22. Santino
SANTINO
It’s been an entire day since Jovie told me she was pregnant, and I can’t wipe the grin or happiness from my face.
I’m going to marry My Sweet Girl. Not because she’s pregnant.
Truthfully, I have wanted her to be mine in every single way since I met her for the first time with my son.
I’m well aware how horrible of a father I am for falling in love with my son’s ex-girlfriend, but he didn’t treat her the way she deserved to be.
Son or not, he lost his chance at being the man she needed him to be.
There’s was no way he’d ever be able to rise to that occasion because I’m the man she needed.
“Someone is happy,” Omar says, opening the fridge door to grab the freshly squeezed orange juice.
I sip my coffee, smiling around the rim. Jovie is at work right now, making her beautiful bouquets and I’m here, why?
Actually, why am I here and not with her? I don’t like that.
Right. I need to talk to Luca.
I might as well get Omar out of the way since he’s here. He’ll be a good practice run for my other hot-headed son.
“I am. I’m very happy, Omar.”
He pours the O.J. into the glass, grinning. “That’s great, Dad. It’s been ages since I’ve since you like this. I actually can’t remember the last time you smiled. Jovie must be really good for you.”
My mug sets down on the counter with a clink. “She is. Actually, I need to tell you something before I tell Luca.”
His brows raise and he sighs. “Yikes. That should be fun,” he grumbles, knowing how difficult his brother can be.
“Which is why I’m telling you first.” I take a deep breath.
“I’m going to marry, Jovie. I love her. I never thought I’d ever have another chance at love.
Not since your mother.” My words are coated with sadness.
“And Jovie is pregnant, which was planned on my part,” I smirk at the same time Omar does.
He’s just like me.
When he wants something, he stops at nothing to get it. I can’t wait until he meets the love of his life. I hope he doesn’t spend the majority of his life alone like me. He doesn’t deserve that.
Omar grins, coming around the kitchen table to give me a hug with a few pats on the back. “Dad, that’s incredible. I’m so happy for you. I’m going to have a little brother or sister? The age gap is insane, though,” he chuckles. “You and mom had us so young. I’m really happy for you, Dad.”
“She’s pregnant?” Luca’s voice interrupts the moment, and his tone is filled with hatred. “You love her?” He comes around the corner, his lip curled in disgust. “What the fuck do you know about love?”
Omar sighs, unwrapping his arms from around me. “Luca, calm down?—”
“—Calm down? Calm down! You’re on his side?” He points a finger at me. “I wanted her back, Dad. I wanted to win Jovie over. I wanted to?—”
I slam my hands on the table and push myself out of the barstool.
I raise my voice to a booming level, one I haven’t used since they were children, “You cheated. You treated her as if she were expendable. You never loved her. You never had plans for her. You never wanted her in the ways I do! If you did, you wouldn’t have cheated on her with how many women?
How many women did you fuck? Would you have stopped cheating if you didn’t get found out?
If Jovie never saw your phone, how long would you have strung her along just to use her?
” I’m slow and elegant with my steps as I come around the kitchen island to face the hatred my son has for me.
“You are mad that you got caught. That’s all. You don’t love her. You don’t want her back. She’s the one that got away from your lies, and you’d do it to her all over again. Do you even know what love is?” I dare to ask.
His eyes darken with rage-filled storms. “I guess it runs in the family, then.”
I clench my teeth. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean? I never cheated on your mother. Ever. Don’t you dare try to paint me into that kind of man when you know I’m not.”
A sly, wicked smirk tilts his mouth to the left. “Who said I was talking about you? It was Mom.”
“Luca,” Omar hisses. “What the fuck are you doing? You know that’s not true.”
“I’m not even yours.” He leans against the kitchen island with his arms crossed. “Did you know that? Mom and Bianchi had one night together.” He spreads his arms wide. “And that’s how I was made. Born out of lies.” He shrugs. “I guess it runs in my blood, right?”
My entire world spins. I become dizzy, my heart breaking all over again as if Andrea has died for the first time. There’s no way she would do that to me. Bianchi must have done something, right? There’s no way she would lie.
Would she?
“Dad? Dad!” Omar tries to snap me out of my trance, but I’m lost in memories trying to figure out when their affair could have happened.
“He’s lying. Don’t let him get to you. He’s being a fucking asshole,” he spits the words at his brother.
“What’s wrong with you? Why can’t you ever take any accountability?
