Alessio
“Daddy!”
Naty’s voice filled the halls as she burst through the door, Melody and Mom trailing behind her. She ran into my arms, and I scooped her up before twirling her around in a big hug. As always, she greeted me with cheerful giggles. I had a fucked-up day yesterday, the days before that, and today would be no different-but if there was someone who managed to make me smile, it was her.
“Hey!” Mena laughed beside me, playfully snatching Naty from my arms. “You mean, Mommy!” she corrected her with a grin.
“Yes, Mommy!” Naty planted kisses on her cheek. Watching them together did something to my heart, and knowing we would soon have a new addition to our family felt like a blessing.
I greeted Mom and Melody with the same energy, but soon after, my spirits sank. How could they not when the one I had referred to as a brother turned out to be a fed?
“Where’s your dad?” Mom asked, pulling me back from my thoughts.
“He wanted to visit Stefano’s grave one last time,” I told her. He would be leaving again soon, and even though some advised him against visiting Uncle-he wouldn’t listen. He had already made it clear that he would spend as much time there as he could.
“Oh, okay,” Mom responded, dropping the subject. She had never been the type of person to pry too deeply, but that didn’t mean she was oblivious. She understood more than she let on about why she had to leave the mansion with the children or what kind of celebrations we were having-but she chose to stay out of it.
She wasn’t interested in the darker parts of the Fanucci family.
Out of the corner of my eye, I stared at Mena who had promised to take a step back after this. It was all I could wish for, and it wasn’t because I saw her as useless because she was far from that. I just wanted her to enjoy her life after finally breaking free from that monster.
It had nothing to do with her intelligence. Just this morning she had told me that I had to consider this ‘God’ person Anson was referring to might’ve been Isaac, meaning he might ultimately be the one responsible for Uncle’s death and Gian’s hand.
Then I put two and two together, and realized there was one important detail I had disregarded which made it all much more possible.
That small detail was so obvious, and made me feel so stupid-I refused to ever think about it again or to bring it up for that matter.
Never.
“I’m going to find Dante,” I whispered in her ear. Mena nodded. Both Dante and Donni had yet to hear the news, and I had to get Isaac out of the house as soon as possible so we could carefully consider our next steps.
“Mena,” Melody tapped her tiny finger on her arm. “There was this lady who taught us how to catch fish and Naty was really good at it!”
“Really?”
“Yes, but not better than me, of course,” Melody added with a smirk.
Mom pulled a face at the mention of fish, clearly not a fan, which brought a brief smile to my lips. She didn’t like painting, horses, camping, or fishing-but she was the type of mom to take an interest in our hobbies without a single complaint.
“Come on, you have to tell me all about it,” Mena placed her hands on the children’s back and walked off with them.
Mom stayed behind, and tilted her head as if she were trying to see through me. I gave her a faint smile as I lifted my brow.
“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.
“Yes,” I cleared my throat. “Why are you asking?”
Mom rested her hand on my shoulder, and her touch comforted me instantly. “Because I know my son. Are you okay?” she asked again, her eyes searching mine for the truth.
It seemed impossible to lie to the one who knew me best, that’s why I shook my head. “No, but I will be because I’m going to take care of it.”
Mom gave me an understanding nod. “I know you will. You always do.”
“Thank you,”
“So I don’t need to worry?”
“I don’t ever want you to worry. I got it under control,” I replied, hoping to reassure her.
Mom chuckled softly, seeing through my attempt to keep her at ease. She then walked away, and I released a breath-thankful she was not the type to drag it out of me. It wasn’t always easy to keep certain things from people, but some burdens were mine to bear alone.
Giving her stress about a situation that was out of her hands seemed insensitive.
–
I stepped outside to find Dante. The talk about Isaac was something that needed to happen, and the sooner it did-the faster I could take action.
I saw him lounging by the pool, shirtless, wearing sunglasses as if it were the middle of summer. The weather wasn’t even all that great, but Dante had always been one to do whatever felt right in the moment. Because of his free-spirited ways, Gian and I would often joke around and say that he was either adopted or switched at birth. It came to the point he had once felt the need to prove his identity with a DNA test.
Nearing my brother, I picked up one of Melody’s beach balls from the ground and threw it at his head to get his attention. Dante yelped as he rubbed the back of his head, then he turned around with a confused look.
When he saw it was me, his face broke into a smile, and he pointed to the chair beside him. “How is Mena doing? Everything alright between you two?” he asked immediately.
Of course, he would bring her up. He cared about her a lot, but he knew he had to keep boundaries. Even during our little altercation after I revealed removed the curtains, and revealed the heads, he had been the only one to tell me to tone it down for Mena’s sake.
“We’re good now,” I replied, settling into the chair beside him. He was in a good mood, unaware of the conversation that was about to take place.
“Good. Now that everything is officially over, this is where you’ll find me for the rest of the week,” Dante yawned, stretching out his arms.
I released a breath and clicked my tongue, knowing full well that things were far from over. “Dante, it’s only the beginning,” I sighed deeply.
“What?” Dante sat up.
I looked around to make sure no one was around, then leaned closer. “Levi is a fed. He doesn’t know we know.” I whispered. “His name isn’t even…” There was no need to beat around the bush when all routes would lead to the same end. Levi worked for the government, and that was that.
Now I waited for Dante’s reaction.