My Mafia Madness 4

Chapter 22 - Uniting Our Houses

After having his daughter explain her own unique version of events concerning the existence of his apparently very real granddaughter Alexa Myers, Don Levine now had more of an idea of their current situation.

There was another Levine alive right now, somewhere out there. A woman he had never met before, yet one whom shared his very own blood.

Sitting casually in his armchair with one arm resting on the armrest and the other arm bent at the elbow, with his fingers supporting his chin, Don Levine wondered about this mysterious member of his immediate family as Amelia went on explaining in the background.

What was this… Alexa like?

Who did she more resemble, her mother or her runaway failure as a father?

And most importantly, when would he get to finally meet with her in person?

Pulling himself out of his countless thoughts the Don opened his mouth, speaking over his daughter suddenly and cutting her off mid-sentence.

“So, if I understand things correctly, this is a brief summary of what happened…”

Liam aimed to clarify what he now knew as he looked his own deceitful daughter directly in the eye with a stern expression of authority.

“Apparently unwilling to continue on with our family’s proud and unwavering legacy, my own daughter chooses to run away from her luxurious lifestyle here and instead hides herself away somewhere in New York City. She changes her name and assumes a completely new identity as this… Emma Myers…”

He paused, his eyes narrowing with spite at Amelia’s reaction.

And just as he had predicted she looks entirely on edge, with her lips pursed tightly together in a thin line and her eyes downcast, unable to meet his gaze out of obvious guilt.

Liam then went on to persecute her there in front of Dante.

“Now, during her time hiding out like some common criminal on the run, she meets another i***t named Gary Myers, and together the two little lovebirds have themselves a daughter whom they name Alexa… am I on the right track so far?”

Lifting both his brows in challenge at Amelia, the older Don waits for his daughter’s response before going on to further humiliate her as punishment for her mistakes.

Hesitant and clearly humiliated, Amelia closes her eyes as she nods her head and speaks softly, in utter defeat.

“Yes father…”

And now satisfied that he has made her feel like nothing but the mere dirt beneath his shoe, Liam continues.

“Rather than tell her own father about the existence of his own granddaughter, my foolish daughter chooses to go and hide her child instead… why?”

His question seems to startle Amelia as she winces, her brows furrowing inwards as she forces her eyes upwards to meet his and speak her reasons why.

Why she had made such a choice all those years ago.

“Why?”

The word came out filled with pain and fear, her voice almost trembling... but she soon changed entirely.

“WHY you ask?”

This time, her tone had totally changed!

Amelia sounded angry as her expression mirrored her tone of voice, and she sat upright in a more offensive posture visibly glaring back at Liam.

“Why the hell do you think! Because I was afraid of you, father! That’s why.”

The sudden outburst seemed to have startled the Don as his eyes widened and he looked offended by her harsh words directed at him.

Even in his stunned state, he did not speak or demand her to be silenced.

No… instead he sat there listening to his daughter as she went on to pour out of her heart to him, even with their guest present.

“I knew the kind of life I had as a child growing up in such a hard and unforgiving world. The endless training, the constant danger. Learning to shoot when I was only three, my first kill at the age of ten… and I never wanted that for her!”

Dante, taken aback by this new finding seemed to suddenly feel somewhat guilty for bringing Alexa further into his lifestyle now, after having heard her confession.

“I promised myself that any child of mine would never have to wash blood off their hands at only ten years of age. And if that meant that I had to hide her away from you and your entire clan, then I would. And that’s exactly what I did.”

She finished firmly, unwilling to back down or show any concern for what she had just openly admitted to her own father, the Don.

The room was filled with an awkward silence for around a minute in length before Don Levine finally broke his gaze from Amelia and closed his eyes, letting out a long, hard sigh.

“I honestly had no idea you felt this way so strongly…” Liam admitted, revealing a brief glimmer of emotion towards her, one that only lasted for the fraction of a second.

“Still, even with your past… intentions, the girl has Levine blood running through her veins. She is of our clan and as such, must return here. To her home.”

“Father, no-” Amelia pleaded.

Holding his hand up as a command to silence her, Liam went on.

“-It is decided! She will return here immediately.”

Terrified by the idea of Alexa being forced into the life she had never wanted for her child, Amelia’s expression suddenly changed.

It morphed into one of horror and disbelief as she looked in desperation towards Dante to help her prevent this from happening.

“Don Romano, please. Tell him this cannot happen!” she begged their guest for support.

