CHAPTER 50: HER REAL IDENTITY

"Jackson," Valentina muttered under her breath.

Her feet switched directions, and she began walking towards him.

"If she takes one more step, break one of his fingers!" Luciano ordered at the top of his voice.

One of the guards that led Jackson in, swiftly held his hand, ready to follow the bosses orders.

Valentina stopped dead in her tracks, and with eyes that held hurt, turned towards Luciano. "Why are you doing this?"

Her voice made him pause. It was soft, and filled with hurt, and confusion.

"I want the truth. " He shook himself out of the trance she was about to induce, and returned to his seat.

Daniela couldn’t keep the smile off her face. She had hoped for this day for too long, and now it was finally here.

Her gaze moved to Aurora to see if she shared her sentiments.

"So boring," she thought with a scoff when she saw her admiring her fresh new set of nails instead.

"I will ask just one more time, Natalia. Why are you in Italy."

"We—"

"We came to Italy to meet Mr Giovanni Ferrari," Natalia replied, drowning out whatever Valentina was going to say.

Their gaze met, and Natalia’s eyes were apologetic. But not enough to be silenced.

"So you’ve said. But what is the reason for seeking an audience with him? The real reason, and not the made up version I’m quite certain your friend made you quote."

Valentina scoffed under her breath, but held her tongue otherwise.

"Well, the reason we came to see Mr Giovanni Ferrari is because—"

"You know," Valentina couldn’t help herself. "You definitely know."

Luciano’s deadly gaze shifted to her. "Did I not tell you to shut up? Or do you just love listening to yourself speak?"

"You know why we’re here," she continued, not minding him. "So save us the humiliation ritual. If you know, then you know we did not seek to harm Mr Giovanni. Why the heck are you still treating us like prisoners?"

"I Will do what the fuck I want to do, and I’ll be damned if I’m questioned by you!" Luciano roared, and for the first time, Valentina flinched.

He was so different from the man she was getting used to. She just couldn’t fathom what would inspire such a swift shift in character.

It couldn’t be because of the real reason they were in Italy. Whatever did that even have to do with him?

"Go on Natalia," he said, satisfied that he had put some fear in Valentina.

Salvatore’s gaze swept towards Elio whose head was down.

The poor boy hadn’t really seen this side of the man he considered his role model before.

This wasn’t Luciano who meted out punishments to those who had erred, and brutally so too.

This was a man who was hurt and wounded in the deepest way possible.

"You think they’re going to confess?" He whispered to Vittorio.

"They do not have a choice."

Natalia cleared her throat, and in a moment of strength, she fully looked towards Luciano. "We wanted to meet Giovanni Ferrari because he is—" her lips began to tremble.

"He is what for fucks sake? I’m getting bored of this boring show." Aurora faked yawn.

"Ro, it will be in your best interest not to interrupt her again," Luciano warned.

"Sìfratello

." Her voice was sarcastic, as she rolled her eyes hard.

"You may proceed Natalia," Daniela said on behalf of her man, taking the role of his queen.

Valentina’s chest burned harsher. She was immensely pissed.

"Giovanni Ferrari is my father," Natalia blurted out.

"What?!" Daniela sprang to her feet. "What are you talking about? How is papa your father? That is impossible!"

A smile graced Natalia’s face towards Daniela. "It’s true, Daniela. That’s why I’ve wanted to be close to you. You’re my sister. He’s truly my father."

"You are a filthy liar! There is no way in hell you are my sister!" She pointed an angry finger towards her.

"I swear on my life Daniela, I am. I even have letters from my dead mother to prove it. At this moment, the letters are hidden in the room we were staying in until Valentina’s unfortunate accident in the sea. Right Val?" She turned to Valentina to come to her aid.

"Is this true? Tell me it isn’t?" Daniela pressed Valentina too.

"It’s true," she replied.

Luciano inhaled sharply. Now they were getting somewhere.

"You’re fucking lying!" She began walking towards Valentina. "You’ve thought long and hard for a way to steal my man, and since nothing has worked, you push your friend into peddling this insane narrative so you can remain here and have all of the access to Luciano!" She stopped in front of Valentina, her chest heaving in rage.

Valentina did not flinch, neither did she move an inch. She just held the gaze of the raging woman, daring her in her heart to do anything violent so she could unleash the anger already swelling inside of her.

"That’s enough, Daniela," Luciano said.

"You can’t say that!" She broke eye contact first, and whipped her head behind. "How is it possible for Papa to be her father? You of all people know it’s not possible!"

"Well it is, and she is," he spilled. "Her mother’s name is Maria Esposito Gomez. I’m quite certain the last name rings a bell to you."

Daniela staggered back. "H-ow?" She stuttered.

"How did you know her full name?" Natalia questioned, her heart in her mouth.

"Because my mother has the same last name," Daniela said, and broke into a run towards the door.

"Salvatore!" Luciano called, and instantly, he knew what to do even without being given direct orders.

Valentina stared at her friend, wishing she could go comfort her. But the cold Luciano De Luca had kept her trapped to a spot.

She couldn’t risk Jackson being hurt just for her sake.

"And here I thought this was going to be boring. So if Natalia is Daniela’s sister, who is Valentina in all of this?" Aurora questioned messily.

"The one million dollar question, right? Who is Valentina Quinn?" Luciano parroted a mocking tone.

Valentina’s heart squeezed as she looked up to see he was looking at her.

For a moment there, her face stole his breath away.

He fought to remain in sane ground. But it was too difficult with a woman that looked the way she looked.

Luciano knew if he looked at her any longer, his heart would soften. And so he quietly tore his gaze away from her.

"Coward," Valentina whispered in her mind.

"Well then tell us who she is. You have me curious now," Aurora grinned from ear to ear.

"I’ll let her tell us herself," Luciano said.

Valentina’s heart skipped a beat. There was no way he knew about her. That secret was too protected to be just easily revealed.

But then again, it couldn’t be that hard to figure who she was through Natalia and her mother.

Although, they would also need solid proof to tie everything together.

They simply were never laying their hand on that proof.

"Chopchop, Valentina. Or how do you Americans say it again? Time is ticking. I have a hair appointment. Who are you?" Aurora questioned impatiently.

"I’m Valentina Quinn," she replied.

"Break a finger," Luciano ordered.

"No stop!" Valentina screamed.

Luciano lifted a hand, and the guard paused. "Are you ready to tell the truth now?" He looked Valentina directly in her eyes.

"Cold bastard," she muttered under her breath, ensuring he could read her lips.

And when his eyes further darkened by that insult especially coming from her, she answered.

"I’m Valentina Quinn Wallace."