Chapter 4 #2
Not answering her, I head straight to the office, and when I slam the door open, it’s to see the fucker leaning back in his armchair with his feet propped up on the desk. A baseball game is blaring loud enough that he doesn’t hear what’s happening in the rest of the house.
As I stalk toward him, Will notices me, and turning as white as a ghost, he scambles to his feet.
The instant I’m close enough, I slam my fist into his gut, consciously not going for his face. I don’t want my niece and nephew seeing bruises on their good-for-nothing father.
I deliver another two punches that make him groan with pain, and when he drops to his knees in front of me, it takes a fuck ton of willpower to hold back so I don’t kill him.
“Why the fuck is my sick sister taking care of the kids and fixing dinner by herself while you’re in here being a lazy-as-fuck asshole?”
He grabs hold of the side of the desk and pulls himself up while wheezing, “She likes doing things by herself and says I just get in the way.”
I grab hold of the front of his shirt and haul his ass closer until I’m looming over him. “Get your ass to the fucking kitchen. I want it spotless by the time I’m done bathing your fucking children, or I will put a bullet between your eyes.”
He nods frantically and carefully extracts his shirt from my fist before running out of the office.
God help me.
I go back to the kitchen, and taking Talia from Valentina, I also grab Asher’s hand. When I head upstairs to the bathroom, Valentina is right behind me.
“What did you say to him?”
“Not your business,” I snap angrily. I stop in the doorway and level her with a look of warning. “Bring me the kids’ pajamas, and while I’m taking care of them, I want you to go shower. Wash your hair.”
Her chin begins to tremble again, and it has me leaning over and pressing a kiss to her way-too-warm forehead. “Go get cleaned up so you can eat. I’ll get you meds and hang around so you can rest.”
“Thank you.” Valentina spins around and hurries down the hallway.
“Uncle Christiano,” Asher tugs on my hand. “I’m hungry.”
“Food is on its way, little man.”
It takes fifteen minutes to bathe Talia and Asher, and when I have them dressed in their pjs, I take them to the living room and make them comfortable on the couch facing the TV.
“Can you put on Bluey?” my five-year-old nephew asks.
“Sure.” I switch on the TV and find the show. “Keep an eye on your sister.”
I’m given a cute grin that eases some of the tension in my body.
When I walk into the kitchen, I see Will eating some of the mashed potatoes Valentina was preparing when I got here.
My hands clench into fists, and even though he’s cleaned up, my temper flares to hell and gone.
I go straight for him, and he quickly drops the bowl and spoon before backpeddling all the way out the back door, while squealing, “I did what you said. I cleaned up!”
Once we’re outside, I slam the door shut so the little ones won’t hear, then growl, “Your fucking kids are hungry, and you’re eating?”
Before he can reply, I lay into him, delivering punch after punch until I’m sure I’ve cracked one of his ribs.
Standing fucking close to the pathetic asshole, I order, “Straighten up.”
He does his best, pained lines etched deep into his face.
“You’re going to go in there and pretend it doesn’t hurt. Get the plates and cutlery ready and pour everyone something to drink. When the food arrives, you will make sure your wife and kids eat before you put anything in your mouth. Got it?”
Looking like he’s about to piss himself, he nods.
When Will scurries back into the kitchen, I know I have to calm down before I kill him. I dig my phone out of my pocket, and going into the gallery, I look at photos of Sienna and screenshots I took of our chats when we were still dating.
It’s enough to take the sharp edge off my temper.
Hearing voices inside, I put the device away and open the door. Valentina and Will instantly stop talking when I step inside, and while the fucker hurries to carry out the instruction I gave him, my sister looks like she’s a second away from dropping dead.
“Take some medicine,” I tell her.
While she does as she’s told, Nico comes in and places the bags on the table.
When it looks like Valentina is going to abandon her task to dish up, I snap, “Take the damn meds!”
She quickly pops a couple of pills into her mouth while I open the bags and remove the containers.
“I got a bit of everything,” Nico says, his eyes locked on me as if he’s ready to jump into action to stop me from shooting the place up.
I pull the kids' plates closer and place chicken tenders and fries on them. I only add ketchup to Asher’s plate because Talia doesn’t like any kind of sauce.
Carrying the food to the living room, I set the plates down on the wooden coffee table.
“Yay!” Asher jumps off the couch and quickly sits down.
I pick up Talia and set her down beside her brother, and for a moment, I watch as they eat before I rise to my full height again.
Stay calm.