And sensing that things were now beginning to heat up, Dante decided it was now time to break the news he had come to share with his hosting Don in the first place.

News that would change things entirely.

“Don Levine, before you go and send your men out in search of Miss Myers, there is one more thing you should probably be aware of…” Dante announced as he sat proud and tall in his seat.

“And what exactly is that?” Liam queried.

“Well, if your men did in fact manage to locate and apprehend Miss Myers, I’m afraid I would have to have them killed.”

Liam’s eyes widened upon hearing this outright threat against his forces.

He immediately stood up in a blind rage, glowering at his guest Don as he narrowed his eyes and snapped angrily back at Dante.

“How dare you threaten me in my own home!” he proclaimed in outrage, his voice echoing throughout the large room they were gathered together in.

“I should have you killed on the spot for such an outlandish suggestion!”

Still sitting and with the same calm expression on his handsome face, Dante merely tilted his head off to the side as he stared back at the older Don.

“Do that, and you’ll never find your granddaughter.” Dante warned simply.

“You see, Alexa is under my care and is therefore under the protection of the Romano Family. Any attempts on her wellbeing will be taken very seriously.”

Liam still couldn’t understand why Dante had such a serious interest in some woman he barely even knew. It made no sense!

“Why is it that you are so fascinated by my granddaughter, Mr. Romano?” he enquired with a desperate tone to his voice. Desperate to know the truth. To make sense of this mess.

“Tell me, what exactly does she mean to you?”

“Everything…”

Dante’s response was unwavering. He paused for a moment, his eyes unblinking and fixated on Liam’s as he finally opened his mouth and spoke again.

“You see, Alexa and I engaged to be married. Not only that but we also have a child together… a son.”

Suddenly baffled by what had just been announced, Don Levine was wide-eyed as he stared at Dante with his mouth wide open in shock. As did his daughter, Amelia.

“You and Alexa… the two of you have a son together?” Liam reiterated, allowing the new information to process within his mind.

“How is this even possible?” Amelia added from where she was sitting, a mirrored expression of disbelief on her face as she looked from Dante to her father in question.

“As a mother I did everything that I could to keep her as far away from this sort of lifestyle as I could. I thought unlike me, she’d be freed from it.”

Liam in the meantime was trying to process everything that he had been told in the past half-hour or so. There was so much to allow to sink in.

He couldn’t quite believe it as he reached out his hand and grasped at the armrest of his chair for some sort of support.

His next words came out softly, as if they were meant for his ears alone.

“Not only do I learn today that I am I a grandfather, but that I’m a great grandfather as well…”

Dante could see that his news had caused quite an amount of shock between his hosts, and he knew that it would be polite for him to at least offer something that his fellow Don clearly wanted.

As an expression of the goodwill to be shared between their two families.

“Don Levine, I can see that this information has come as quite a shock to you, and to your daughter. For that I do apologise.”

He paused for a second, sitting forward more now with his elbows leaning down against his knees.

“Perhaps I can arrange a meeting between you and my fiancé to take place... that is, if you are still interested, of course.”

This suggestion seemed to suddenly snap the older Don out of his own thoughts as he lifted his head up to meet Dante’s gaze.

Liam’s eyes were now filled with obvious interest in the offer at hand.

“Such a favour is of course greatly appreciated, Dante. Although, I do have to wonder…”

Liam paused, narrowing his eyes only slightly as he went on.

“What would you be asking for in return? For this incredibly generous favour of yours?”

Dante smirked.

He knew that Liam Levine was no fool.

The middle-aged man had been through his share of harsh debates and negotiations over his past five decades of being head of the Levine Family.

“I’m glad you asked…” Dante mused.

“I have no doubt you’ve already heard that I’m in the process of expanding my affiliates worldwide. Alternatively, I am in the process of seeking out new and powerful allies to side with me in this lucrative venture. Loyal Lords and Don’s from countless countries. But most importantly, those I know without a doubt that I can trust to have my back whenever the time comes.”

Liam watched Dante with intrigue, as did Amelia from her seat.

“All I am asking is that you consider siding with me, Don Levine. Together we can be a lot stronger than we are now.”

Dante continued on as he pulled himself up from his seat to stand, adjusting his suit jacket as he spoke with an aura of strength and confidence.

“When Alexa and I are married, our two families will be united in the strongest possible way. And as my ally, you will also be entitled to a decent share of whatever profits are made through this joint venture. As well as my unwavering support.”

Liam lifted his right hand, stroking his chin as he gave the offer some thought.

