21. Tuomo
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Tuomo
“ A nother meeting?” I pace in agitation up and down my living room. “We just had a meeting.”
Rufino is on the other side of the phone and he’s telling me I have to be at my father’s mansion just after breakfast.
“This meeting is important, Tuomo. What the fuck is going on with you? Why can’t you just do as you’re told and not argue about everything?” Rufino sounds exhausted. I run my fingers through my hair and stop pacing.
“Are you ok?” I ask, wondering why he doesn’t sound like himself.
“Oh - you fucking care, do you? Just be at the house at eleven.”
“Fine. I’ll be there. I was just—” He hung up on me. Fucking asshole always hangs up on me. I wouldn’t be bothered if I saw none of my brothers again - or my father. Especially my father.
Being a part of this family infuriates me.
I want freedom from them. I want them to leave me alone so that I can live my life - with Nerissa.
But, like the dutiful son I have to be, I head over to my father’s place at eleven.
Walking into the living room I can tell that something is off. My brothers, Masaccio, Rufino, and Celso are all seated already, and my father is standing behind his chair with his hands resting on the back of it. They are all looking at me. Everyone is silent, and their eyes are so locked onto my that I can feel the heat of their stares. No one looks comfortable, and that makes me very uncomfortable as well.
“What’s going on?” I ask, walking closer. “Has something happened? Where’s Dalila?” My heart pains when I realize she’s not here and I assume that something must have happened to her.
No one answers me. They just keep looking at me with their stupid, silent faces. “Where the fuck is Dalila?” I repeat.
“Sit down, Tuomo.” My father’s deep voice commands.
My heart is beating too fast now. Deep concern for my sister’s well-being is flooding my senses and causing anxiety to boil through me.
I watch them as I take a seat, the furthest one away from their circle of staring faces. I sit on the edge of the seat with my elbows resting on my knees as I lean forward. Waiting. Full of anticipation.
My father takes a deep breath.
“Your sister is at home. She’s fine. This isn’t about her.”
I press my hand against my chest, relief washing through me, but the tension remains. If it’s not about her, what is it about?
Pressing my lips together I force myself to match their silence. Whatever game they are playing - I can do the same.
My father turns towards me. His steel-gray eyes are dark, like a thunder cloud is brewing just beneath the surface of his gaze.
“Tuomo, where have you been?” he asks.
I shake my head. “What do you mean?”
“What have you been up to? Because you haven’t been doing your fucking job - that’s for sure.”
Mas clears his throat and my father glances towards him. He pulls his mouth tight, straighten his back as he rolls his shoulders. “What I mean is.” He takes a breath. “We need to know what is going on with you because we’ve all noticed your absence.”
I stand up, shocked to my core. “Is this a fucking intervention?” I snarl. “What? I’m not allowed to have a life? I have to report every second of every day to you?”
Mas raises his hand in a gesture of peace. “It’s not like that, Tuo. We are worried about you. You’ve been distant and some things that are your duty - you’ve been neglecting things - we just want to know if you are alright.”
My father shakes his head. “Stop pandering to him. He’s a grown man. He fucked up, and he has to answer for it.”
“How did I fuck up?” I ask.
“The shipment that was supposed to go out on Thursday morning. The one you were supposed to oversee.” Rufino says, lifting one corner of his mouth and raising his brows towards me. “And bro, it’s not the first thing you’ve failed to arrive for. Stock-take on the weekend. The delivery to the new client who came to the city to meet us face-to-face. Do you want me to go on?”
I shake my head. Rufino said enough.
So, that is what this is about.
I glance down, frowning, trying to figure out how I forgot those appointments. I check my calendar daily. I’m never negligent with my work - so how did this happen?
“Well?” my father demands. “What the hell is going on with you?”
Mas sighs. “Are you ok, Tuomo? Is something going on that you need our help with?”
“No, nothing is going on. I’m fine. I don’t know how I missed that - it won’t happen again.” I stand up. “Are we done here?”
My father sneers. “For fuck’s sake.” He spits his words.
“Tuo—” Rufino says.
Celso hasn’t spoken a word. He’s barely looked at me.
“Are we done here? I get it. I fucked up. I said it won’t happen again.”
“Ye. Ye, we’re done.” Mas sighs, waving his hand in the air to dismiss me.
My father turns and walks from the room.
That was my one chance with him and I’m lucky he gave me that. He won’t be lenient about my mistakes again. Next time I’ll probably get punched in the head or some other form of punishment at his hand.
I turn towards the front door and march out of there as fast as I can.
I can’t believe that just happened.
I get defensive and embarrassed at the same time.
I didn’t realize I was neglecting my duties. But I’m also at a point where I don’t think I should have so much pressure on me. I want to live my life and only worry about my business. Not theirs.
I climb into my car and slam the door, revving the engine to life. A knock on my window makes me jump. Rufino is standing there, looking down at me.
I open the window, staring forward. “What?”
“Dude, what is going on man? We’re here for you. Dad has weird ways of showing it - but underneath it all we are just worried about you.”
“Dad isn’t worried about anything but his empire and his cash-flow.”
I shove the gear shift into reverse and wheel spin, forcing Rufino to jump out of the way. He swears at me as I drive off.
My heart is racing when I hit the open road and speed forward.
Fuck all of them.
I don’t need them.
The only person I need in this world is Nerissa. She is my everything. She is my life.
My fists clench the steering wheel, rubbing back and forth. Thoughts of her flooding mind and constrict my heart.
I can’t explain how or why but when I think about her, it’s different.
That possessive streak is still very much there - she is mine. She belongs to me. But now there is something else too. A fear.
I never want to lose her. The fear of that thought sits tight in my chest. Losing something has never struck fear into my heart until now.
I take a deep breath, trying to process this new emotion.
She means everything to me. When I picture her smile, it makes me smile.
I want not only to possess her I want to make her happy. I want to create a beautiful life for her.
I’ve never been gentle towards someone before. Tenderness is not a reaction I’m used to. But with Nerissa that is what I have. She slows my mind, softens me, makes me want to wrap my arms around her and hold her until the end of time.
Cars rush past me. This is ridiculous. What the hell is going on with me? I’m just annoyed by the intervention. That’s all.
I want to go to Nerissa. But I won’t. I have to prove to myself that she doesn’t control me. I am the only person who is in control here.
I need to get home and clear my head.