The Mafia Lord's Redemption

Chapter 4

For the next few days, the atmosphere of the mansion completely changed because of Jason's presence. The hallways, which were once dull and quiet, were now full of laughter. Previously locked doors were now always open. The most surprising thing was how much Amanda had changed.

The sight of his wife and half-brother hunched over a chessboard had Kyle pausing instantly at the door of the sunroom. The golden rays of sunlight which came through the glass roof hit her auburn hair as Amanda thought about her next move, Jason leaned forward, the usual smirk on his face, now replaced with more genuine concentration.

“Check,” Amanda shouted with pride as she moved her bishop.

“Oh my god, you're killing me, Mandy,” Jason moaned dramatically.

Kyle's jaw tightened as he heard the nickname. In the few days since his half-brother's arrival, Kyle had seen a totally different side of Amanda, one that was open, fun and relaxed. It kind of baffled him that she had never been this way with him.

“You're making it too easy,” Amanda said, teasing Jason as she reached for her cold drink, “I thought the Europeans were supposed to be chess masters.

“Of course, we are,” Jason replied as he studied the board, “Plus, I'm just distracted by my present company.”

The clear flirtation infuriated Kyle, so he loudly cleared throat making both players look up at him.

“Did you need something, Kyle?” Amanda asked innocently, her tone was polite but detached, like that of a stranger.

Fixing his cuffs, Kyle smiled blandly and replied, “Just checking if any of you needed anything before my meeting.”

“We're fine,” Jason replied nonchalantly, “Amanda, however, has been teaching me about current American literature. Is there any way you could have more books moved here from the city?” he asked with the same nonchalant tone.

“I had no idea you could read,” Kyle replied sarcastically.

Despite the obvious insult, Jason laughed, “you don't know much about me, brother. I'm quite sophisticated, as Amanda has found out.”

Kyle's gaze moved to Amanda, who was studying him with detached interest. It was as if she was assessing a stranger's response and it worried him deeply.

“Any specific book titles,” Kyle asked rigidly.

“I've made a list,” Amanda said, gesturing to a folded piece of paper on the side table.

As Kyle crossed the room to accept it, his fingertips brushed hers. Amanda drew back suddenly, as if she had been burned. The small act of rejection stung even though it shouldn't have.

“I'll have Jenkins arrange it,” Kyle said as he grabbed it without even looking over the list.

“Thank you,” Amanda responded, then quickly went back to playing the game, “ your move Jason.”

Though the dismissal was clear, Kyle stayed for another minute before turning to leave, feeling oddly like a stranger in his own home.

“Oh, Kyle,” Jason called after him, “Amanda and I were thinking of having dinner in the yard tonight. Will you be joining us?”

The invitation was clearly a challenge disguised as one. Kyle paused, carefully choosing his words, he replied, “Maybe, it will depend on how long the meeting will take.”

Without waiting for an answer, Kyle left the room, his frustration building as he made his way down the corridor. The sound of Amanda's laughter, real and bright, followed him, twisting something sharply in his chest.

***

Kyle came in early that evening, carefully choosing not to examine his choice of coming home earlier than intended, he ordered Jenkins to set a third place in the garden, then he went upstairs to change.

As he came down the main stairs, he heard voices coming from the lobby. Amanda and Jason stood by the front door, dressed for a night out rather than dinner at home.

“Where are you going?” Kyle asked, unable to control the edge in his voice.

In a simple black dress he had never seen before, Amanda looked beautiful as she turned to face him, “Jason and I are going to that new restaurant downtown. I wanted to try it,” Amanda said simply.

“Dinner has already been prepared here,” Kyle said, his tone rigid.

Jason shrugged his shoulders apologetically, though his eyes still had that old gleam of challenge, “the plans were last minute. Of course, you're welcome to join us.”

“I have some work to do,” Kyle replied without giving it a second thought.

“Well, you always do,” Amanda said in a soft but sharp voice.

Something in the way she sounded made him look at her more closely, beneath the obvious confidence, Kyle recognized the hurt he had seen when he had first mentioned divorce and it made him rash.

“May I speak with you privately?” he asked her.

Amanda paused for a few seconds, then nodded. “I'll be right back,” she said to Jason as he gave Kyle a warning glare before going outside to wait.

