“Perfect. That’s good. I’m sending the text in two hours. Be ready,” Stefano said.
I watched as he walked back into the room and sat in a chair in the corner.
“I’m so disappointed in you, Julia.”
“Shove it,” I said.
“All you had to do was what I’d asked of you. All you needed to do was get close to Romeo. Close enough so I could’ve put a bullet in those Martine boys’ heads without all of this extra heartache.”
“Go fuck yourself.”
“Does Matteo know?”
My eyes whipped over to my son as he stared at his uncle. A man he’d trusted. A man who now petrified him.
“Don’t,” I said.
“Oh. He doesn’t know,” Stefano said. “Then this first part will be fun.”
“Know what?” Matteo asked with a sniffle.
“You know Romeo? Mommy’s friend?”
“Stefano. Stop it,” I said.
“The one who got hurt that you two went to go see?” he asked.
“Stefano! Cut it out!” I exclaimed.
Matteo nodded his head as his eyes grew wide.
“He’s your father, Matteo. A disgusting Martine. Do you know what that makes you?” Stefano asked.
“Wh-wh—what?” Matteo asked.
“Garbage.”
“I’m going to rip your throat out,” I said.
“Mommy?” my son asked.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Everything’s okay.”
“Is it true?”
I panned my gaze over to my son as Stefano laughed in the corner.
“You’ll never get away with this, you piece of shit,” I said as I turned my gaze back to my uncle.
“I admire your spirit,” he said with a chuckle. “Too bad it’s come too little too late.”
Then he was out of his chair and across the room in a flash.
His hand cracked against my cheek, tossing my head off to the side. I heard my son yelling. Screaming. Shrieking for Stefano to stop. He slapped me again, whipping my head in the opposite direction as blood trickled from my mouth. He came down onto me again, my head bouncing back and forth.
“You stupid little bitch. All you had to do was listen. And now, you’ll suffer the same fucking fate he did!”
“Stop it! Uncle!”