” Omar shoves Luca. “You lost Jovie. You did. With your actions. With how you treated her. Is it messy that Dad is with her, yes, I won’t lie about that, but why do you care so much when you are the one that ruined the relationship?
You never loved her and you never will. Dad loves her while you want her as a possession. Nothing else.”
“Fuck you!” Luca pushes his brother in return. “I’m not lying. We can do a DNA test. Bianchi is my biological father. Looks like the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree,” he says, speaking ill of his dead mother.
I launch myself at him, wanting to kill him. Wanting my own son dead by my hands. But Omar is there, putting himself in between us and pushing me away. The shouting must have been heard through the house because Lorenzo and Terrance come running into the kitchen with their guns drawn.
“Don’t worry fellas. It’s just a family dispute,” Luca explains while I’m struggling not to pull my own gun on him.
Terrance holsters his weapon, but Lorenzo doesn’t.
“Lorenzo.” I drop my hand in signal to lower his weapon.
My heart shatters from the truth. “Luca is right. I’m not his father.
” I somehow mutter the words out loud. “Andrea and I got into a massive argument one night. I can’t even remember what it was about.
I didn’t think she would ever—” Sleep with my silent mortal enemy but I can’t say those words out loud.
“—I guess that explains why he thinks he has claim on my territory. It’s you he’s fighting for.
He thinks he has claim because you’re next in line to take my spot, but you won’t be. Omar will be.”
“What?” He booms, his fists clenching by his side. A maniacal laugh sounds from him. “You take my girl and now you’re taking away my born right to take your place?”
“What born right?” I yell. “If you want to take the family business over go consult with your biological father since you fucking hate me so much,” I sneer.
“Dad,” Omar scolds in a whisper.
Luca punches me, his fist landing on my cheekbone. Blood pools in my mouth and I show no sign of pain because nothing could hurt more than the bomb he dropped on me. It all makes sense though. He’s more like Bianchi than he is me.
Lorenzo presses the barrel of the gun against Luca’s temple and Luca’s eyes widen in surprise.
“Say the word, Sir. And I’ll paint the kitchen.” He pulls the hammer back, the bullet sliding into place.
“Do it,” Luca urges.
“Maybe he’s been the mole the entire time,” Lorenzo adds. “Maybe he has been turning your runners against you for his dear old dad.”
“He better be lying,” Omar stands in front of his half-brother.
Tears fill Luca’s eyes. “I—I?—”
“You are no brother of mine,” Omar sneers, shoving Luca on his way out. “Don’t worry, Dad. You always have me. I’m ready to rise to the occasion since this traitor is no longer part of the family.” Omar slams the front door so hard, it shakes the entire house.
My youngest son is wrong. No matter the circumstances, Luca is and will always be my son.
I raised him. Bianchi didn’t. I tucked him in at night and I wiped his tears away when his mother died.
I’m the one who taught him how to tie a tie, not Bianchi.
I did everything a father should and while I haven’t been the best, I have been there.
“Fuck you and this family. And Fuck Jovie too. Right,” he slaps his forehead. “You did that already.” He shoves Lorenzo, gun still in hand, and walks away.
I’m left alone with Lorenzo and Terrance.
I take a seat, needing a minute to wrap my mind around what just happened.
The rug has been pulled out from under me.
Was my marriage to Andrea a scam? Did she have a plan with Bianchi to take me down so they could run the North together?
There are too many questions. Questions I honestly don’t want to know the answer to.
She’s dead now. And I don’t trust Bianchi to give me the answers.
It’s time for him to be dealt with. It’s time to wage war. After a few minutes of silence, I finally speak up.
“Lorenzo. I want you to kill Bianchi’s second in command. I want him dead by Bianchi’s feet. I want it done by the end of the day.”
“Yes, Sir,” he says without question.
“We’re going to take his territory.”
“Yes, Sir,” Lorenzo says again. “I have my sniper rifle. It will be taken care of by the end of the day.”
“Good. Keep me updated. And… wound Bianchi too. I don’t care where just don’t kill him. Let it be a warning shot. Etch the bullets with Salvati. I want there to be no question of where it came from.”
Lorenzo dips his chin, his lips twitching in excitement. “Yes, Sir. Happily, Mr. Salvati.”
“Terrance, you’ll go with him to make sure no evidence is left behind.”
He dips his head in agreement. “Happily, Sir.”