I’d sat here like a shell, waiting and wondering what would happen next.
It was bad enough that I hated coming here. Waiting around with worries swirling through my mind was worse in the place I used to call home.
Home.
The house I lived in before I’d left for college.
This was the place where Ma had been killed and where Pa locked me away in my room for months. Three months of what I called solitary confinement. Me away from the world. No one asked questions because they knew who Pa was. If his daughter had to skip out on the start of school it was what it was, no questions asked. Plain and simple.
The fear people exhibited when they were around him was astounding sometimes.
But now people who may be able to take him down were after him.
Xander Cage. I still don’t know who or what you are, but your presence has me worked up something fierce.
Xander…
Just thinking his name made the backs of my eyes sting but I willed myself not to cry anymore.
No more tears. No more.
I didn’t have the strength for any more tears. Each drop drained the life from me and I couldn’t do it anymore… I didn’t want to cry anymore.
Xander hurt me deeply.
It hurt that he got involved with me knowing he couldn’t be with me and I wished he hadn’t bothered. Not bothered with any of it, just left me alone from the very start. It would have made life simpler.
Now I wouldn’t feel worse than I did before when I just had Armand to deal with.
Pa came out of the kitchen carrying a tray of food.
There was a large square Pyrex dish with the lasagna that looked gorgeous and smaller bowls that contained the vegetables and salad.
Pa had chefs and cooks here who cooked for him on a daily basis, but when I came around he always insisted on cooking for me, like tonight.
“There, there. I am so proud of how this food turned out.” He chuckled. He did look proud. “Bellezza, I added extra cheese for you, this meal is fit for God himself.”
I cast a glare at him, pretty certain that not even God would eat from him.
Him with his dirty, evil hands. His hands weren’t scarlet as the bible made mention. His were whatever color evil bore. Whatever color that was.
He looked back to me and the corners of his lips curled with displeasure.
“Still not talking to me. Well at least you are here. Time.Bellezza…”
I continued to stare at him. “Time?” I asked.
“In time you will see that your papa knew best for you. You are young and impressionable. You are young and foolish when it comes to men. Men like Xander Cage.”
Could I answer?
Jesus, take the wheel please because my father was right.
I looked away and blinked back the tears, but one got away, streaming down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly and forbade the others to fall.
My father was right. I had to be young and foolish because what he said was exactly what happened.
I was a fool when it came to Xander.
