Family Ties (Morelli Family 4)

I can’t believe he’s being so open with me. I’m almost afraid to ask any questions and make him clam up, but I risk it to ask, “Why didn’t you just take her back, then?”

Smiling without humor, he says, “I always think the worst of people, Francesca. You know that. I shook it off and went back to the original plan. Once it was fully played out, Mia came home and told Vince how desperately she wanted to put me behind her. Mia isn’t a good liar, and I believed her. I didn’t want to damage her anymore, so I let her go. All of my information pointed to Mia wanting to get away from me. All of it. There was not a single indication from that moment on that she might actually care about me until I sat at the dining room table and listened to her lie to Meg—and even then, I took it to mean the wrong thing. I don’t think that way, so I didn’t see it as her looking out for my happiness. You know when I started to realize I’d been wrong because you’re the one who told me. You know how late in the game it was. Once again, it was too late. You want me to admit I never would’ve brought Meg here if I’d known then Mia wanted me for herself? Of course I wouldn’t have. But I did. Maybe I made the wrong choices, but I thought I was making the right ones. I thought moving Mia out and letting her move on with her life was right. I thought moving on with someone who actually wanted to be with me was the right choice. I didn’t think it would be hard to shake Mia. Meg is great, and a good partner for me. She’s smart, funny, strong and peculiar. We have things in common, and she has a pocket of love that’s all mine. Mia is no match for me. She’s the opposite of me in every way—simple, sweet, soft and easy. Stepping over her should be the easiest thing in the goddamn world, so why isn’t it?”

My heart is full, aching, and somehow sinking at the same time. As cavalier as I’ve been about the maid, it’s because he was resisting. Right now he’s being open with me, and now I can acknowledge that his situation is not as easily resolved as I want it to be. I don’t know why I keep trying to convince them both it is.

“I think it’s because you want what only she can give you—things you didn’t even know you needed. I think Mia is your perfect counterpart. The last person you were this hung up on was Beth.”

“That’s not exactly a glowing recommendation,” he points out.

“I know, and I think that’s why you’re rushing into things with the maid. You’re running from something scarier. You’re trying to sabotage something you consider to be higher-risk, someone who reaches you in a way no one else ever has—not even Beth. You know how much that hurt, so you know Mia could do worse, but she won’t. You know she won’t. Beth didn’t love the way Mia does. Beth would never sacrifice her own happiness for yours—never. Beth was selfish; Mia is the least selfish person I’ve ever met. That makes an enormous difference.”

Shaking his head with mild amusement, he says, “I don’t know why I even let you into this study. All you ever do is cause trouble.”

I can’t help grinning. “I resent that. I give you first-rate information. I’m a perfect mole.”

He watches me for another moment, his wheels turning. I can’t anticipate what he’s thinking, so I just wait to see if he’ll share.

Eventually he completely throws me by saying, “I’m sorry I hired Luca instead of killing him. I should’ve killed him.”

I feel a little dazed, both because Luca Delmonico is the last person on the planet I want to think of ever again, and because I don’t think Mateo has ever apologized to me before.

“I’m going to shut down his operation,” he states. “I don’t trust anyone else to run it and it’s…” He trails off, shrugging. “I don’t want to do it anymore.”

“You’re going to fire him?” I ask a bit dimly.

“No.” He meets my gaze, then he says, “I’m going to give him to Salvatore.”

“Give him…” I stop, eyes wide, and shake my head. “Sal knows?”

Mateo nods. “He really loves you. You found a good one this time.”

I can’t help smiling. “Yeah, I did.”

“I’m glad. You deserve it.”

Heaving a sigh, I haul myself out of my chair and walk around his desk. He has to know it’s coming, but he still manages to look surprised when I bend down and hug him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I love you,” I add, pulling back and standing.