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Finally, as my head is drooping with exhaustion and I feel dizzy, I hear footsteps.
“Hello?” I whisper hoarsely. “Is somebody there?”
CHAPTERSEVEN
I've been running around all day trying to make sure that the blowback from my abduction of the Cardinali girl will not harm the family. After tying up the girl good, Mark and I went home to the compound, where my father was holding court.
Mark was right about one thing. It would be better if my father heard this from me than someone else. I can see that he's freaking out, but I'm not in the least bit bothered. My father knows me - he knows I always have a plan. He knows I put the family first. And he doesn't tolerate disrespect either. It would be hypocritical for him to be angry with me for retaliating when I had been so publicly disrespected.
The room falls quiet as we step in, and my father looks at me expectantly. I have a feeling he has already heard something. I look around the room for Benedetto, with his snitch ass. To my surprise he isn't present.
“Dad, I’d like to speak to you in private” I say.
He nods quietly and the room empties quickly. Mark and I exchange glances and I jerk my chin giving him permission to leave. He's my ride or die, but there's no reason why he should take any of the flack that's gonna come out of this.
Once the room is empty, my father invites me to sit across from him. I take a seat and look him in the eye. Before I can even open my mouth, he speaks. “I take it this is to do with Miss Rose Santo, and those tabloid photos.”
I lean in, looking him in the eye, “Not just Rose. The man she was with is a Cardinali. She disrespected me, she was unfaithful and dishonorable. And with our sworn enemy, on top of it.”
Silvio smiles coldly, “Well it is a good thing you have not married her yet.”
I cock an eyebrow in surprise, “I thought you wanted access to her father's warehouses. You don't seem too heartbroken.”
He huffs shaking his head, “As you said she has proved dishonorable. We can find another way to get her father to cooperate.”
“It's funny you should say that. I might have a solution.”
It's my father's turn to quirk an eyebrow. “My silence is your cue,” he says when I don't speak right away.
“Well… Giuseppe’s daughter just happened to fall into my hands last night. I intended to keep her for a week as punishment to Tiziano and his family, but we can also use her to twist Mr. Santo's arm.”
My father's eyes widen at my words. “You did what?”
I shrug sheepishly. “I have her in a safe place where nobody will find her. As of now, nobody knows who took her.”
Silvio huffs again. “You should have come to me with this first.”
I drop my eyes, “In truth we only meant to crash her party and beat Tiziano up. But she just fell in my lap.”
Silvio smirks, “And you thought your plan was a good one? Crushing the Cardinali girl’s engagement party? Did I not raise you better than this? Do you know how easily you could have started a war?”
“But you did raise me better than that,papa’. I knew what I was doing. I still know. I just wanted to tell you before you heard it from someone else.”
“You mean Benedetto?” Silvio asks with amusement.
I simply shrug.
Hey, if the shoe fits.
We sit in silence as the Don considers the situation. Whatever he decides, I will do, but I hope that he allows me to carry out my plan. Finally, he sighs and looks up at me. “Get me my warehouse and I will forget that you failed to seek sanction for this action.”
It’s as close to forgiveness as I can hope to get. I stand up and shake his hand before leaving his presence. Grabbing Mark, who is waiting just on the other side of the door, I head out to my car.
I pause as we reach it, and turn to look at Mark, “I need you to talk to Eric and find out what's happening in the Monti camp right now.”
“Romano, where are you going?” he asks tiredly.
I clap his shoulder, “Don't worry about it. Call me as soon as you know what's happening. I gotta get supplies.”
