Chapter 3
At 5 a.m., I finally heard footsteps in the hallway.
I lifted my head.
Damian came around the far end of the corridor.
He still had on the suit from the night before, wrinkled through with his tie pulled crooked, and he looked like he had not slept at all, with red rims around his eyes and stubble across his jaw.
Victoria stood behind him, holding Connor's hand, and the boy was white in the face and looked like someone had just pulled him out of bed.
Damian's eyes lit up the second he saw me.
"Elaine!" he called out.
He hurried toward me.
"Thank God. I knew you two were all right. Victoria said you got out, and I have been—"
"Damian," I cut him off, my voice cold and flat. "Our daughter is dead."
Damian froze mid-step.
"What?" His voice was barely a whisper, stunned.
He looked like his brain just short-circuited, unable to process what I'd said.
"Lily." I kept my voice steady.
I stared right at him.
"Our daughter is dead. Last night. While you were off with Victoria, saving Connor."
He stumbled back a step.
"No, that's not possible," he stammered, his voice shaking.
"Victoria said you were fine. She said Lily was just scared, that's all," he mumbled.
"So you just believe whatever Victoria tells you?" I shot back, my voice icy.
He turned to look at Victoria.
Victoria just stood there, white as a sheet, lips quivering.
She said, "I was only guessing.
"Damian, I'm sorry. I got it wrong."
Her voice came out thin.
"Guessing?" I couldn't help but scoff. "That excuse would never have been good enough for Lily, and it isn't good enough for the Corleone Family."
Victoria went paler than she already was.
Connor stood off to the side with his head down and would not look at me.
Damian turned back to me.
His legs buckled.
He collapsed to his knees.
"I'm sorry," he choked out. "Elaine, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I thought Victoria was telling the truth. I thought you two were safe."
"You thought what?" I spat, my voice cold as steel.
I crouched down so I was eye-level with him.
"Damian, do you know what Lily was calling for when she died?" My voice was steady, but my hands were shaking.
He looked up at me, eyes red and swollen.
I said, "She was calling for her daddy.
"She called for you all night.
"She waited for her father to come get her.
"She waited until the last second she had.
"And where were you?"
By the last line, I was close to screaming.
His mouth opened, and nothing came out.
I continued, "Lily loved you more than anything.
"What did you ever give her back?
"Our daughter."
I stared straight into his eyes.
I asked, "How many of her birthdays did you spend with her, from the day she was born until now?"
"I—" He dropped his head, covering his face as he sobbed.
I asked, "Did you even know she was allergic to seafood?
"Did you know she needed somebody to hold her when it thundered?
"Did you know the only birthday present she ever asked for was her father taking her to the amusement park?
"You didn't know any of it!
"All you know is that Connor likes his cake with extra frosting."
Damian stayed on his knees, shaking uncontrollably.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Sorry?" I sneered.
"Is sorry going to bring Lily back?
"You say you didn't know. You believed Victoria. You decided Connor needed you.
"All because Victoria told you Connor was your son?"
Damian asked, "How do you know about that?"
He froze, and so did Victoria, and even Connor stood there with his mouth open.
I snorted, "Of course I know.
"I'm the rightful heir to the Corleone family. Nothing happens in this city that I don't hear about.
"So let me tell you one more thing."
I leaned in close to his ear.
"Connor was never your son.
"The two you ran to save were a liar and her bastard.
"The one you left behind was your own blood."
Tears streamed down his face.
I couldn't tell whether the guilt was real or whether he was putting on a show.
Either way, I no longer cared.
"Damian," I said quietly,
"Let's get a divorce."