Chapter 5
Andres
I don’t know what my father has up his sleeve but something about his dinner invitation doesn’t sit right with me.
When he found out I turned my seat over to Axl, he called me in hysterics about giving everything he built to my bastard son.
Now he wants to have him sit at his table, I don’t buy it.
I should have declined his invite, but it would have been a direct form of disrespect to turn down an invitation of a former Don and could cause problems. We’ll go to the dinner, but if shit seems out of order, we’re getting the hell out of there.
“Andres, are you having second thoughts about going?” Brittney asks standing behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist as she looks over my shoulder at my reflection in the full-length mirror.
“Yes, but there is nothing I can do about it. I feel like my father’s invitation is for him to start some shit at this dinner.” I reply placing my hand over hers.
“But there is nothing he can do about it now because the families have accepted Axl’s position as head, right?” Brittney questions.
“No, there’s nothing he can do about that but that doesn’t mean he won’t give Axl hell for it or do something drastic like try and take him out.”
Brittney hums. “Well I hope he knows it won’t be that easy. Axl and the boys won’t go down without a fight and I know you won’t let that happen either.”
“Absolutely not! There is no love left between me and my father so if I have to put him down myself to save Axl and his position, I will!”
“I know you will, baby. Come on, let us see if the others are ready. The quicker we get this over with the better.” Brittney states before kissing the side of my neck.
She then releases my waist and steps back.
I turn to face her then softly kiss her lips.
Brittney grabs the lapels of my suit jacket as I deepen the kiss.
I groan as I gently pull away from her. “Would I be wrong if I made the others wait while I ravished you?” I ask, caressing her back.
She giggles. “Yes, but when we get back, I’ll let you ravish me the rest of the night.”
“Shit” I murmur. “Damn it, let’s go.” Brittney laughs harder as I take her hand in mine, leading her out the room.
When we made it downstairs everyone was indeed waiting on us in the parlor.
I stare at my sons with pride as they are all dressed in their black tailor-made suits.
My daughters looked beautiful in their dinner dresses and the kids were cute in their dresses, shirts, and slacks.
Calla runs to me. I bend down to give my sweet girl a hug. “My, don’t you look pretty tonight?”
She snickers. “Thank you, Daddy.”
I stand turning to everyone else. “I see you’re all ready and may I say you all look stunning tonight.
” I praise with a smile. “Axl, can I see you for a moment?” He nods then follows me into the hallway.
“I don’t trust my father, so I want to make sure you and your brothers are ready just encase something jumps off. ”
Axl smirks as he opens his suit jacket showing me his guns in the holster under his arms. “You should know by now I never leave home without these. As for the others, they’re set too.”
I nod. “Great, well let’s get this over with.”
We rejoined the others in the parlor. “Alright everyone, let us be on our way.” I state before we make our way to the front door.
Outside there are three limousines waiting for us.
A car with my security detail sits in front of the limousines with another taking up the rear.
Brittney, Andres Jr., Calla, Maxillo got into the first limo.
Axl, Monica, Ladybug, Lorenzo, Marisol, Ryker and Maci were in the second.
Felix, Keirra, Adam, Imani, Harper, Edgar, and Estelle got in the third.
With everyone in place, security escorts to the front gate.
We sit momentarily as the heavy rod iron fence slides open.
When it is fully opened, we begin our twenty-minute ride to my father’s estate.
It has been years since I have stepped foot in his house.
After I took over and he returned here, I visited him twice after that.
Once was to meet the families and the other, I was when I brought Anjelica after we were married.
She fell in love with the old man’s place but I hated it because it always brought back horrible memories.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t realize when we pulled up to my father’s house.
It still looked the same as his security stood at their posts.
The driver exits the car to come open the back-passenger door.
I get out first and see my father’s old right-hand man, Regilo standing at the top of the stairs.
I give him a dead pan look before helping Brittney and Calla out the car.
Andres Jr. was next followed by Maxillo.
Axl and the others have gotten out also and were waiting for us.
I nod at him before grasping Brittney’s hand then head for the front door.
