“I should’ve known you’d react this way.”
“Which way?”
“That you’d face what’s happening at Valentini head-on.” When he stopped walking, I did too. “I’m sorry I doubted you, Pia.”
“What did you think I would do?”
“Go after Georgio. Maybe claw his eyes out.”
I laughed, and so did he. “I want to, believe me, but first, I have questions.”
Once at the farmhouse, I sat down on the sofa, next to my mother. She put her hand on my shoulder and stroked my hair.
“I’m so sorry we didn’t realize what was happening in time to save your papà. I am sad every day, thinking of my beloved husband.”
“I’m sorry, Mamma.”
She nodded. “Soon, this will all be over.”
Lucia, sitting on the other side of the room, nodded. “It will be. Very soon.”
“How did you know someone was trying to poison us?” I asked her.
She looked at Mylos, who nodded.
“First, we found out that was what killed your father. He had a heart attack, but it was a result of the poison.”
“Who poisoned him?”
Lucia looked at Mylos again. He nodded a second time.
“Stop doing that!” I shouted. “Don’t ask him what you can tell me. Just tell me.” I clenched my fists when she did it a third time.
“I’m sorry, Pia.”
“Just tell me,” I growled.
“We believe it was Georgio. Once Gabriella arrived, we think she’s been the one attempting to poison you and your mother.”
“Were you ever really ill, Mamma?”
“Sì, but only for a very short time.”
“Lucia…” I rubbed my stomach. I couldn’t say the words.
“That’s why I’ve been at the house, Pia. I’ve been intercepting your food and that of your mother’s. You and the baby are fine.”
That was
why she and my mother had acted so strangely when I took food from our kitchen down to the farmhouse.
“Who do you work for?” When she looked at Mylos once more, I wanted to jump up and slap her.
“I am an agent with the Agenzia Informazioni e Sicurezza Esterna.”
“And that is why you’ve been filling in for your mother?”
“Yes.”