Chapter 1355 - Interrogating Bruno (2)

On the other side of the one-way mirror, Jeff, Emma, and Charlie are listening to JoAnna's exchange with Bruno…

Emma is not breathing. A man named Angelo De Luca is her father? And he is the head of some organization called Nero armi? This is crazy. Unbelievable. But it all fits with the information they gathered so far: her father is alive, and currently somewhere in Southern Europe. Bruno has an Italian accent, and Italy is in Southern Europe.

Emma glanced at Charlie and met his gaze.

She inhaled with difficulty and asked weakly: "Did you know about this?"

Charlie shook his head. "I told you everything that I found out about your father."

Emma pressed her lips into a line and her expression showed that she is troubled.

Charlie's brows furrowed. Why is Emma looking at him like that? He thought of several possibilities and suddenly a sharp pain nearly tore his chest apart. He swiftly pulled Emma into his embrace.

"I swear, I didn't know…", Charlie said breathlessly. "Please, don't think that I am with you because of Nero armi. I have no interest in them."

Emma felt the emotions in Charlie's voice and her heart shook. She didn't know what to say. Should she tell him that she believes him, or should she call him a liar? Neither of those two options sound right.

Earlier that day Charlie told her more than once how she is too trustworthy and that she should be more vigilant. Does that apply to Charlie as well?

Emma already knows that Smiths are a power-hungry family and that they are ready to sabotage and even kill their kin in order to reach the top. Who is to say that Charlie didn't know that Angelo is Emma's father? How can she confirm that he didn't got close to her so that he can grab resources of the Nero armi? That additional power will definitely help him establish himself as the next head of the Smiths. What if Charlie is using her just how Bruno wanted to use her? Why else would a guy like Charlie who can have any of those rich and pretty girls be interested in a mere nurse? What if he knew that she is not just a nurse? What if all this between them is a lie? Emma's heart ached as her mind ran wild, each question more agonizing than the previous one.

"Emma?", Charlie called desperately. "Don't you trust me?"

Charlie looked at Emma's eyes which filled with tears and frantically caressed her cheeks, like he is trying to wipe off the last few minutes. Suddenly, Bruno was not important. And Smithsonite corp. was not important. And Jeff standing only two steps away from them was not important. Nothing was important, other than Emma.

"Don't do this… love, Emma… please. I will leave my work. I will leave my family. I will tell them that I don't want to take over after Jarred and that I don't want any inheritance or anything that is related to Smiths. Those things have no value compared to you… Jarred can pick someone else… We will go somewhere so that Angelo and Bruno and any of the Smiths can't find us… It will be just the two of us… Are you listening? Don't look at me like that… Please… We will go far away…"

Emma listened to Charlie's half-coherent rambling and her heart broke. Is she really doubting him? Last few months with Charlie were the best of her life. Will she allow this worm of fear to spoil all her beautiful memories and all her happy thoughts about the future with Charlie? Will she end up alone and wary of everyone like her mother?

"I'm sorry Charlie…", Emma said. "I'm sorry that I doubted you for a moment."

Charlie let out a shaky breath of relief and looked at Emma with a crooked smile on his face because he was trying hard to suppress his tears. Unsuccessfully.

"I don't want you to give up anything because of me.", Emma said while wiping off Charlie's tears.

"I would give up everything in a heartbeat because of you.", Charlie responded while wiping off Emma's tears.

Emma smiled. "I love you…"

"I love you more…", Charlie replied.

Emma and Charlie plunged onto each other, lips first, and they kissed like no one is watching.

Except… someone was watching.

Jeff was not sure what to do. He thought of just pretending not to be there, or maybe to leave, but this is his place, damnit! Ah, they started making smooching and sucking sounds! With every passing second, Jeff was getting more and more uncomfortable. He needs to leave this room!

In the interrogation room…

JoAnna took few seconds (or maybe few minutes) to recuperate from the information bomb Bruno threw at her: Angelo De Luca is Emma's father.

"Are you confident that Angelo is Emma's father?", JoAnna needed a confirmation.

"Yes. Angelo fathered four biological children. All four with Donatella: Emma, Mike, Sean, and Ryan."

"Are you confident that they are Angelo's kids?"

Bruno nodded. "Angelo has files on each of them, that is how I found out about Emma. I am aware of Angelo's marriage with Donatella, he still keeps their photos in his work desk. Second drawer on the right."

JoAnna scrutinized Bruno. "Why is Angelo not contacting them?"

"Donatella is not allowing it. I don't know the details, but something happened when the last two children were born and since then Angelo is keeping his distance from them. He has people watching them to ensure their safety from his enemies, but he never approached any of them."

JoAnna nodded absentmindedly. There is no point in doubting Bruno. Under the truth serum he must say what he knows, no matter how crazy it sounds. There was one more pressing issue: "You said that he never approached them. How come you are here? Did Angelo send you?"

"No. If he sent me, I would not come here by myself and pretend to be a tourist. If Angelo allowed me to get close to Emma I would disclose who I am…" Bruno frowned at the sight of Jeff coming into the interrogation room.

JoAnna glanced at Jeff questionably.

Jeff pulled a chair and sat next to JoAnna and said in a low voice: "They need some privacy… I think…" He gestured to JoAnna to continue.

JoAnna was not sure what is going on and why Jeff came here, but she didn't want to probe further in front of Bruno. She will trust Jeff's judgement.

"This is my husband.", JoAnna introduced Jeff to Bruno (like that is important) and turned to Jeff. "I think that we got the major points out of the way and it's safe to let him just fill in the gaps."

Jeff agreed. This is not related to the Army of Chaos, so it's OK for Bruno to tell them everything.

JoAnna decided to give Bruno a broad topic which will cover everything they need to know: "Tell me about Angelo and his relationship with his kids and where do you fit in that story and don't skip on the details…"

"Angelo married Donatella and fathered four children. Shortly after the birth of the twin boys he returned to Italy without her. At that time, he found me in an orphanage and since then I am following him…"

JoAnna and Jeff listened to Bruno's story with a knowledge that another couple (currently at the Adriatic Sea) is watching this through a live stream.

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