Gabriele’s pov.
I lay on the bed listening to the doctor’s dos and don’ts about my wound and rolled my eyes at Basilio who was glaring at me from beside the doctor. He knew I wasn’t listening, well why would I when I knew that he was there doing it and would probably nag about it when the doctor was gone?
About the accident, it started as we were going home. I noticed that we were being trailed and to lose them, me and Basilio drove to an abandoned site.
Well, who could’ve known that the men had guns and the hidden guards I had also lost us in the process of us losing the strange men. Well as expected there was a shoot-out between us and them. I and Basilio were prepared to hold them off as long as we could until the guards arrived. In the process, I was injured and luckily the guards came in time, and here we are in my room with the doctor blabbering his mouth off and Basilio glaring.
I really didn’t think it was a big deal. The injury that is. In our world, injuries like this were very common, but what was a big deal was the guts of the men that attacked me yesterday. We caught two of the men and they were now held in the prison. A part of me was looking forward to seeing Arianna’s reaction to my injury and I detested that part of me. She seemed worried about me and I admit it felt kinda nice.
The doctor went quiet all of a sudden and I snapped out of my thoughts realising that he was done and ready to leave. Doctor Adriano had been our doctor for years. I heard that he was there when my mother gave birth to me. I tried to sit up on the bed as he packed his stuff up and Basilio ran to my side nagging as well.
“Don’t you dare Fratello.” He warned his eyes narrowed and I rolled my eyes. I swore that when I recovered I’ll teach him a thing or two.
I ignored him and turned to face doctor Adriano who still had a kind smile on his face. “Thank you very much doctor, Adriano.”
He waved his hand “you don’t need to do that. Just follow all my instructions and you’ll get better.”
Basilio nodded at him and walked him out of the door. A few minutes later he was back and obviously displeased “follow which instructions? The ones you listened to or the ones you ignored?”
I sighed lightly and shot him a smug smirk. “At least you listened. I don’t have to do that.”
He ran a hand through his hair obviously aggravated “you…you are just so.. ugh. You don’t take your life seriously. What if it developed into something bigger huh?”
“It didn’t and it wouldn’t, okay? Just take a chill pill and relax.” I said, closing my eyes to rest.
He kept quiet this time around and spoke after a few minutes. “Your godfather’s coming today.” My eyes flew open and I turned to look at him and caught him grinning. “What? Why is he coming here now? Did you tell him about the injury?”
He smiled even wider. “Of course, I told him. I mean it’s been years since you had a gunshot injury so, of course, I told him. He’s coming here in the afternoon.”
I glared at him wishing that I could kill him with just glare and he crossed his legs on the sofa. “Com’on, don’t be like that. You look like you want to kill me but you won’t do it.”
I simply closed my eyes again. After all, out of sight, out of mind. I later forgave him and took a shower. I couldn’t have breakfast with Arianna this morning cause I had to have breakfast in bed. Soon I was out of the shower and dressed in casual home clothes. A black tee shirt and a pair of ash pants. I knew that my godfather would arrive at any moment.
Soon, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching my room and I sat up. I didn’t want to appear weak in front of my godfather. The door opened and I turned to look at him. He still looked the same. With a smattering of white hair and his neatly trimmed beard. He was a strong and tough-looking man but he had a heart of gold. He was there for me when I felt like I had nothing else to live for.
“You’re welcome, godfather.” I smiled at him and he gave one back in return. “Good to see you too Angelo.”
I groaned and eyed him tiredly. “Seriously godfather it’s been years since I was last called that. I’m too old for that nickname.” He smiled and sat down on the bed. “Well chap, it’s a beautiful nickname. Your mother loved it very much.”
The room suddenly went quiet when he said that and he gave my hand a gentle pat. “I heard you were injured and I came over to see you. It looks like you’re in good shape, not exactly what Basilio told me.”
“He’s always exaggerating. He just wants to make a big deal out of nothing and he’s achieved it.”