Kyle led her to his study and closed the door.

“What do you want, Kyle?” Amanda asked without making eye contact.

For a few seconds, he stared at her, looking for the right words, then he asked, “what are you doing with Jason?”

“I'm getting to know my brother-in-law, for now at least,” she said while rolling her eyes.

“He is not a good man, Amanda,” Kyle said simply.

“And you are?” Amanda asked as she laughed bitterly.

“I never claimed to be,” he admitted, “but Jason is just toying with you. He's playing games.”

“Well, maybe I am too,” she replied, “you wanted a divorce so I'm preparing for my new life and building connections. Wasn't that what you wanted?”

“I did not mean with my brother,” Kyle said as his jaw tightened.

“You don't get to control who I speak to,” she said, crossing her arms, “remember, we're now roommates and no longer a couple.”

“Is that all we are to you?” Kyle asked as her words stung deeper that he'd expected them to.

“That's all you wanted us to be,” She said, her eyes flashing with anger, hurt and loss, “you were very clear about that,” she added as she managed to mask her feelings.

“What if I was wrong?” Kyle asked as took a step closer, drawn by the smell of her perfume.

For a moment, he thought he saw her hesitate, then she straightened her shoulders, setting up the wall between them.

“You weren't wrong,” she replied flatly. “This marriage has always been a business deal. We both must move on.”

As she turned to leave, Kyle.grabbed her wrist, “Amanda…”

“Let go of me,” she whispered without making eye contact.

As he was not used to this feeling of remorse and regret, he immediately let go of her, “Enjoy your dinner,” he replied stiffly.

As she got to the door, she paused, and turned to him, “You know, all those months ago, I would have done anything to make you look at me the way you do today. Just imagine the irony. Now, it's too late, Kyle,” she said. shaking her head.

***

The following evening, Kyle welcomed many of his business associates for a business dinner. Jenkins had assured Kyle that Amanda would come on time, even as she was noticeably absent throughout the day. This worried Kyle a bit because keeping appearances was very important regardless of the divorce preparations.

The dining room was bustling with conversation as Kyle discussed a shipment with one of his more respectable business associates, Pablo Marino. Just as Kyle glanced at the empty chair beside him for the fourth time, the doors fell open.

Amanda walked in with Jason following closely behind her, both of them laughing over something with their heads bent close together. All conversations in the dining room stooped, with Kyle's associates watching the pair with interest.

“We apologise for our lateness, we lost track of time,” Jason announced cheerfully.

Unfamiliar Jealousy poured over Kyle as he noticed Amanda's disheveled hair and flushed cheeks.

“How insensitive,” he said icily, “You kept our guests waiting.”

An uncomfortable silence fell over the dining room as Amanda sat next to Kyle while Jason sat across from them with a bland smile on his face.

“I was just telling Mister Pablo,” Kyle began firmly, “about our plans for expansion.”

“Amazing,” Jason said, drawling, “Amanda and I were discussing more interesting subjects, weren’t we, Mandy?”

“Enough,” Kyle shouted with his palm slamming down hard on the table before Amanda could even reply.

All eyes turned towards Kyle in surprise. Pablo Marino raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the show of emotion from the usually controlled Mafia lord.

“Kyle,” Amanda whispered, in a warning tone.

“I won't have this…display at my table,” Kyle said as he desperately tried to regain his composure.

Amanda's eyes flared, “what do you mean by display? Your brother being kind to me? Which is something you have never been to me in our six months of marriage.”

Uncomfortable glances passed among the guests as they shifted uncomfortably in their seats while Jason's smile became wider.

“This isn't the time or place,” Kyle mumbled to Amanda through gritted teeth.

“With you, it never is,” she whispered back as she got to her feet. She turned and addressed the astonished guests, “I'm truly sorry for my husband's behavior. While we are all here, I might as well announce that Kyle and I will be getting a divorce soon. So please kindly ignore our family drama.”

The quietness that followed was deafening. Kyle stared at her, unable to mask his surprise at the public announcement. In the Mafia world, Kyle was the boss all other bosses looked up to, he was feared and at the same time, respected. In their world, such a bold statement was a show of weakness and it was unthinkable.

“If you'll excuse me,” Amanda said calmly, then walked out of the room with pride, her head held high.