Chapter 54
Dmitri
I crossed my leg over the other and reclined on the back rest of the armchair I was seated, gauging Rocco’s expression. He inhaled deeply at intermittent times and it was obvious that whatever issue he had was eating him up.
“Happy birthday, father-in-law. I’m sorry I came late,” I intentionally interrupted his train of thoughts.
He darted his attention away from the book he was trying to read and frowned. “Why didn’t you come with her? What if something had gone wrong?” He deflected.
“If you’re this concerned about your daughter, why are you giving her a hard time?” I retorted.
He clasped his hands together, lowering his head as he sighed wistfully. “I’m ashamed of myself,” He confessed.
A sly remark rolled to the tip of my tongue, but I held them back, seeing how bare he laid himself. He was already vulnerable and the last thing he needed was my judgment and criticism even though he deserved it.
“You’re a Capo, though, you aren’t supposed to be feeling this way,” I tried to douse his gloominess.
He raised his head and trained his gaze on me. “I saw your little girl and I know that you adore her so much. Tell me, will you be able to treat her the way I did to Ariel?”
Without thinking, I blurted. “Never,”
“That’s exactly why I’m ashamed. I wasn’t supposed to treat her that way,”
“Do you regret the alliance?” My voice dropped to a very low degree and for some strange reasons, I was becoming uncomfortable with this conversation.
I hoped he wasn’t thinking of annuling my marriage to his daughter.
“No, but I wished I’d done things in a better manner rather than shoving marriage down her throat. I was too sad when I realized that I wouldn’t be seeing her often and it spurred me to make stupid decisions. I even hit her because of that,”
My hands were tied as I didn’t know what to say to him or how to make him feel better. I wasn’t that good in offering words of consolation, but this man seated before me who acted all high and mighty needed my help, and I’d give it to him.
“Then why don’t you talk with her and let her know how you feel. The both of you are hurting and if you ask, I’m more worried about my wife,”
He whipped me a surprised look and chuckled. “I didn’t make a mistake handing over to you,”
“Of course, but I won’t be this cool with you if you say or do anything to provoke her again. She’s now under my protection and if you hurt her again, I’ll fight you if I must. I won’t remember that you’re her father,”
“Are you threatening me?” He looked extremely pleased even though I was openly challenging him.
“I don’t do threats,”
Truthfully, I barely threatened people. Everyone knew me to do whatever I said and it would be the same for him. When it comes to protecting her, I wouldn’t hesitate to go against whoever tried to put her in harms way.
Just as I’d promised Ariel, I’d taken the next flight after my discovery and it broke my heart to find her in tears while I assumed that they’ll be having a happy family reunion.
I should have understood her hesitation when I informed her of her father’s birthday dinner. Every other child would be happy to see her parents after being away for a long time, but she looked so uncomfortable.
Gosh, she’d be pissed at me right now, I realized.
“I’ll do what I must do, you don’t have to speak to me so condescendingly,” He scolded me and I scoffed.
Feeling more relaxed, we digressed into other matters including our businesses. Fortunately, the drug trade had taken a new turn ever since Vladimir began to date Marian.
My only fear was Vladimir realizing that he had feelings for Guilia which could lead him to breaking off the engagement. I couldn’t depend on Mr Thomas for a long time because of that.
“I hope you didn’t allow the Outfit to interfere in your business,” He headed for the wine cellar close to his bookshelf.
“What are you talking about?” I sat squarely.
He fixed me a blank look. “You’re a Capo and you don’t know what is going on in your territory?”
“Please go straight to the point,” I demanded impatiently.
He moved to the sofa behind me and nudged me to join him. Knowing that he wouldn’t say anything else if I didn’t do as he asked, I reluctantly join him.
He uncorked a bottle of Madeira and poured out its content into a glass cup. I snatched it and downed it without hesitation, my heart beating rapidly than normal.
“The Outfit has always been my enemy but they harbor a greater resentment for you, and ever since they discovered that we have become allies, they began to look for ways to bring you down.” He paused midway and took a sip from his drink. “They couldn’t hurt you directly because of our alliance so I’m guessing that they felt that interfering with your business will shake you up. I’m surprised that you’re still in business,”
Anger surged through my veins as I tightened my grip on the handle of the mug. “Why didn’t you tell me about it?”
He shrugged. “Because I was so sure that you had the situation under your control,”
“Those motherfuckers,” My jaw clenched in indignation.
“And be careful of the people you associate with. You don’t want to experience betrayal for the second time,”
“Mr Scuderi, what are you talking about again,”
“Few years ago, you fell in love with a beautiful woman… Anya, right?”
My eyes bulged. “How did you know about that?”
“She’s the only daughter of Mr Alphonso and she was sent to make you fall in love with her and then she’ll have you wrapped around her thumb. Did she succeed?”
My body went cold and my vision suddenly became blurry. A dull ache grew in my head and even when I stood up, the ground felt unstable under my feet.
I clutched onto the arm of the sofa to steady myself as I’d never been this befuddled in my life. “Anya was from the Outfit?” The words departed from my lips as a whisper.
“That means she succeeded,” He concluded.