that she was around when it really sank in with him.

Chapter Twenty

Dante had avoided the Bishop’s calls since he’d been back in Frederick and he knew that it wouldn’t be long before he received an unexpected visit from him. He didn’t know what to say or admit. He certainly couldn’t talk about Emelia to anyone, which drove him crazy, and he didn’t want to bring up with the bishop his thoughts on leaving the church. He’d never been so confused.

But for the past three nights since he’d left his family’s home, he’d woken in the night sweating and tangled in his sheets with dreams of Emelia.

He’d been a cold bastard to her when he found out the truth, but once he’d got himself under control, he’d talk to her. He had to. His conscience wouldn’t allow anything else. What he’d say, he had no clue, and he hoped the words would come when she stood in front of him.

They didn’t…

He came out of his office and was about to walk toward the kitchen when someone banged on the front door. With his foul mood, he was tempted to let Barbara get the door, but sighed and opened it wide...and there she stood. He closed his eyes and opened them again to make sure she wasn’t a figment of his imagination.

“Let her in.” Barbara shuffled at the side of him, nudging him out of the way.