22. Stefano
Ichuckle when Elle throws me a look of sarcastic disappointment.
"You can't play that card." She sighs heavily as I place the plus two card onto the uno pile.
"Why not?"
"Because you can't put a plus two on a plus four. You have to pick up four." She rolls her eyes at me as though this is the most obvious piece of information in the world. I chuckle again.
Lately, I've been coming in here when Amelia isn't around and just spending time with Elle.
I enjoyed our picnic so much - the three of us - it felt like we were a family.
But there is no fucking way I want anyone to know that I had fun like that.
I can't give people something to hold over me. Something to use against me.
Besides, Amelia is still my prisoner here; she is still in my control, and I won't start letting that slip. She has to pay for what she did to me.
I haven't even spoken to her yet, properly, about the fact that Elle is my daughter. That I know. I haven't asked her why she left. Why she lied. Why she hid her from me for so many years. Or worse - I haven't asked her the question that has been bothering me the most - would she ever have told me I had a daughter? Would she ever have reached out to let me know?
Elle slams her last card down on the table over her bed, grinning triumphantly.
"I win." She shouts loudly.
I'm laughing again. Her happiness is infectious.
I place my handful of cards down at the table next to hers. "I don't know why I keep losing at this game. You're too good."
"You wanna play again?" She asks, picking up the cards to shuffle them in her tiny hands.
"I can't Elle. I have to go to the casino for a bit. I have things to do today. But we can play tomorrow. I need the practice if I want to beat you one day."
"Alright." She sighs, pouting out her bottom lip. "You promise we can play tomorrow?"
"I promise. And maybe you should consider letting me win once or twice."
"You'll never learn if I let you win." She huffs, throwing her hands in the air.
"Fine, but you have to teach me your secrets."
"I'll try, but it's not my fault if you just suck at this game. Maybe we should play something easier." The mischief in her eyes makes me laugh even louder.
She has so many gestures that are just like her mother.
She's free-spirited and full of laughter. She's cheeky and feisty. I really like her.
She reminds me of her mother when we first met. Playful and fun.
I stand up, and without thinking about it I lean down and kiss Elle on the forehead. "See you later, kiddo," I say, then leave, wondering what I'm doing. What kind of pain I'm asking for by getting to know her when she's so sick.
She's impossible not to love though.
Arriving at my office in the casino I walk in to find Matteo already there, sitting at my desk with his feet up.
"Get your feet off the fucking desk, savage." I snarl angrily. He has no class, no respect for anything. I grab him and pull him out of my chair.
He huffs loudly and takes the seat opposite mine.
"What are you here for? What do you need?" I sigh in annoyance.
"I came here with some news."
He looks smug. His face grates my nerves.
"Spit it out. I don't have all day."
"There is a family, one of our rivals, I have good reason to suspect that are planning to try and move against you."
"Who?"
"Belladino."
"The Belladino family has never been a threat to me or my business. What would make them want to move against me now?"
It doesn't make sense. They are a smaller family, not much strength, not compared to mine. Why would they risk it?
"Look, I'm telling you what I heard. My sources are good. They are planning to try and take you out. Not your business. You."
"An attempt on my life?" I say in disbelief. I've heard of people doing stupid things, and making stupid moves, and this would definitely be a prime example of that.
They are hardly worth my time, but if they are going to make an attempt on my life - I certainly can't just let that slide.
"You're sure about your source?" I ask skeptically. But I see no reason for Matteo to lie to me about this. What would he have to gain?
"Very."
"Fine." I sigh. "Take care of it."
"Good. I'll get…"
"I don't care what you do. Just deal with it." I snarl angrily.
Matteo lets out a heavy sigh and pushes himself up from the desk.
"For fucks sake, Stefano, do you always have to be such a fucking dick?"
"Excuse me?" I stand up, taller than Matteo, staring down at him from across the desk.
He seems to shrink back into himself slightly.
"Nothing man. Nothing."
"Get out." I snap.
"Yeah, I was just leaving. I'll deal with the Belladino thing and let you know when it's done."
I glare at him until he is out of my sight, then take a seat again. I can't let anyone think I'm weak. Not even my half brother. Or perhaps - especially not my half brother. He is family, but there is something about his attitude that warns me to watch him closely. He hasn't given me any reason to think that way, but perhaps it's just years of experience.
His ego is getting too big.
There is a knock at the office door, and I look up to see one of my casino club security guards.
"Jax. What do you need?"
"Sir, someone was caught dealing drugs in the club during the early hours of this morning."
"Someone I know?"
"He works for a group in the east territory. One of the families there. That's all we could find out. He won't say who. We've been trying to get him to talk for hours."
"Where is he now?"
"In the basement."
The basement is code for our underground cells.
"I'll head down there in five minutes. Meet me there."
Jax leaves and after replying to a few emails I make my way to the underground cells.
I haven't had someone stupid enough to try and sell on my territory, never mind inside my casino, for over a decade. People know me. They know the risk. This idiot can't be from around here. Maybe he's new.
I guess it's time to send a message again. A reminder to everyone not to overstep the boundaries.
They have the guy chained up, the shackles on his wrists are cutting into his skin. There is already a thick bruise forming beneath the restraints.
They've hooked the cuffs onto a meat hook, and he is swinging limply. His head hanging down.
I walk straight over to him and grab his face, lifting his head to get a good look at him.
I snort in disbelief.
"Thomas Lincoln. Does your uncle know you've been dealing his drugs in my club?"
