Chapter 8 #3
Thor mirrored him. He was there, implacable, arms crossed over his chest, legs apart, face very serious. The only difference between them was the clothes. Thor wore jeans and a T-shirt. Rocco wore a tailored three-piece suit.
If they pulled out swords and started dueling, I wouldn’t have been surprised.
“Hi to you too, papà,” I said in a failed attempt to soften the mood, rising onto my feet to kiss his cheek. “What are you doing here?”
“That question is mine, Antonella,” he warned, bringing his gaze to me.
“His apartment…”
“He has an apartment here?”
His question made my heart jump.
“Yes.”
Rocco’s serious expression deepened suspiciously.
“Is Castellammare stalking you?”
“Being your grandson’s father doesn’t make me a stalker, Vicenti,” Thor said in a tired, displeased tone. “We’re doomed to coexist with each other.”
I gave Thor a look, then touched my father’s arm to get his attention. “Dad, Heithor had pest problems in his apartment.”
“And he couldn’t go to a hotel?”
“Yes,” I admitted, “but he’s here.”
“He can’t stay.”
“I thought the apartment was mine and Lucca’s,” I probed suspiciously, not wanting to get irritated but already starting.
“It is, carina,” papà softened, then hardened, “but I don’t like him.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
I wanted to punch Thor for provoking him.
Suddenly, something clicked in my head… Wait…
“How did you know Thor was here? Are you watching me?”
“I did,” he confessed without remorse. “I don’t trust Castellammare. Especially after the way you arrived here. Don’t think you fool me. I’m no idiot, Antonella. I know there is more than what you told us, and I’m sure I won’t like the pieces you keep to yourself.”
“Our story concerns only us, Dad.” And I hoped the look on my face was as secure as my next words. “Everything is fine.”
“If Castellammare causes trouble, tell me and I’ll deal with him.”
Thor cursed under his breath.
“What do you think I’ll do to her, Vicenti?”
“I don’t know, Castellammare.” Papà turned to him, his calm almost as aggressive as a freight train about to collide.
“You can start by explaining why my daughter appeared here out of nowhere, frightened, with nothing to her name, as if she were running from the devil himself. If you weren’t the one who did that, then my concern only increases, because you have no capacity whatsoever to care for her or my grandson. ”
Thor let his arms fall, fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tight, his tense body vibrating with absolute violence.
I reacted before things spilled over completely.
“Dad, please.”
Rocco wasn’t happy, and far from convinced, but still, he exhaled hard and nodded brusquely. “All right, carina. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
***
The effects of Heithor staying in my apartment emerged little by little.
“I think we’re going to have to change playgrounds,” Giulia commented, entering the kitchen, then grabbed the ingredients for Lucca’s porridge.
It was Friday, almost lunchtime. Giulia, Lucca, and Heithor had just returned from the playground. I had the day off to study for the exam later.
I stole a piece of tomato. “And why is that?”
“It’s too crowded,” she answered, without looking at me.
I rolled my eyes and went back to cutting the tomato for salad.
“And since when is that a reason to change playgrounds, Giulia?”
“Since Heithor started going and the moms and nannies on duty seem to have nothing more important to do than show up at the same time.”
I stopped the knife halfway through the cut and stared at her.
“What do you mean?”
Giulia chattered. “You know I always went at a calm time, when there’s practically no one, but since Heithor started going along—I mean, he doesn’t always do it, but sometimes he stops by and gets a whole lot of attention.
Well, it’s a fact the movement has increased.
Apparently, the mothers and nannies in the area think that time is perfect.
” She emphasized time, her tone very suggestive.
“I swear to you, Ella, that man could sell anything. You should talk to your father about offering him a job at VCG. I guarantee Heithor could sell a handful of dry leaves for a few dozen euros, and they’d buy them and still be grateful. It’s almost pathetic.”
I scowled, putting more force into the cut.
Of course Heithor would be making women sigh, and I wasn’t angry about that. He could conquer all the Milanese women as long as he didn’t try to conquer me.
May his dick fall off!
“… You need to see how they all get worked up over him. ‘Wow, Lucca is so handsome,’ or ‘If only my child’s father were like that’…
It’s so much blah, blah, blah, my stomach turns.
He even got invitations to take Lucca to birthday parties.
Of course, the children like him too. Heithor is good with them, but it’s the older ones who want special attention. ”
I breathed deeply, praying my jealous tone sounded as neutral as I intended.
“Heithor is a handsome man. It’s normal for women to be around.”
May his dick fall off!
“Doesn’t it bother you?”
“And why would it bother me?”
“Well, you two had a story. Heithor is your baby’s father, and he’s here. I know that if I were you, I’d be eating myself alive. I’d never leave him like that… uh-uh.”
I fixed my gaze on her, my sharp tongue bitter in my mouth.
“I think there’s something wrong with his diaper.”
I turned to Heithor in the kitchen entrance, holding Lucca away from his gorgeous body, grimacing in disgust while the boy babbled happily.
“He left a little surprise for Daddy,” Giulia joked.
I would like to know when they had gotten so close.
Giulia stepped forward to help him, and I stopped her.
“No, he does it.”
“But I—”
I gave her a firm look. “You’re stirring Lucca’s porridge. I think Heithor can change a diaper without dropping dead, can’t he? Fathers do that too.”
Indignation crossed his face.
“Woman, I am the best diaper changer in the world.”
He left, and I smiled Machiavellianly, beginning to chop the cucumber with relish.
“Witch.”
I cast her an innocent look.
“He’s the father. Advantages and disadvantages.”
I counted mentally.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7…
“HOLY FUCKING SHIT! What the hell…”
I tried to hold back, but burst out laughing. Giulia looked at me reprovingly, but when Thor kept cursing, now in other languages, she laughed too.
Giulia finished the porridge, turned off the stove, and washed her hands.
“Since paradise is intact, I’m heading to my appointment.” She left the dish towel on the island and snatched up her purse. “Tomorrow I’ll come at noon.”
“You don’t need to do that, Giulia.”
“I do.”
I set the knife aside.
“No, you don’t. You worked the whole week. You should take the weekend to go out and have fun. I’m not going to deduct those hours from your pay.”
“Is Miss Too-Busy-To-Have-Fun telling me that?” she mocked with fake shock. “Here’s the deal. You deduct half of today from my pay, or I come tomorrow to make up for it and secure my money. Since I can’t afford to refuse a single cent, I’ll stick with the second option.”
I huffed because there was nothing to be done.