Dangerous Beauty: Part Two: A Mafia Princess by Michelle Hardin Page B

given me.” Anastacia’s voice began to shake with emotion as she spoke more quickly. “I never wanted to leave you. My plan was to disappear and raise you somewhere—far away from my fucked up life. Just us. But I couldn’t. My sins caught up with me, and I had no choice but to separate from you. I didn’t want to! I’ve lived in agony, wishing I could hold you, kiss away your tears, tell you how much I love you, and just . . .be your mother . . .” She took one step closer to Carter, who had gone silent. “I was young and stupid. I had gotten into some serious trouble, and I had no one to turn to but your father. You were just a baby, Carterina, and I did what I had to do to ensure your safety. I couldn’t be in your life, and you couldn’t know the truth about how much I loved you.” She took another step forward. “Your father had to pry you from my arms. It felt he was ripping my heart from my chest. It changed me—
you
changed me. I carried you inside my body. You’re a part of me . . . You’re all I have . . .” she whispered.
    Carter’s face was drenched with tears. She was sure she looked a mess, but she didn’t care. She was so confused and lost, and she had no idea what she was going to do next. She stood in the middle of her living room staring at her mother—
her mother!
Someone she thought she’d never meet. She didn’t know how to handle this situation. “Why are you doing this to me? Why are you trying to hurt me?” Carter whispered. She didn’t know what else to say. Carter couldn’t understand why the woman wanted to hurt her. She knew she shouldn’t even consider hearing her mother out, but curiosity about what she had to say won out.
    Anastacia’s hazel eyes warmed. “I would never want to hurt you. I love you so much, Carterina. That’s why I can’t leave. I . . . just can’t. I’ve been searching for you for five years . . . You’re better at hiding than I am.” She closed the distance between them.
    Carter’s body stiffened when Anastacia’s fingers lightly touched the tears on her face.
    “Carterina’s tears . . .” She stared at Carter’s face in wonder. “I’ve always wondered how you could look so much like me, but be so different. I envy your tears, my beautiful baby girl. Though I am filled with emotion at this moment, I find it difficult to express it with tears . . . I always have . . .”
    “I don’t know you,” Carter whispered, looking away from Anastacia. “I don’t trust you.”
    Anastacia grasped Carter’s chin and turned her face back to her. “Look at me, Carterina. Do not lower your eyes—”
    This was something familiar. Her father had told her the same thing many times, but she was sure Anastacia was aware of that. Carter looked up at her.
    “I know you don’t know me, Carterina, but I know you, and that’s a start . . .” She cupped Carter’s face softly. “As for trust . . . what did your father always say? Tell me, baby girl.”
    Carter looked into her mother’s loving eyes and cried her response. “Trust is never given—it’s earned.”
    “The words he spoke are true, honey. I promise you. I will do everything I must to earn your trust. We will move at your pace. I am not usually a patient woman, but you are my child. Patience is one of the many things I have for you that I don’t have for anyone else. I’m sure you’ve already heard, but your mother isn’t known to be the nicest woman in the world,” Anastacia said with a wink. “But it’s not just me . . . Your daddy was that way sometimes, too, but I’m positive you never got it as bad as I did when that man was mad . . .”
    Despite her sadness, a small smile appeared on Carter’s face. “You wanna bet?” Carter muttered. Her dad could be pretty vicious when he wanted to be, but then again, so could she.
    Anastacia laughed softly. “He spoiled you, Carterina. And you bullied that poor, poor man to no end.”
    Carter bit her lips to fight her laughter, but