Chapter 6
Adam
What the fuck just happened? I think to myself as we head back to the estate.
From what Axl and Andres told me about the old man, I knew there was going to be some static but never did I think it would have been what he disclosed.
Felix and I tried to bombard Axl with questions once we were outside.
When in the hell did, he learn to speak Italian and for how fucking long?
! He told us we would discuss everything when we got back.
My father, Andres Romano was my biological father.
This shit was unreal! All my life I have only thought of Sergio Salvant to be my father, now I don’t know what the fuck to think.
Who the fuck was I and poor Felix, I know he must be feeling some kind of way finding out Axl and I have the same father?
“Baby, are you okay?” Imani asks rubbing my arm.
When I got in the limo, she was holding a crying Harper in her arms. When Harper saw me, she came straight to me, wrapping her arms around my neck whimpering.
I couldn’t stand seeing my princess cry so I comforted her as best I could until she quieted down.
“No, love I’m not okay.” I whisper, my mind still running in circles of tonight’s events.
“Well, I’m sure you guys will figure everything out once you sit down and talk. That was a lot to take in but I want you to hear Andres out, Adam. By the expression on his face, he was just as surprised as you.”
I nod as Harper yawns in my arms. Imani continues to rub my arm while I stare out the window into the darkness. I needed some answers and shit I was going to get them when we returned to Andres.’
Ten minutes later we were entering Andres’ estate.
Harper remained in my arms as I took her upstairs to the room she was sharing with Ladybug and Calla.
My poor princess was still scared and asked if she could sleep with me and Imani.
I told her she could because I knew I probably wouldn’t make it to bed tonight after Axl, Andres, Felix and I have our talk.
I waited for Imani to grab her some extra clothes before taking Harper to our room.
I tried to sit her on the bed but she held on to me for dear life.
“I’ll be back, princess, I promise.” I softly say to her rubbing her back.
“No, Daddy don’t go.” Harper whimpers. I glance at Imani who is just as taken aback by her words as I am.
My heart beats faster with as it swells with love. I fight back the tears that want to escape. “Harper, princess, Daddy will be back soon, okay. Mommy’s gonna get you cleaned up and ready for bed. Be a big girl for Daddy, okay?” I choke out trying to sound strong.
She snivels shaking her head up and down.
“Come on, baby.” Imani says reaching her arms out to her. Harper finally releases her arms from around my neck then goes to her mother. I lean over and give her a kiss on the cheek before giving Imani a kiss. I smile at them both as I turn to leave the room heading for Andres’ office.
I run into Maxillo when I get to the end of the hallway.
“They’re waiting for you in the office.” He states with an apologetic look.
“Thanks, Maxillo.” I respond patting him on his shoulder. Maxillo has become a close friend to Axl, Felix and me. Although he is not one for a lot of words, he is loyal and very protective of the kids.
When we reach Andres’ office, I could hear raised voices coming from the other side of the door.
Not caring to knock I open the door to see Axl and Andres face to face with each other, both their faces displaying rage.
Felix is sitting in one of the chairs with his face in his hands.
Lorenzo is propped up against the wall with his arms folded over his chest while Edgar sits back on the couch smoking a cigar.
“So, you expect me to believe you didn’t know about Adam?” Axl growls.
“I swear, figlio (son), I didn’t know.” Andres’ replies through clenched teeth.
I step in walking over to them. “You two need to calm down so we can talk this out. How are we going to get to the bottom of this if the two of you are yelling at each other! Axl, I know you want answers but I think I deserve them more than you do right now!” They stare one another down before Axl goes to sit in the chair across from Felix.
As Andres looks at me, I can tell that he has been crying. I know this is probably fucking with him worse than the rest of us.
“Andres, I know you said you didn’t know but are you sure? You didn’t see any kind of resemblance?” I ask him, man to man.
He lets out a deep breath, running his finger through his hair.
“Adam, I promise I did not know about you. The night Giovanni was talking about, your mother called me because her husband had put his hands on her. She gave me the name of the hotel she was hiding out at and I went to check on her. We ended up sleeping together, had I known...”
“Had you known what, huh?” Axl barks jumping up from his seat. “Had you known she not only bore not one but two children by you, you would have what?! Done to Adam what you did to me?!”