“With our two powerful families joined through the bonds of marriage, our enemies will crumble beneath our very feet. No one will ever dare oppose us.”

Dante spoke with a certainty and authority as he took slow steps towards his fellow Don, stopping around two metres away out of respect.

“I’m not asking you to give me an answer right now. I wouldn’t want to pressure you-”

“-Very well.”

Liam’s words cut in over the end of Dante’s sentence, not that he seemed to mind.

In fact, Dante appeared baffled by the sudden response from his host. Before he was able to ask what Liam had meant, Don Levine spoke.

“I will join you as an ally, Don Dante Romano. Furthermore, our families will unite through the bonds of marriage, as you have just suggested. I will agree to bless the marriage between both you and my granddaughter Alexa as you have asked…”

He paused, lifting his chin.

“But in return, I wish to meet both my granddaughter and my great grandson in person. And the sooner the better.” he added.

“If they do indeed share the Levine bloodline, they are a vital part of this family as much as any of us. And as such I expect that they will come and visit their ancestral home. This will take place tomorrow morning. I trust you can arrange this, Dante?”

Dante couldn’t hide the smile from forming upon his face if he had even tried to.

He had succeeded in convincing Don Levine to side with him. Not only that, but he had also agreed to their proposed marriage!

Everything was falling into place for The Reaper.

“Of course, Don Levine. It would be my pleasure.” Dante agreed.

“Excellent. Now… if there is nothing else you wish to discuss, it was indeed a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Romano…”

Liam spoke with a slight smirk as he stepped forward and closed the gap between them with his hand outstretched for Dante to take and shake.

“Please, call me Dante.” the younger Don interjected with a smile as he too stepped forward and embraced Liam’s hand firmly with his own.

As they shook hands with one another, the older Don mirrored Dante’s pleased expression.

“Very well then, Dante.” Liam spoke warmly.

“I look forward to meeting the newest members of the Levine family tomorrow morning. Shall we say, ten o’clock?”

“Sounds perfect.” Dante nodded his head as their hands parted.

“Luis here will escort you both back to your vehicle…” Liam announced, holding his arm out towards one of the guards who had by now stepped forwards.

“I trust you will have a pleasant journey.”

With that, Luis then began to guide Dante towards the next room where Nicola was waiting.

And once they had Nicola, the group headed back in the direction that they had come from. Towards the front of the castle where they would meet up with Luca who had been waiting patiently.

As Dante walked, he began going over things one by one, silently within his head. There was so much to have organised before tomorrow morning’s meeting.

It had to go smoothly, that much was certain!

Nicola came up to walk beside his capo, finally getting to speak for the first time since arriving as Castle Levine.

“You’re bringing them both here? Just like that?” he enquired with apparent concern.

“Don’t you think that’s a little… unsafe for them?”

Dante waved the suggestion away with a gesture of his hand.

“Alexa is a Levine by blood, as is Alessandro. They are safer here than anywhere else in Canada, that much I can assure you.” he announced confidently.

“Besides, they will be heavily escorted throughout their visit, Nicola. By myself included, of course.”

“And have you thought of how you’re going to break the news to Alexa?” Nicola reminded, causing Dante to suddenly stop mid-step as the thought only now came to him.

Alexa didn’t even know the truth yet!

She had no idea of her true birthright and heritage. That she was in fact part of a Mafia clan and had a family she had never met waiting to meet her.

Masking his concern for the moment, Dante frowned as he recommenced their march through the castle towards the main entrance.

“I’ll speak with her myself. This evening.” he announced firmly.

And by his tone of voice, Nicola knew that pressing him on the matter would be an unwise thing to do.

“Until then, there will be no mention of this to her or to anyone else. Is that understood?” Dante commanded.

“Si, capo.”

Nicola replied with a deep frown, still apparently unconvinced of this idea as they made their way down from the entrance towards the limo which was by now parked and waiting for their arrival.

Luca stood resting against the car as he noticed them approaching and stood straight.

“That was quick.” he announced with a playful grin.

“So... how’d it go?”

Both Dante and Nicola’s resulting glares aimed directly at him gave Luca the answer he needed as he flinched in surprise.

“Hmm… that good huh?” he taunted.

Assisting the Don and his underboss to climb into the backseat of the limo, Luca closed the car door behind them with a ‘clunk’ and wandered up towards the driver’s seat.

Climbing in behind the wheel, he closed his own door before buckling himself in and then proceeding to drive off, headed on their return trip to the manor.