He can't really speak, blood is dripping from his mouth in wet bubbles. Three of his teeth have been knocked out. "Nothing to say for yourself, Thomas?" I laugh bitterly.
"You know him?"
"I know who he is. His uncle probably doesn't know he's here, but the problem is that his uncle also hasn't taught him enough manners to know better than to sell on my territory. Clearly, they're all in need of a gentle reminder of who I am."
"What do you want us to do?" Jax asks, stepping closer.
"Cut off both his hands. Box them nicely and have them sent to his uncle. You can let him go after that."
"Both?"
"Yes."
Jax doesn't dare question me twice.
I turn away, I'm done here, I don't have time for petty issues like this.
Matteo should have been keeping an eye on the club and making sure shit like this doesn't happen. Thomas Lincoln shouldn't even have been allowed in the casino to begin with and the fact that he got in with drugs doesn't sit well with me.
One-off though, if this is one-off, I don't care to waste resources trying to find out how and why. I'll send a message loud enough to scare off anyone else thinking they can get away with the same thing.
Later that evening I'm sitting in the office at home, working through the shipments set for tomorrow when my phone rings.
Glancing at the screen I see it's Elena's private doctor that I hired to look through her medical records. I want the best people in this case. I want her to have the best chance. Everything I regret not doing for Merelda - I want to do for Elle. Everything I can.
"Stefano here," I answer.
"Stefano, it's Dr. Kilford. I wanted to chat with you if you have a moment."
I lean back in my office chair. "Sure. I can talk now."
"I've gone through all of Elle's files. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but her condition is dire. She doesn't have a lot of time left if we can't find a match for her."
Why the fuck is he telling me the obvious? What the fuck am I paying this asshole for?
"So why haven't you found a match yet?" I snarl angrily. I hate doctors. The doctors that couldn't save Merelda - and this one - telling me it's dire when I fucking know it is already.
"We're doing our best." Dr. Kilford says.
"You're best isn't good enough. Let me explain to you how this works. You will save Elle. You will get her what she needs no matter what it takes - because if you don't - you are going to pay with your own life. Do I make myself clear?"
"Stefano, please, you have to understand."
"I don't give a shit about your excuses. Save her."
I hang up, my hands shaking as I toss the phone onto my desk.
The fear of not being a match like with Merelda haunts me. What if I'm not a match again? The odds weren't in my favor before.
The anger is overwhelming. How could Amelia do this to me? Six years of betrayal, and now she can’t even ask me to help her child, “our” child? She needs to feel the desperation I feel now.
And the fear. I'm terrified to even get tested. What if I'm not a match? I can't face that kind of disappointment again.
I sense movement in front of me and look up to see Amelia standing in the doorway with wide eyes and her jaw dropped open.
"Stefano was that the doctor?"
"Yes," I replied gruffly.
"But you threatened his life."
I stand up, slamming my hands against the desk and causing an empty glass to rattle across it.
"He will fucking do what he's told and save her, or he will face the consequences," I shout.
"Threatening them isn't going to make them want to save her, you asshole. Don't you get it? The doctors and nurses do the best they can with what they have; it's not their fault she's sick." Amelia is furious.
"Do they?"
She shakes her head in confusion.
"Do they what?"
"Do they do their best? Surely if they did their best they would have been able to save her. But they couldn't. They better learn from their mistakes this time." My throat is so tight my words are practically stuck, unable to come out, unable to explain the frustration and fear I am feeling for Elena.
"Save who?" Amelia asks, realizing I am talking in past tense.
"Merelda." I snarl angrily.
Amelia stares at me for a long moment, until I can't handle the softness in her eyes for a second longer.
I can't take it anymore.
I shake my head and try to push past her, but she steps in front of me.
"Who is Merelda, Stefano?" She asks gently, her hand resting on my chest.
"It doesn't matter."
"It matters. Who is she?"
My jaw clenches so tightly it shoots pain down my neck. I roll my shoulders back trying to ease it away.
"Was - " I correct her. "She's gone. She died."
"Stefano - "
"She was my daughter, Amelia. She was my daughter and she got really sick. I did everything I could. We fought her disease for years, but she got weaker and weaker and no one could help her. I couldn't help her. The doctors couldn't help her. I lost her." I choke.
"You had a daughter?" She asks, shocked but talking gently.
"I had a daughter. Years before I met you."
"What disease did she have?"
"Alagille Syndrome," I say, guilt tracing my words.
"The same as Elle." Amelia whispers.
"The same as Elle."
She steps forward and wraps her arms around my waist, hugging me, holding me against her, resting her head against my chest. I stand frozen in time, wanting to lift my arms around her as well, but not able to move.
I'm feeling overwhelmed by emotions and memories.
I can't go through that again.
I can't lose Elle as well.
I stand stiff and unresponsive until Amelia steps away from me. "I never knew." She whispers sadly. "I'm so sorry, Stefano."
"There's nothing for you to be sorry about. I just can't watch it happen again. So the doctors need to do better this time."
I gently push Amelia out of my way. I need to get out of this office. It's claustrophobic and suffocating me.
She doesn't say anything else, not that she needs to, I see the pity in her eyes. I see sadness, empathy, and loss. I see her pain - and my own pain - and I can't look at her for another second.
I leave her standing in the office, walking quickly, in the opposite direction of Elle's room. I need to get away from all of it. I can't let anyone see the effect this is having on me.
I need space and time to calm down.