Chapter8.
1444 Words
Alessio's POV.
"Dante, my office. Now!"
He stops just before he reaches the front door and turns his head to frown at me.
"I thought I had more important things to do today." His tone is flippant and sarcastic. It sends a quiver of rage through my body.
I clench my jaw and both my fists. "Now, Dante!" I carry on walking straight into my office and wait for him to close the door behind him.
"Alessio..."
I immediately cut across him before he has the opportunity to say anything else. I can feel the anger raging inside me.
"What's with the attitude, Dante? You're rude and disrespectful! I expect better from you!"
"You never should have brought her back here! She's right, she doesn't belong here!"
'Whether she should be here or not is beside the point, Dante. She's a guest in our home, and you will treat her accordingly."
The look on Dante's face reminds me of when we were young boys trying to convince his father to let us do something stupid and irresponsible, and his father refused. I never challenged Uncle Goodie. I felt like I had no right to do so. I owed him too much for raising me as his own, but, of course, Dante didn't have to feel like he owed his father the same debt, and he always hated when his father refused anything that he asked. He would pout and complain that his father treated us like children. That's exactly what we were.
"Bringing her here was stupid, Alessio. Something only a fool would do." "You know it just as well as I do."
I see the same flippant defiance in his eyes now that he had when he was arguing with his father. Now I can also understand the kind of frustration, disappointment, and anger that Uncle Goodie must have felt. I didn't think that it was at all possible, but a new wave of respect washes over me for my uncle. He always hid his emotions so well in those moments. As a boy I could never tell what he was feeling. He always kept his voice calm and even, and he always treated Dante with respect, even if Dante did not show him the same courtesy.
"You're stepping out of line, Dante." Unfortunately, I am not my Uncle Goodie, and I can't keep the rising anger out of my voice. Dante raises his when he addresses me again.
"It makes you look weak! You should have put a bullet through her head the second you found her! That's what I would have done!"
"That's enough! You seem to be forgetting your place!" I can feel the anger turning into rage as I slam both my hands down on my desk. I'm glaring at Dante now. I feel my face burning as the blood rushes to it. I feel the familiar pulsing of the small vein just beneath my jawline. The anger makes my mouth dry and leaves a bitter taste on the back of my tongue. "You're my nephew, Dante, and I love you for it. But I am still your Capo and I will not be disrespected by you or anyone else. Do I make myself clear?"
Dante does not answer me. He just stares at me. His eyes are drawn into tiny slits and his mouth is formed into a thin, hard line. He clenches his fists by his sides. I can tell that he wants to fight me. He wants to challenge me like he used to challenge his father. I simply will not allow it. I will not stand for it.
"Do... I... Make... Myself... Clear, Dante?" I stand up straight and square my shoulders.
Dante takes a deep, rattling breath. He speaks through gritted teeth. "Yes."
"Yes?" I raise both my eyebrows at him.
"Yes. Capo."
I dismiss Dante with a wave of my hand. It's better for us both if he gets out of my sight as quickly as he can. I can feel myself starting to lose control, and I'm afraid of how far I might take it if Dante continues on this path. Fortunately, he says nothing more. He turns on his heel and makes to storm out of my office. I catch him again just before he reaches to open the door.
"One more thing."
He turns to face me again, but he remains silent.
"You will respect Lily for as long as she remains here."
I can see him biting his tongue. I know that he has more that he would like to say to me, but he doesn't. He just spins around again and storms out the door. He nearly knock Isabella down as she's on her way in, but he completely ignores her and rushes out of the front door. Isabella looks from him to me with wide, stunned eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Nonetta. I don't know why he acts this way sometimes. He's better than all of this. I know that he is."
"Oh hush, Alessio. You don't have to apologize for him." She waves my apology away and smiles her gentle smile at me.
I sigh heavily and run my hand through my hair. I can feel the rage inside me begin to subside slightly. "Someone has to, Nonetta. I just wish I knew why he's been acting like this." I sit down behind my desk and invite her to take a seat as well.
"Be patient with him. He's still young, and he's still trying to figure out who he is and where exactly he fits in."
"That's nonsense, Nonetta. Dante has no reason to wonder about where he fits in. He should know by now. Besides, that does not give him the right to go around disrespecting others. We were raised better than that."
Isabella's eyes glaze over slightly as they fill with tears, and I know that she's thinking about her sons, my father and Uncle Goodie. I know how much I miss both of them. I can only imagine what it must be like for her.
"Yes, yes, you were." She reaches over the desk for my hand and holds it, tightly, in hers. Her skin is soft and warm, and her touch is comforting. Just as it's always been. "I think that he feels like he deserves a bigger role in the family. More trust and more responsibility."
"Then perhaps he should start acting more responsible and trustworthy." My tone is harsh even though I don't mean for it to be, but Isabella takes no offense. She just smiles at me instead and gives me a look of understanding.
I sigh again and sit back in my chair. I really shouldn't allow Dante to get to me like this, but I simply can't help it sometimes.
"I'm sure you did not come here to talk to me about Dante, Nonetta?"
The smile fades from her face in order to make room for a serious expression. She has a hint of disappointment in her pale eyes. "No I did not, Alessio. I came here to talk to you about Lily. You should not have spoken to her like that. You were raised better than that."
I can't help but feel a little annoyed with her for using my own words against me like that, but I know that she's right. I let my emotions get the better of me. I feel ashamed and disappointed in myself.
"I'm sorry, Nonetta. You're right. It's just that..." I trail off because I feel strange for even wanting to say it out loud. I barely even know her. It doesn't make sense for me to feel anything for her.
Isabella smiles at me again and her eyes are also full of understanding again. Most days I really do believe that she knows me better than I know myself.
"But you care about her, and you're worried about her."
I smile back at her. I feel less strange for feeling the way that I do.
"That much has been clear since the moment I saw you with her, but keeping her here against her will won't make her want to be here anymore than she wants to be right now."
I know that she's right again. I don't like the thought of letting Lily out of my sight for even a second. I hate it, actually, but I know that Isabella has a point.
"I know, Nonetta. I'll talk to her. I'll make things right."
Isabella gets out of her chair, walks around my desk, and gently kisses me on my cheek. "I expect nothing less, my sweet boy."
- Writer