He smiled and replied. “He does it because he cares about you, Angelo.” I knew that very well. It was an undeniable fact.
“I’m sure that you’ve caught the men. Any suspect behind the attack?” He asked seriously, and I shook my head. “None for now. I’ve made a lot of enemies over the years and it could be anyone.”
He nodded and kept quiet a little as if he was hesitating to speak and I could guess what he wanted to say so I turned away and climbed out of the bed. “if it’s about my father….”
He cut in just as I was speaking. “… Marcelo heard about your injury. He cares about you, Gabriele. He may not show it a lot, but you’re his child. He loves you. Back then, he was having a rough time…”
I walked to the window, angry and hurt. So I cut him off rudely. “Godfather, I know that you’ve been friends with my father for years but nothing excuses his actions back then. I was a little more than a child myself and he abandoned me. Did he think I wasn’t having a hard time too?”
My godfather sighed and I ran a hand through my hair in exhaustion. This topic brought me back to dark places. Places that I didn’t want to revisit.
“Can we please drop this topic?” I asked as I looked outside the window and he replied “alright Angelo.”
I didn’t reply because something caught my eye downstairs. The old swing in the backyard was built by my mother. Arianna was sitting in it. I stared at her unblinking as the warm rays of the sun shone on her skin.
She was reading a book and was so entranced in it. She looked so peaceful and I felt that way as well, watching her. I didn’t notice that my godfather had snuck beside me and I jumped a little when I heard his voice. “Who is she? No lemme guess, one of your women.”
I shook my head. “Not yet, but she will be.” He looked surprised and I cocked a brow at him. “What? I’m surprised you’ve not gotten your way with her yet, cause most of the women you play around with can’t seem to get enough of you.”
“Well, not her,” I said and went on to tell him about the stunts she pulls off in my house. They escape the fights and arguments. The Godfather looked more amused than angry and I wondered why.
He laughed. “She’s got guts that’s for sure and she’s bold. I like her already and she’s a beauty.” I nodded that these are all true but then he just had to say one more thing. “You feel better talking to her Angelo. ”
I immediately shook my head and didn’t say a word. My godfather laughed at my self-defence mechanism as he termed it. We spoke at length about business matters and soon it was time for him to go. I insisted on walking him to the door and he couldn’t refuse.
“Take care of yourself godfather, it was nice of you to stop by.”
“Always my boy, take care of that wound and listen to Basilio. Have mercy on the poor guy for a change.”
Basilio looked at me with reproach and turned to my godfather. “Don’t worry Agostino sir. With me around, he’ll be okay and in good shape.” My godfather smiled and left the house in his car.
We walked inside and I was starting to feel a little pain from the gunshot wound on my shoulder.
“How was your talk?” He asked and my face turned cold. “It was good. He brought up my father again!”
Basilio sighed. “I know that you hate him, but you’ve got to admit that at that time everything was simply messed up. It wasn’t totally his fault..”
I turned to face him. “You can shut the fuck up if you’re gonna stand here and justify his actions. I have enough on my plate. I don’t need you breathing down my neck about Marcelo Andino.”
I stormed away and breathed out a long sigh. I remembered that Arianna was in the backyard and my unruly legs carried me there. The backyard was one of those places I never really went to after my mother passed away. It held a lot of fond childhood memories and a lot of love. I admired the flowers that my mother adored as I made my way to the swing. It was well taken care of, and there she was, sitting on the swing as she slept.
I walked over to her and leaned on a pillar as I stared. Her book had fallen to the ground and the front cover of the book was pretty surprising. I didn’t know she was into romance. She looked really beautiful and I lost myself as I stared. I didn’t know how long I’d peered for, but she slowly woke up and stretched. I watched how her boobs arched and imagined them in my palms. Simply perfect.
She turned her head to the side and our eyes met and held. She looked stunned, her eyes wide open and then I lost myself in her eyes.