Devastating Secret™

Epilogue

Two years later...

"I was wondering when you were going to pay me a visit," Roland smirked then tenderly touched his ribs and winced. "Still recovering from my family time with my bro though. Seems different now. I don't remember him being that...um...what's the word...uh dark?"

"You sold his daughter," Eva said softly, "what do you expect?"

"He gained a brother." Roland pointed out. "Besides, he can have more. And don't forget she was my niece too. Not that anybody seems to care."

"What is wrong with you?" Eva whispered.

"One would argue the same thing about you, Miss Green." Roland countered. "I'm a survivor just like you." He turned away. "Sometimes, surviving costs."

"And I'm supposed to feel sorry for you now?" Eva spat then stooped and gripped his chin in her gloved hand making him face her once more. "She was our little girl and you took her from us. He welcomed you into our home like family..."

"I AM FAMILY!" Roland shouted.

Eva straightened away from him. "Like my father was family? Like the Marchesi is family to you?" Roland clenched his jaw as she went on. "The Marchesi. You sold her to them!" Eva took a calming breath then asked. "How much?"

Roland's smirk returned. "She wasn't one of the boys so...not much. He wanted a son for a son."

Silent tears fell down Eva's cheek as she realized this was partly her fault. After swiping them away angrily, she asked. "Why?"

"Your husband asked that already..." Roland began rubbing his bruised jaw.

"That's not what I meant!" Eva cut in. "You had years to make Noah pay. It was because of Veronica wasn't it?"

Roland pouted then nodded.

"Being second to Noah all your life then ending up as a second choice by your own wife.... harsh," Eva stated in a monotone. "So, you decide to ruin the life of an innocent child? How does that justify things for you?" At his silence, she strolled around his windowless cell and sniffed delicately at the stench. "I see how much your life has improved by making Noah pay because your mother couldn't keep her legs closed..."

He rushed her then paused as he remembered who he was dealing with. Then under her intense glare, he slowly resumed his seat on the straw cot.

"Pathetic." Eva sneered. "No wonder you were second best. Noah wouldn't have wimped out." She turned her back on him and continued softly. "Your life here will last as long as my daughter's and whatever she forced to suffer so will you."

"You know where..." Roland said in disbelief.

Eva gave him a jerky nod. "Sadly, I cannot retrieve her without .... repercussions, but know this..." then she turned and faced him "you will never forget her name nor anything about her.... because family suffers together." Then she leaned in and quoted, "Your brother's woe shall be your woe." Eva kicked at the steel door alerting the guard then let herself out after the door was opened maintaining eye contact with Roland as she did.

After she was gone Roland felt his shoulders slump and ran his hands over his face. He was expecting her to attack him from the moment she entered but instead, she was calm and collected throughout their entire exchange. This was bad. Making her revert to assassin mode was very bad. He really wished he slept better last night because he knew it would be the last night he would ever sleep soundly again.