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“No… I guess not.” Salvatore narrows his eyes. “Been busy.”
The way he says that has a lingering effect that makes my cheeks burn because it’s clear he’s been busy with me.
Although he couldn’t care less who heard us in the office, I know he also doesn’t care what my father thinks.
He’s not the guy you bring home to your parents but if you did he wouldn’t try to be anything other than himself. That’s him right now and Dad doesn’t like it. He doesn’t like the fact that the Giordanos own his ass no matter which one it is.
“Baby, I’ll be back in a second. Make sure your father gets a drink, or something. Make him less tense.” Salvatore moves away and I sense that dad’s so tense he could snap like a twig being stepped on.
He waits for Salvatore to go through the door that leads down to the power room before he faces me.
He faces me and disappointment and worry is all over his face.
“Hi Dad, didn’t expect you here, again,” I say.
“I came to check on you. I’m sure you must be aware of what’s happening.” He cuts a glance toward the empty trail Salvatore left.
“I’m quite all right. Safe. Salvatore is here with me, been with me all day,” I inform him.
“Right, I’m sure he has.” He seethes and bites down hard on his back teeth. “Mimi… you aren’t a child, a long way from it and over the years I’ve tried to give you your freedom to be an adult, but there comes a time when a father has to take a stand. Now is the time. Now that there’s all manner of danger and shit I don’t want my girl caught up in.”
“Dad, please, not tonight.” I shake my head at him. I don’t want this tonight. Not when last night had my head spinning. I’m looking at him now and I’m thinking of Mom.
If he didn’t know about the affair with William Russo, showing him the picture of Mom would crush him. He loved her so much. I think though he should have let her go and be happy with someone else rather than what happened.
He thinks she killed herself because of him. Maybe it wasn’t.
I don’t want to think about this now. I don’t. It’s too hard because it’s confusing.
“Mimi, I don’t approve of you being with any of those men,” Dad says lowering his voice a notch.
“I don’t care… that’s not for you to decide. He’s my choice. I want to be with him.”
He winces and frowns. “You’re… in love with him. Aren’t you?” His tone is heavy with disapproval.
It’s a question that hits me and one I don’t think I should be confirming to him.
This morning was the first Salvatore and I spoke of love. It was nice. I’ve never had that with anybody and I want it with him.
Right now I feel I owe it to him to answer my father so he doesn’t just think I’m spreading my legs to have this restaurant.
“Yes. Yes I am,” I answer stealing my spine.
“Mimi… Maria, you don’t know what you’re doing, you really don’t. Maybe this would change your mind.” Before his words can sting, he pulls out a check from his pocket.
He takes my hand and places it in the palm and my heart stills when I see five million written on it.
“Take the money Mimi, and trust me when I say it’s better if you aren’t associated with Salvatore Giordano. Take the money, give him back whatever he’s given to you and stop seeing him,” Dad says, his face hard and unyielding.
Tears sting the back of my eyes. I can’t believe what he’s saying to me.
What I do next though shows me I’ve come a long way from weeks ago. I’ve come a long way from months ago and if I had any doubt in my mind that I could heal after what Gabe put me through it fades.
It fades as I take my father’s hand and place the check right back there.
My actions stun him.
“No,” I say barely above a whisper. “I won’t. I can’t. It doesn’t matter what happens between me and him, I’m not taking money from you to stop seeing him. I love you Dad and I don’t want you to think I’m some slut taking money from men so I can get what I want. It wasn’t about that and you can’t pay me not to see the boy you know I’ve always loved.”
