Evelina

(xiii)

Evelina

"Evelina Giannino, I expected better from you," Papà's voice was heavy with disappointment, and it cut through me. I hated it when Papà was upset with me. He always treated me good and making him upset made me feel like I am not good enough for him.

"I couldn't stay locked up in here, Papà," I replied, crossing my arms defensively over my chest. "If I hadn't gone, they would have walked right into that trap. The location was compromised from the start."

Papà's eyes softened slightly, but the frustration was still there. "Evelina, how is the baby?" His tone was suddenly gentler, the concern slipping through his tough demeanor.

"Fine," I answered quietly, feeling the weight of everything sink in all at once.

"Come here, figlia mia," Mamà called softly, her voice laced with guilt. (My daughter.) 

She took my hand as I approached, squeezing it gently. "Evelina, my dear daughter, La mamma si scusa per essere arrivata così tardi." Her words carried the burden of regret. (Mom is sorry for arriving so late.)

"Why, Mamà? Quello che è successo?" My voice was filled with concern, searching her face for answers. (What happened?)

"Devi essere stato molto stressato per la scomparsa di Vincenzo," she murmured, her voice breaking slightly. (You must have been through a lot of stress over Vincenzo going missing.)

I nodded slowly, like a child, feeling the weight of her words and the grief that still clung to me. She pulled me into a hug, wrapping me in a warmth I hadn't felt in so long.

"Amore mio, dovremmo essere arrabbiati con Evelina," Papà grumbled, but there was a teasing lilt in his voice as he watched us. (My love, we supposed to be angry at Evelina.)

I shot him a glare, breaking away from the hug. "One grandchild and you've already softened up, Papà. I should've kept my pregnancy a secret."

"You're pregnant?" I heard a voice that I missed so badly ask.

Turning around, I saw Alexandro standing there, his eyes wide with curiosity and excitement. My heart swelled, and I opened my arms wide. "Xandro, baby, how are you?" I asked with a grin, waiting for him to run into my arms.

He ran to me without hesitation, hugging me tightly. "Seconda mamma, I missed you." (Second mama.)

I held him close, savoring the moment until I felt another presence behind me. Mateo, ever the attention-seeker, gave me a mock-accusing look. "Lina, no hug for me? We come meet you, and you don't even say hi?"

I rolled my eyes playfully. "I'm sure all your girlfriends miss you more than I do, Mateo."

In truth, I missed him terribly. I missed all of them, but saying it out loud would be admitting defeat, and I refused to lose. That wasn't how I played the game.

"How did you know about that?" Mateo asked, his brows furrowed.

"Enzo told me," I replied with a shrug, enjoying the way Mateo's expression shifted into mild panic. "Apparently, you weren't very forthcoming with your details, which made him... angry."

Before Mateo could respond, a familiar voice thundered through the air, freezing me in place.

"EVE MORRIGAN!"

I turned slowly, knowing exactly who it was before I even saw his face. My biological father, the man who had once tried to control every aspect of my life, stood there glaring at me. I met his gaze, unflinching, still dressed in my Queen attire.

"Name's Evelina Giannino, but, yes?" I asked coolly, as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

"How dare you trick us and come to the fight?" His voice was shaking with rage, but I just smirked.

"Who are you?" I shot back, my tone full of mockery. It took him a moment, and I relished in the confusion that clouded his face.

"Eve, don't start this game," he warned, his anger barely contained.

I ignored Papà's low growl of caution, "Evelina." "Listen here, you sperm donor," I spat, the venom in my voice catching him off guard. "You don't get to storm into my life out of nowhere and demand to be part of it. Not after everything you put me through. And you definitely don't get to choose who I marry, because news flash—I'm already married."

My eyes flashed with determination as I looked him dead in the eye. "And if I have to kill that German idiot to keep my life with my Antonio, I will. So spare me your sudden interest in my life. It's too little, too late. It also makes you seem bipolar."

The room was deathly silent, every face frozen in shock. Even Tony, who usually had a calming presence, seemed momentarily stunned by the force of my words.

I let out a sigh, the tension finally weighing me down. "Tony," I mumbled, exhaustion creeping into my voice. "I want to sleep."

Tony stepped forward, wrapping an arm around me protectively. "Let's get you some rest," he murmured, leading me away from the stunned silence that followed my outburst.

As we walked, I could feel the weight of everyone's gaze on my back, but for once, I didn't care. I had said my piece.