37. Elio
Chapter thirty-seven
Elio
“Deputy Chief,” I nod firmly when I see him seated in a corner of the restaurant. A few workers greet me, but I don’t respond as I make a beeline for Karl Abruzzi.
When I reach him, he stretches out his hand for a firm handshake. “Donatelli.”
I acknowledge his nod with mine as I firmly shake his hand. Since the incident with the Morettis, we’ve only spoken once, when he thanked me for saving his life. But I know his sudden request for an audience means something.
The chair relinquishes a squeaking sound as I adjust myself in it, all the while holding his gaze, which, by the way, gives nothing away, contrary to his tense demeanor.
“I know the truth...your truth,” he begins in a smooth tone, moving the bottle of wine aside as if to clear any distractions between us.
Of course, he does. I knew what I was risking when I went to save him in all my mafia glory. I don’t say anything but continue to hold his gaze. If he wanted to compromise my identity to the public, he’d have done so already.
He breathes deeply. “But that doesn’t mean I hold it against you. You saved my life, Donatelli. I don’t know what would have happened if you didn’t show up when you did. For that, I am eternally grateful.”
“However, as you know, the two of us are on the extreme opposite sides of the law,” he continues in a much lower voice, glancing around briefly. “And so are you and my daughter.”
I clench my jaw, releasing a deep breath. I can sense where this is heading.
“Aria is still a young girl just starting out in life, and I don’t see both of you being together helping her in her personal life...or in her career.”
My heart quakes as I look him dead in the eyes. Finally, his stoic expression gives way to something I know all too well: Resolve. He cannot compromise.
“Now don’t get me wrong, Donatelli,” he straightens his spine, pursing his lips before continuing, “I think I know how much she means to you... but I also know you’re not what’s best for Aria, and I’m sure you know that, too.”
I want to say something. To say that even despite my recent revelation about his daughter, she remains the only one I truly ever loved. I want to say that I’ve wanted her since the first day I laid eyes on her. Instead, I just say, “If there’s anything I know, it’s that I truly love your daughter.”
“I can see that.” He eyes my face, the corners of his lips curling up slightly. “It’s written in your expression now. But if you truly love her, then you’ll let her go. We both know your kind of life isn’t suited for her.”
It looks like he wants to say more but he breathes and leans against his chair. “I still owe you a big one, Son. I will cover your tracks in the force and make sure your connection to the mafia is buried deeply.”
This would have been news for me if it had come at the right time, but right now...Losing Aria, whether it’s because of her father’s demand or her betrayal, if it’s true, doesn’t even compare to the cops on my tail.
“Thank you,” I say through a clenched jaw.
He smiles and gives my fist a light tap. “I’m glad you understand. I’m not against you, Donatelli. I’m just against the irony of the situation.”
***
Tightly gripping the steering wheel, my legs furiously press against the accelerator as I drive to my ruin. I’m furious that this can’t play out any other way. I’m furious that I have to do this even though it’s not what I want.
After swerving through traffic, I finally reach her campus. My fingers curl into fists as I mentally prepare myself for what I’m going to say to Aria.
My fingers tune the car stereo for some distraction, anything to clear my head so I can think straight when I speak with her, and that’s when I hear it.
“ 8-figure business mogul and CEO of Comfort Hotels has reportedly passed away from a brief illness...”
My heart swells with joy at the realization that, once again, I went into a tough battle and won.
Cortez and I had to pull many strings so that our surgeon could replace the one assigned to operate on Winston that day. Coincidentally, all the nurses available to assist in the surgery that day were amateurs, too.
R.I.P. Winston, the world misses you…not.
A sudden vibration jolts me back to the moment, and my hand instinctively reaches for my phone. It’s Cortez.
“What is it?” I bark into the mouthpiece.
“ Capo , it’s all over the news. Marcus Winston is dead.”
A sigh of relief escapes my lips. “Good. How is Stella?”
“She says she’s leaving the country as soon as she’s done mourning. She sent me proof of having logged into her husband’s cloud account and having all copies of the footage deleted permanently.”
As he says it, I realize Cortez is more than my second-in-command, he’s almost my soulmate. “You should take the day off today, maybe spend a little time with your pretty girlfriend.” Cortez chuckles just as the line clicks dead.
For a moment, I just sit there watching students pass and processing the news that Marcus is dead until I summon the will to pick up my phone and dial her number.
“Aria…” I trail.
“Oh my God, Elio, are you okay? You’ve been unreachable. You had me worried?”
“I’m outside your campus. I need to see you.”
“Oh…” her smooth voice goes lower. “I’ll be out in a moment.” I’m thankful she doesn’t ask more questions.
I drop the phone into the armrest and dig a hand through my hair. She betrayed me...that’s enough reason to let her go...
A knock cuts me off and when I turn to the window, I see her looking as beautiful as ever. She’s wearing a flared sleeveless yellow gown. My heart breaks into pieces at her unsuspecting face before I open the door to let her into the passenger seat.
“Elio,” she greets me with a bright smile, but I watch it fade when her brows furrow. “What’s wrong?”
Releasing a deep breath, I shut my eyes. “You ratted me out...to the goddamn media.” My voice is cold and emotionless.
There’s silence for a moment as she stares at me. Then she speaks, her voice breaking. “No, Elio. I didn’t...”
“If it were anyone else,” I cut her off, finally looking her in the eyes, “I would’ve put a bullet in both their head and Mia’s… without hesitation.”
Her lip quivers as tears start to stream down her cheeks. I can see the emotion in her eyes. Confusion and regret...but it’s too late.
“You and your friend must keep your fucking mouths shut. That’s a threat,” I sneer. Unable to bear her tears, I turn my attention to the road. “Now, get out. I never want to see your beautiful-but-fucking-treacherous ass again.”
My peripheral vision catches her shaking her head. Her mouth opens multiple times but she doesn’t say a word. There’s a painful throbbing in my chest as she slowly raises a hand to wipe her tears. “You really want me gone? Fine. Maybe it’s for the best. Maybe you’re right. I should get out.” Her voice breaks, but she doesn’t stop. “I wouldn’t want my child to grow up in your type of world anyway. Not with a criminal for a father.”
The car goes silent as I immediately yank my head to her. “What did you just say?”
She swallows hard, more tears stinging her eyes. “I’m pregnant,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. “And maybe it doesn’t matter to you, but it matters to me. I don’t want this life for my child. I don’t want you as a father for my child!”
Oh, fuck! She’s carrying my child.
For a moment, my mind goes blank then reality dawns on me. My child!
“ Cazzo (Fuck)! You mean all the while you’ve been pregnant?” My voice is trembling with suppressed fury. “You’ve been carrying my child, and you didn’t bother to tell me?”
Her expression is hard as she turns in her seat to stare me in the eyes. “Why would I? What kind of father would you be, Elio? You’re a monster who only knows the way of killing and torture. What do you know about raising a child lovingly?”
Anger swirls in me as I slam my fist into the steering wheel. “Dammit, Aria! It should be my own fucking choice to not want to raise a kid. You don’t get to make that decision for me.”
“Well, I’ve already made that decision on behalf of both of us. You and your world are no good for this child. It’s best for them to be without a father than to be with one whose mere existence endangers their life,” she grits, angling her index finger towards me.
Her fingers are tugging at the rings on her ring finger, and before I know it, she throws them directly in my face. Damn !
“It was all fake, anyway,” she spits with tears in her eyes and yanks the door open.
It feels like there’s a knife twisting in my chest.
She pauses and takes one last glance at me, a tear escaping her eyes. Then she gets out and slams the door hard.
I feel the heavy slam in my chest as I watch her go.