Francesca Romano

Chapter 42 | Vincent Romano

Francesca pov

My mom went to her room to change as I removed my heels and walked to her fridge. I took a chilled wine , aged 49 years and two glasses as I walked to the couch where my mom was already waiting. I handed her a glass and popped the bottle. "So Bambino, you want to know everything?" My mom asked as I poured for myself and nodded. "It's not an interesting story really." She said, taking a sip. "Mom, our whole life is an interesting story." I told her.

"Vincent and I met young and married young. When I met him he was on the verge of alcoholism. Vincent was homeless and ran with horrible crews to get by. When I took him in my parents weren't too happy. Too rich to be seen with the poor. But he cleaned up his act. Was the sweetest person ever. He loved and adored me and only me. All the good stuff." I watched as her eyes glazed over with tears as she thought back to those days.

I moved out of my parents house, graduated early, bought this house and became a college professor. My dream job always. Then I got pregnant." She smiled at me and ran her hand through my hair as I leaned my head into her hand. "Me and your father were so excited and happy. We loved you before we knew you. But see Vincent wanted a boy really badly. He wanted a soldier, second in command to him. He was a bit upset when it was a girl but he loved you no less."

I wanted to cry listening to my mom talk but Ik that would only make her upset. "We were happy waiting for you to join us here, but then one of the crews he used to hang out with got bigger and more under the cop's radar but ran into some financial trouble. So they came back around to all the people they were lending money too and asked for it back. At the time your father was just working a day to day job but the money was no problem. I gave them double what they asked for. Cash."

I listened like she was reading me a book as I poured us both another round of red wine. "Vincent got annoyed that he didn't have the money to give . Bitter. Then violent. Abusive. Secretive. Manipulative. Argumentative. Became a full blown drunk.Then Enzo came back, found out I had you and saw potential in you while Vincent scowled around praying for a miracle." She moved her hand from my face. I was confused. "Enzo De'Luca? Dad brought us into this?" I asked and she sighed.

"Yes, and Enzo promised me protection and more money than I've ever seen. I was young and took it. But in return he said if you become something big he'd want some benefit of whatever it was and if he could get benefited from it.  Your father wouldn't fight, he didn't care so yeah I accepted his offer." I scoffed thinking about how my life had only ever been dominos my parents were playing.

"Then at a young age I noticed your love for helping people taking care of the sick, Francesca. I knew... we knew you'd be a doctor. Your dad was proud but was sexist and thought a man could be a better doctor than you'd ever be. So whatever. I got endless amounts of money to take care of you and your brother, I signed off the hospital I knew I'd buy for you. You were bound to this life and I am sorry bambino."

"It's okay you were young right? I mean you've fucked up my life but you were young." I drank the rest of what was in my cup before starting to drink out of the bottle. "Mom, the contract started with Enzo, why didn't it end with Reid?" She sighed and placed her glass down, turning to sit facing me.

"Francesca Enzo was more than a friend. He was my way to freedom." She told me. "What's that supposed to mean?" I watched as her eyes dried up and she put her cold steel gate back up. "Your father didn't die of natural causes, Bambino. Enzo helped me poison him." My eyes widened at her words, shock freezing me still.

"A shot between his toes. Made him numb for 15 minutes before he had a heart attack. Now that's the leverage he has over me, to hold the contract. If I knew a way for you to break it I'd help you honestly." She went silent as I processed  her admitting to murder. I couldn't exactly get upset, she made my childhood better by killing him. No more hits and threats. Giovanni is safe from his father. But my mom just admitted to murder.

"I don't get it. You agreed to let him have my hospital. Why would he need leverage now?" I asked. "Because he was worried that when you became of age you'd freak out and wouldn't sign the contract." Well good in him because he was so fucking right. "Do you killed, dad?"

"Oh come on Francesca we both know I'm too pretty to go to jail okay." She laughs and I look up to her. "For what it's worth, you saved what childhood I had left mom." She pulled me in and hugged me as I chugged the rest of the wine behind her. "I'm friends with a cop you know." I said sitting back as she raised her eyebrows. "Bambino, if I go down, I'll make sure you come with me." She kissed my cheek as I rolled my eyes chuckling.

I've learned so much in the past two hours sitting here with my mom and Beverly popped into my head. 'If you don't know what to do then you ask yourself and the most knowledgeable people you know, but at the end of the day do what you know.' My mom was most knowledgeable but who else. Someone close to my actual Halston problem.

"Mom where does Enzo live?"