“Andres, bello vederti (Andres, good to see you). Regilo greets with a smirk.
I return his expression. “Mi hai visto ieri, Regilo. Non facciamo finta di essere vecchi amici, non ti piaccio mai e la sensazione è reciproca (You saw me yesterday, Regilo. Let's not pretend we are old buddies, you never like me and the feeling is mutual). I brush past him entering the house.
Behind me I hear him say, “Che gruppo colorato (What a colorful bunch).
Axl takes a step towards him but before he can get to him, I have my hand around his throat. “In mancanza di rispetto la mia famiglia di nuovo e ti ucciderò dove ti trovi (Disrespect my family again and I will kill you where you stand)! His eyes bulge as he grips my wrist, gasping for air.
“Andres, leave poor Regilo alone.” My father’s deep voice says behind me.
I do not acknowledge him as I continue to stare into Regilo’s frightened eyes.
I’m sure he saw when my eyes went dark, he of all people knew what that meant because he was there when my father put me through his form of training.
“Andres” My Father calls again. I give Regilo a shove before letting him go.
“Now if you are through playing, please follow me into the dining room. Dinner is ready.” My father says with boring expression.
This night is already off to a rocky start, I think to myself as I place my hand on the small of Brittney’s back and reach for Calla’s hand.
Andres Jr. holds Brittney’s other hand as he walks beside her.
We follow my father into his grand dining room.
It’s amazing he had a table large enough in there to accommodate all of us.
He sat at the head on one end while I had Axl sit at the other.
Like it or not, that seat was Axl’s. My father gives me a questioning look but I ignore him as I sit on Axl’s left.
Monica and Harper sit on his right with Felix, Adam and their families.
The rest sit strategically on the other side.
Maxillo sits the closest to the old man which I am happy for because I know he will get to him first if need be.
“Well, now that we are all here, Andres can you please introduce me to my grandchildren?” The old man asks.
I eye him before saying, “Well, father you met your oldest grandson, Axl yesterday. This is Andres Jr. and Calla.” I reply before pointing to Ladybug and Harper.
“Those two are your great granddaughters, Alex and Harper.” He begins to speak but I hold my hand up stopping him.
“And these two” pointing to Felix and Adam.
“are your grandsons, Felix and Adam.” I could see the fire in his eyes.
He did not like me claiming Felix or Adam but I could give a shit what he thought, we may not have been blood but those were my sons too.
He disregards the others as he focuses on Andres Jr and Calla. “Hello, little ones, I am your nonno (grandfather), Giovanni.” They stare at him with curiosity. He looks back at me. “Why do they seem like they do not know who I am? Have you not told them about their grandfather, Andres?”
“What is there to tell, we have no relationship so why would I tell them about a nonexistent grandfather? You knew about them but you chose not to be in their lives so don’t act surprised that they know nothing about you.
” I calmly reply placing my hands on the table.
I was not going to hold my tongue with the old man.
What I said to him was the truth, he has never reached out to Andres Jr. or Calla.
My father gives me a cold look before speaking. “Be that as it may, you still should have told them about me, I am their blood!”
I clinch my dinner napkin in my hand. “They may be your blood but you are nothing to them and never will be.” Brittney squeezes my knee under the table.
Giovanni sits quietly before letting out a deep chuckle. “We’ll see about that but right now I want to get to why I have invited you all to my house for dinner. You see; I wanted to get a good look at the Salvant Brothers and what better way than to have all three of them in my house at once.”
“That’s Salvant-Romano.” Felix corrects with a cocked eyebrow.
Giovanni cuts his eyes at him. “Yes, that’s right. The three of you are Salvant-Romano’s now but I know something the rest of you don’t.”
Tired of his bullshit I ask, “What the hell are you talking about old man? If you expect us to sit here and be subjected by your ramblings and blatant disrespect, I think it’s time for us to leave.”
“Oh, but this is where it gets good, Andres. Did you know that while you were training, Axl to become your killing machine, your other son was living in harsh conditions too?” Giovanni displays a cheshire cat grin.
My other son? I had no other son when I first brought Axl to my house. “Your full of shit, I had no other son!”