Chapter 48
“He’s running a deli, isn’t he?”
“Her father’s deli. He’ll still do the odd jobs for Dad but it’s rare.”
“He used to be right at Mercurio’s elbow,”
“For a long time, the pecking order was Dad, Mercurio, Falco, Michel, and then Alfio. Since Falco is the spare, meaning if something happens to Dad or Mercurio, he has to step in and run the family, they don’t let the two older boys travel together, not since I was in middle school. Separate cars. Separate business ventures. If Dad brings Tako to a meeting, Mercurio stays behind. Michelo though always was involved until he got married the year after I left.”
“Another cousin?” Bastiano asked seriously.
“My mother’s sister’s husband’s cousin’s daughter.” Alcee m
made a face. “Not blood related but still icky.”
“Do you know why your b
brother works in the deli? Torg asked curiously.
“No. I know her father lost a couple of fingers in an accident on a slicer and my brother hopped in and helped but then he didn’t leave.”
“It’s not like your father to let him go. Bastiano, find out.”
“On it.” he pulled a bag from behind the sofa and opened a laptop and began typing away.
“Do you ever speak to your mother?” Torq asked her
“No. When I said I haven’t even laid eyes on my parents since the day I was kicked out I wasn’t kidding. I was told point blank if I’m in any neighborhood and they show up, 1 better get me and my bastard out of view. My mother told my brother as long as I was alive, she was content with it. She told him she knew I was strong, and I would find a way to survive and do well in this world and if it meant she obeyed her husband to make sure I could survive then so be it. I was alive and it was which mattered.”
Mercurio told you this?”
“Yes.”
“What about Antero’s baptism?” Tito asked quietly. “They didn’t come to it? Not even for face?”
“No. Tyrell helped me get it set up at a church away from my father’s parish and he made sure the church was protected to the hilt in case we were attacked during the ceremony. We don’t go to church much, but I made sure he was baptized. Antero is too cut and dry to understand the concept of God, he hates crowds with a burning passion, and he loathes loud noises. Taking him to church is never a good time. I tried once and the bells rang out overhead and he was pissed.”
“Which is hilarious considering he once made us chase a fire engine three blocks because he liked the lights and the noises of it.”
“I know, right?” she waved her hand at Susana’s comment.
Torq laughed at their exasperation. “As he gets older we will need to reintroduce him to church. It was important to my grandparents and there are some traditions I want to keep, please.”
“Fine but if he melts down, it’s on you.”
“He won’t melt down,” Torq shrugged. “He’s a smart kid, I’ll simply explain it to him. Let him know what will happen every step of the way and it’ll be fine. The more he goes, the more used to it he will be.”
“And what happens if we end up under fire in a sermon?”
“Not going to happen.”
“My father left here plotting your murder, Torg.”
Tory gave a nod, “yes he did and he’s going to do something stupid and then your brother will need to take over the family and then perhaps we can resume actual business again, though they will need to issue you and Ant a formal apology for their involvement in your father’s bullshit.” When Alcer looked to him in surprise he gave her a gentle smile, “do you think I didn’t miss the way you looked at your brother wanting nothing more than to go get the hug I could tell he was dying to give you? He might feel angry with you over the years, but he loves you.”
Chapter 48
“He snuck me food when I was in the cell the first time. The second time he begged me just to get the abortion so Dad wouldn’t kill me. He was worried for me. Will you kill my father Torq?” the question fell from her lips quietly and know what she sounded like.
Susana and Amal appeared to be curious to the answer of the question as well.
“There is a chance, my darling,” he stroked her shoulder softly. “he will miraculously pull his head out of his ass and do the right thing and rebuild his business in a way which doesn’t trade on the flesh of his family. He could leave here, experience a come to Jesus moment and understand he is the one in the wrong and come crawling back to you and beg your forgiveness. If this happens I will leave it in your hands?*
“And if it doesn’t? You don’t believe this will happen.”
“I fully anticipate my father is going to get wind of this bullshit from your father and offer him a way out of the mess he’s created. Kill me and Corrado will pay him handsomely.”
“It’s why you put doubts in Mercurio.”
“I needed to know whether your brother cared or not about the fact your father hurt you for no good reason. Your brother proved to me today blood runs thicker than money for him. He took the slap from your father today the way a son should in this world, but we all saw it. He wanted to punch your father into the fucking ground. Today fractured an already tenuous relationship. We’re going to exploit it. I’m a half step ahead of Corrado by getting into Mercurio’s head.”
“Do you really think our father’s will plot with one another?”
“I think if I know anything at all about my father, he’s already sorted out who my enemies are, and he knows who to approach for details on my life. He’s coming for me, Alcee and he knows you are in my life. If I’m going to protect you and Ant, I’m going to do it making sure I’m using every trick in the book, including making your brother consider betraying your father.”
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