When I get back to the kitchen, I snap at Will, “Take the kids something to drink.”
He flinches when he moves, but carries out the order, and the moment he leaves the room, I lock eyes with Valentina. “Eat and then we’ll talk.”
She hesitates for a few seconds before fixing two plates, and when Will returns, she says, “Come eat, honey.”
The fact that there’s no warmth in her tone doesn’t escape my attention. I lean back against one of the counters and cross my arms over my chest.
While they eat, the atmosphere remains tense, and when Will doesn’t eat much, it fills me with great satisfaction.
The moment he gets up, I say, “Go check on your children.”
He nods and leaves the kitchen again.
When Valentina glances at me, I can’t keep it in anymore and mutter, “You sure know how to pick them.”
“Don’t start.”
“I never stopped.” I push away from the counter and take the seat Will vacated. Shoving his plate out of my way, I lean forward and hold her gaze as I say, “You’re sick, and the kids are a mess, and the fucker is watching a game in his office. You can be glad I haven’t killed him yet.”
She slumps in her chair and lowers her head. “I know it doesn’t look good.”
“Damn straight it doesn’t.” I reach across the table, and gripping hold of her chin, I force her head up. “You’re a Falco. Act like one.”
Valentina stares at me for a moment, and I watch as emotions flash over her face. Exhaustion, frustration, pride, anger, and even hopelessness.
“Things aren’t always such a mess,” she tries to defend herself.
Pulling back, I nod my head at her food. “Eat so you can get to bed.”
Will comes into the kitchen with Talia in his arms, and looking at Valentina, he asks, “She says she doesn’t feel well.”
When my sister begins to move, I snap, “Eat!”
I climb to my feet and walk to my brother-in-law. He bristles when I get close and moves Talia in front of his chest as if he’s using her as a shield.
My temper flares again, but by some miracle, I don’t lose my cool as I take her from him. Keeping my tone soft, I ask, “Where do you feel sick, baby-girl?”
She presses her fingers to her hair, and her voice sounds small as she whispers, “My head.”
When I open the cupboard, Valentina points out the right medicine and how much to give Talia. Once I’ve taken care of my niece, I walk to the living room and sit down beside Asher, who’s happily watching his show.
I cradle Talia against my chest and lovingly brush my hand over her black hair while murmuring, “You’ll feel better soon.”
She snuggles against me and sucks her thumb until she falls asleep.
After an hour, everyone creeps out of the kitchen, and Valentina says, “It’s time for bed.”
“Aww…” Asher begins.
“Listen to your mother, little man,” I say, which has him letting out a huff.
He gets up and switches off the TV, then he comes to give me a sideways hug and mumbles, “Night, Uncle Christiano.”
“Sweet dreams,” I reply while carefully passing Talia to Valentina.
The instant it looks like Will wants to go upstairs with them, I say, “Take a seat, Will.”
I savor the pain tightening his features as he sits down across from me, and while we wait for my sister to return, I glare at him, loving how terrified he looks.
When Valentina comes down the stairs, relief washes over his face. He’s gravely mistaken if he thinks my sister can stop me from killing him.
I hate how exhausted she looks and pat the space beside me. As soon as she sits down, I wrap my arm around her shoulder and press a kiss to her temple, then I level Will with a look that has him shaking in his shoes.
“If I ever see you sitting on your ass while my sister runs herself into the ground when she’s fucking sick, I’ll kill you.” I feel her stiffen against my side and brush my hand up and down her bicep. “I never fucking liked you, Will. This is my one and only warning out of respect for Valentina.”
His head bobs like crazy while he swallows hard, his Adam’s apple moving visibly. “I’ll try to put in more effort around the house.”
Slowly, I shake my head. “Try again.”
Sweat beads on his face, the drops forming rivulets from both his temples to his neck. “Sorry. I will help out more.”
I press another kiss to my sister’s hair, then order, “Go get some rest.”
She turns so she can hug me, and whispers, “I’m so sorry about this. You caught us at a bad time.”
I push her back so I can lock eyes with her. “You deserve so much better.”
“Don’t start. Please.”
Because she’s not feeling well, I let the subject go, and as I climb to my feet, I give the worthless piece of shit another look filled with warning.
When I let myself out of the mansion, Nico falls into step beside me and mutters, “Look at you learning to control your temper and not killing him.”
“I did it for the kids.”
But if he fucks up one more time, I’ll rid them of their useless father. I’m sure Remo wouldn’t mind stepping in to do a much better job of loving my sister and raising her kids.