“Axl” I shout.
“No, Adam I want to know if that’s what he would’ve done!” Axl shouts.
“Daddy! Daddy!”
We turn to the door where Harper runs in straight to me. I bend down picking her up. Imani rushes in after her.
“I’m sorry, Adam. She was crying for you and when I went into the bathroom to get a wet towel to wash her face off, she bolted out of the room.”
“It’s okay, love.” I tell her. “Princess what’s the matter?”
“I heard yelling and I thought the bad men were here to get you.” Harper cries. I glare at Axl who hangs his head in shame. “No, we were just talking loud, that’s all.”
“Yeah, Harps they were just talking loud.” Felix adds coming over to us and rubs her hair.
“I want to stay with you, Daddy.” She sniffles with her head on my chest.
I sigh turning to Imani. “You can go back up, love. She’ll be fine.”
She gives me questioning look. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. We’ll be up as soon as we’re done here.” I reply.
“Alright, then.” She responds before hesitating to leave.
After she leaves, I bring my attention back to Axl and Andres. “My daughter is in the room now, so you both better act like you got some sense.” I take us over to the seat next to where Felix was sitting and sit down with Harper on my lap.
Andres is the first to speak. “Axl, Felix and Adam let me make this clear, had I known about Adam I would have went back to get Elena and the three of you. With Elena by my side, I know she wouldn’t have let me do what I did to Axl, hell I know I wouldn’t have because she and you boys would have pulled me from the darkness but I would have...
” He looks at Harper then clears his throat.
“I would have eliminated the threat that was within your household.”
“Me? You would have taken me too even though I am not yours?” Felix lowly asks. My chest tightens as I see the emotions battling within him.
“Yes, Felix even you. I’ve learned what the consequences of my actions has done to each one of you and for that I am sorry.
” He chokes as he walks over to Felix placing his hands on his shoulders.
“Felix, figlio (son), blood or not you are my son just the same as Axl and Adam. If I could give you a blood transfusion to make it so I would. But never think you are not a Romano because you are and I kill anyone who says different.” Felix nods his head before Andres pulls him into a hug.
I had to use my shoulder to wipe my tears from my face.
When they released each other, Andres whispered something in Felix’s ear that had him nodding his head up and down before he patted him on his back and Felix retakes his seat next to me.
I swivel my head towards him; he looks at me then smiles with a nod.
“Now, Adam...” Andres starts. “I want to know how you’re feeling about this new revelation.”
I adjust a now sleeping Harper in my arms. “Honestly, it really doesn’t change anything on my end.
You and I have sat down and had many talks, Andres.
I can tell by the way you lighten up how much you loved our mother and understand what you thought was right in protecting her and Axl from your father.
I’m sure if you would have known the whole truth you would have done right by us. ”
“I would have, figlio (son).” He responds misty eyed before facing Axl. “And you, Axl, how do you feel?”
Complete silence fills the room as we wait for him to answer.
It takes him a minute but he finally replies, “I now feel you didn’t honestly know about Adam just by your reaction.
I should not have flown off the handle like that; I let the past invade my thoughts of you and I apologize.
Even without knowing Adam was your biological son, you have accepted him and Felix without question and have proven to have their backs as a father should.
They have accepted you and I have too, padre (father).
“Wait a minute!” Felix booms startling Harper as he scoots to the end of his chair. I whack him with my hand closest to him. “Oh, sorry Harps.” He whispers standing, moving away from us. “Axl, since when do you know how to speak Italian?!”
Axl looks at Andres. They begin to chuckle. “Mom taught me before you two were born. We spoke it more than English but then Sergio made us stop.”
“Damn” Felix says. “I wish she would have taught it to us but I know it would have made things worse with Sergio.”
“Yeah, it probably would have. When I decided we were coming here, I thought about mom teaching me the language years ago and got an app on my phone. As the words started flowing, it all came back to me. Father and I thought it would’ve been best to not tell anyone so I could sit back and learn what others were saying about us. ” Axl states.
“Well, you sure shocked the shit out of me! I was like ‘who the hell is that speaking, he must have a recording hidden under the table’!”
We laugh at Felix’s crazy observation. “It’s true though, because I was thinking the same thing.” I add.