Chapter 142
“Mama.” Torq looked at his mother. “You are the one I owe the biggest apology to. You gave me life. You sacrificed so much to bring me into this world, to raise me with love and compassion and understanding. You were married to a horrible human being and were part of a family you never really wanted to be part of and yet you held your head up with dignity and grace and raised the son of a man who disrespected you on every level far better than most would, You never ask me for anything. Except to never be faced with the woman who tore your family apart and last night I disrespected you.”
“Torq, you are my son. I love you. I never questioned raising you or having you.”
“I know and it is what makes you special and important and you are the matriarch of our family. Tito reminded me last night my grandparents held you in high regard and it was their decision not to acknowledge the bastard child of Corrado, and it was out of respect for you. Not because they wanted to harm a child but because they couldn’t bring themselves to hurt you when you, your entire life did nothing but exist with love and grace. You exemplify everything good about the world Mama and hurting you is a shame I’m dealing with right now.”
Brunella sniffed and reached for her coffee cup with shaking hands.
“Cianna is going back to Sicily.” Torq said bluntly and Brunella’s eyes lifted to his in surprise. “She was given a chance to behave last night, and she failed. She thinks she is bigger than her britches and I am not going to allow her to continue to insult my mother. Later this morning she will be brought here,” he looked at Bastiano, “where she will be told to offer an apology to my family for her behavior last night. She will be told very bluntly if she ever conjures a single negative thought about my mother, my wife, my son, my sister, my father, or any of my family again and I find out, the punishment will not be exile.” His tone was clear to all the adults at the table.
Brunella looked worriedly to Bastiano. “Raniero won’t like this decision.“.
“It is not his to make,” Torq said bluntly. “It is mine. I am the head of this family. His bullshit will not be tolerated. I love my brother. I want nothing more than to have a relationship with him but not at the expense of my family. His behavior last night was out of bounds.”
Bastiano smiled at Brunella, “it is part of why I don’t want to go home. The truth is, I know he will behave as a child and throw a tantrum because he’s not getting what he wants in having his mother acknowledged into the family but if he cannot see how poisonous she is after her performance last night, then it is best if when she leaves, he goes with her.”
“You gave him a position,” Cicciu accused Torq quietly.
“And he will retain his position so long as he continues to prove loyalty to the family. The Lozano family, Dad. My family. If he cannot be loyal then he does not deserve a seat at the table. I made a public display last night and he responded to my offer by acting like a brat and encouraging his mother’s bullshit. Our image, the one I wanted so much to carefully curate last night was destroyed and not by my wife who carried my miserable son out in protection. It was destroyed because I let outsiders disrespect my mother and my wife and my son. There is a lot of damage to control but none of it is more important to me than fixing this with us, right here, right now. I will do better. You all have my word. I will do better.”
“Your grandfather would have shot you last night. Taken a kneecap to make you bend.” Cicciu said coldly.
“I agree. Thankfully, what I got was a slap in the face from my mother, some harsh truths from my wife, and a stern talking to from my best friend. I have the best circle around me, and I will not take you for granted again.”
“You mentioned you put things in motion last night. Sending Cianna back is what you are talking of?”
“Yes. But there is more. Mom mentioned last night she doesn’t want to live with us, and I must say to say, Mama, it broke my heart. I want you here with Antero. I want you part of his life every day. He deserves his Nonna. However, I appreciate you may need your own space for the times I piss you off. Today we will all go as a family to look at several properties and while each of them have a main house, they all have cottages or apartments on the property to give you privacy. I want us all to go together and pick out a house we all love together. Can we do this?”
Brunella looked at Alcee and they smiled.
“Yes. I’d like this.” Brunella nodded.
“I have my first therapy appointment in a couple of hours. I am going to learn how to be a good papa to my son. What I need from you as I do this is for you to do as you did last night, all of you, and promise to hold me accountable. Do not let me get away with anything. I rely on you for his.”
“I’ll happily give you shit, brother,” Tito smirked.
“I know it.” Torq smiled back.
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Chapter 142
“Alcee, I want us to spend time together one–on–one. I want us to set a date night once a week, just us. Antero, I want the same thing with you. Every Saturday morning, moving forward, is Papa and Antero time. You and I will do things together just us. It will help us learn about each other better. Can we do that?” Antero gave a nod and then jumped off his chair and took off out of the room.
“Did I upset him?” He looked at Alcee.
“Not that I can tell.”
The adults were all sitting watching the hall in the direction of where the boy ran off and Alcee wondered if she should follow him. A minute later he came back holding a small hand–held mirror he took off his mother’s vanity and held it out to Torq.
The entire table held their breath as they waited to see what Tor
would say.
“Perhaps next time, Antero, I should be awake for our bonding, no?”
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oh that was a perfect response! I’m softening towards Torq again now. he has potential to be one of the great ones
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