I don’t reply. I would prefer this not even be happening, but my wife thinks that I need some answers and that I need to give them some information, as well. medical information, from Torrance and, yes, for Marcello.
“We’ve done some digging to find out what we could about Luciana’s passing and …” She stops and shakes her head, looking at me. “You are the perfect blend of them. You’re a beautiful man, Matteo.”
I don’t respond to her attempts to be cunning. I have dealt with women like her all my life.
Carlos pulls out a file. “We’re going to ask that you sign this NDA before further discussion.”
“Sure, of course.” Signing it, she says, “I didn’t bring one. I believe a man’s word is a man’s world.” She pushes it back toward Carlos, looking at me. “I know you feel like Sabato and I aren’t good parents; however, we are. Marcello is a boy who has made many mistakes. He’s also getting help for that. We do what we can. After last night, we’re doing more. But Tris sent him a message, so he isn’t totally at fault.”
“Tris sent a message because she was under the impression that I would choose to have a family in my last—” I snap my mouth shut and clear my throat. “Over love. That is not nor will it ever be the truth. She is my family. She is my wife.”
“I …” She stops and tilts her head. “I feel like there is a big portion of this being left out.”
I look at Carlos, and he nods. Then I look back at her. “You signed a paper stating that this is between us.”
“I did. But, more importantly, I give you my word.”
“Where is your husband?”
She smiles and sits back. “Parked a few vehicles back from Zandor.”
“Get him here. I will do this once, and then we’re done.”
She sends a message immediately then waves to the waitstaff and orders drinks.
I look at Carlos. “He’s to sign, too.”
As Sabato Effisto walks through the café, heads turn. When he unbuttons his jacket, removes his glasses, and kisses his wife’s head while glaring at the onlookers, they look away.
“Thank you for meeting with—”
“Carlos, the papers,” I interrupt him.
Signing, Sabato says, “I’m not your enemy, kid. Pack that pretense up, kill the attitude, and you and I will be good.”
“I don’t care enough to give a shit, nor am I here to make things good between us.”
He pushes the NDA across the table. “I’m not your enemy. I’m a father and—”
“I’m grown, and I make no enemies. I’m here to ease a burden for my wife.”
He crosses his arms and stares firmly into my eyes.
“Allow me to handle this,” Carlos states.
Eyes still locked with his, I reply, “No.” I then look back at Carlos. “I’ll begin, thank you, my friend.”
I turn back to Sabato. “My brothers have no idea that I am not blood. My grandmother, a tyrant, exposed this after her death to me and me alone. I understand why now, because I was sold by a woman and—”
“Luciana would never have sold you. That was all his doing. We found evidence that she was kept alive to allow you to be born and raised as a pawn. My killing him also killed his sick attempt at destroying me any further. Obviously, money was given to—”
I hold up my hand to stop him. “I hold no blame toward you for what happened.”
“I’m glad because—”
“And I ask that you leave me alone. Leave my family alone. My nieces are innocent in all that their father—”
“I’ve looked into that, too, and—”
“I want peace,” I cut him off, frustrated.
“Then you’ll have it. The girls will be taken care of however you decide. Marcello knows what family—”
“No.
He visible looks shaken.
“I am here strictly at Tris’s request, that you are aware that I have a heart condition. She and I agreed that you have the right to know this, because if your children have the same, they’re young enough that they may find treatment early enough to slow down the inevitable. I am in stage—”
“Excuse me. What?” Sabato asks.
“I’m dying and have made peace with it. I have congenital heart failure and choose to spend the remainder of my life, however much time that may be, being loved and in love with the woman who somehow was given to me and was too stubborn to walk away when I begged her to. Tris, her parents, Carlos, and now the two of you are the only people who know. All of you have signed an NDA. Therefore, I implore you to keep this information to yourself. Together, Zandor, Bekah, and Tris will be in charge of my estate when I am gone and will see to it that my nieces live comfortably and are taken care of, and that my brothers are given enough but not so much that they can hang themselves.”
“Matteo …” Sabato shakes his head.
“Your job in this is to make sure your children are free from this and that they continue getting checked to ensure they live a long life.”
Sabato pulls his sunglasses from his head and covers his eyes, his jaw twitching. He’s angry.
“There are steps in the grieving process for both the dying and those living. To ease that for you, with all sincerity, I’m sorry for the pain this may cause you, and I truly pray your children do not suffer from the same condition.”
“Matteo, at this moment, they’re not what’s most important.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that, because aside from not making life more difficult for my nieces by unveiling this unfortunate occurrence, I will ask that you allow me to live as I have been and not burden me with forming any type of relationship where I feel the need to be tasked with easing the pain that may be caused by my death. Tris is my focus. Seeing that she is loved and growing above her circumstances is my concentration. Trust me when I say I never wanted to drag her into this. The kiss that started it all was to shield my nieces from seeing their father for the pig he is. But I also am extremely grateful that I am able to live my last days being loved by her.”
Silence, I usually find solace in it. Not the case at this moment.
“I apologize for the burden this may cause but offer a way in managing it. Make sure your children are okay. Be at harmony with the knowledge that I am spending my time where pain knows no level and love brings peace, and be each other’s comfort.”
“You’re my son.”
“I was a pawn.”
“That’s not what I meant. I didn’t mean—”
“Sabato, I’m glad I know of you. I’m happy to know I was born of love.” I push back my chair.
“Kid, do not leave like this,” he growls, and Mel takes his hand.
I reach forward and place mine over theirs. “My wife is waiting for me. I won’t miss a moment more.” I pull my hand away. “I thank you for life. Because of you, I know love.”
Epilogue
Four Years Later…
Tris
I have written a million songs about the man who helped me heal, taught me to love, and proves to me each day that miracles do come true, yet I haven’t recorded one. I still write for Foreplay, which is still touring every other year. However, I have been replaced by a killer vocalist and lyricist, “Pen,” who is Billy Jeffers’, from STD, sister.