The Life: Sacrifice (The Life 3)

“You heard her.”

“Felix!”

“Like he said, it’s her house.”

“Even so, we’re her parents; she’s still too young to inherit surely.”

“Don’t ever call yourself my parent again. You’re nothing of the sort and never was. Parents don’t mistreat their wards; not even animals do that.” Well, some do but go, baby, you’re on a roll.

“Didn’t you hear your own daughter just admit out of her own mouth that you forced her to pick on me? So, all those trips down the stairs headfirst were your doing. What about when you sent me to bed hungry? Or all the lies you told my dad about me, to make him hate me, were you my parent then?”

“I never told any lies. You were mean and hateful, wasn’t she, Victoria?” Dumb as a stump, can she really not tell which way the wind blows?

“Mom, it’s over. I’m sorry, but you’ve done too much, and now it’s all coming to light. I can’t save you. I can only ask for dad and Gianna to forgive me for what you made me do to her all these years.” Cue the crocodile tears that never came: just dry heaves and even drier eyes.

“I think I told you before; her name is Gia. Isn’t that what you made everyone else call her because you were jealous of her name? How beautiful it was? Or was that your mom too? Did your mother lie to all Gianna’s friends and turn them against her?”

“What’s this?”

“Oh, Fontane, you still don’t know? When you made all those visits this week, didn’t you think to ask why they all dropped Gianna in favor of Victoria?”

“Yes, that was mom’s idea, all of it.”

“Why, you little bitch.” Becky cracked Victoria across the face, and she ran to Fontane. I looked at Gianna to see her rolling her eyes; no fucks given.

I squeezed her hand when she opened her mouth to speak, then mouthed the words not yet with a shake of my head. “So, Becky, when are you leaving? This one has homework to get back to; we don’t have all night.” If hate had a look, I just caught it.

“And don’t take anything from here. The clothes on your back, that’s all you deserve. Everything you have was bought with my mother’s money one way or another.”

“Where am I supposed to go?”

“Hell would be a good start. Now get out of my house before I call the police. Don’t look at dad he can’t save you. I’ll just call my grandma if he even tries, then no one will have anywhere to live.”

“Gia…”

“Don’t start, dad; don’t even start.”

“I think you should leave Becky.”

“Yeah, and thank your lucky stars that we don’t have enough evidence to have you charged with murder.” Gianna went in for the kill.

“I didn’t kill anybody. Felix, are you really going to take their word against mine?”

“I don’t see why not. You’ve done nothing but lie to me our entire marriage. I’m tired; you should go.”

“Not to worry, Fontane, there’s no statute of limitations on murder. I have someone working on bringing a case against her. If push comes to shove, we can always go with exhumation, but I’m trying to spare Gianna that. She’s been through enough.” Fontane did the only thing I could respect since we met. He went to the room’s entryway and pointed to the door in a silent order for Becky to get out.

“I’ll let you keep the car for now….”

“Dad!”

“It’s okay Gia, I’m not letting her keep it, but since she can’t stay here, she’ll have to find someplace to go, and there are no hotels within walking distance. I doubt the neighbors would welcome her at this point.”

“I don’t really care. She talked you out of letting me drive the car mom left for me, claiming I was too careless to even get a license while her daughter drove around in a luxury car. If that wasn’t bad enough, she even sold my car, so no, she should walk to wherever she needs to.” Now that’s the Russo twins talking right there. Then again, Anna and Rosa would’ve stripped her naked, down to her bare feet. They’re vicious like that.

Becky left the room screaming obscenities and headed up the stairs, apparently to get her important papers. I glared Victoria out of the room to give Gianna and her dad some space after telling Greta she could leave with the team that was waiting for her outside. Her job here was done, but since she means so much to Gianna, Pop already had a job lined up for her at one of his places back in the city.

“What a mess.” Fontane dropped down in his chair, looking worn. “I’m so sorry Gia, I guess I really let you down.”

“You did more than that. You lost me.” Good girl!