AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know you need time to think about handling what will happen in a few minutes. I’m sure Tony told you about the displeasure of our men.”
My eyebrows slightly furrowed at the words ‘our men,’ but he continued speaking before I could contemplate it. I decided that it must have been a blunder. After all, he was an old family member who served on my father’s side. It must have been a blunder.
“I only came to tell you that I am here. I watched you grow from a baby to the man you are. You have my support.”
I smiled, thankful for his support. He again gripped my shoulder, momentarily tightening his hold on me before letting go with another smile, exiting the study, and leaving me back to my thoughts.
I let my mind wander as the time the men under the Romano banner would arrive slowly grew closer. Eventually, a knock on the door interrupted me from my thoughts.
“Come in.”
The door opened to reveal my second in command with a grim expression.
“It is time.”
I inhaled and exhaled slowly.
“Let’s go.”
I stood up, and we walked to where the Made Men were waiting. Each step I took felt slow and sluggish, like walking in quicksand. A weight was pressing down on me, and it felt like I was walking to my end. In a way, it was a somewhat accurate description. I was indeed walking to my fate. Just not the in the way that people would think. I was going in as the heir and would come out as the Don.
We approached the large double doors to the spacious garden where my family’s made men awaited. I could hear the low murmurs and tones through the door. Anxiety reared its head once again, and it was such an ugly thing how my hands trembled. Before I could push the doors open, however, Tony put his hands on my shoulders and whirled me around, pulling me into his embrace.
“No matter what happens, just know that Marcello and I will follow you to the ends of the world. You will always have the two of us. Remember that. Before you became the Don, you were our friend and brother and will always be that to us.“Ti siamo fedeli, sempre.”
I closed my eyes, something I often did recently, and allowed myself to enjoy the comforting embrace of my fratello and the trust in me he emanated. It was reassuring to know that I would always have my twofratellis with me regardless of whatever happened.
“Let’s go. You’ve got this.Andrai bene. Non-preoccuparti.” Tony encouraged.
With a boost in confidence, I pushed the double doors and strode into the garden with Tony behind me, making my way to the podium where Marcello stood, waiting. Behind him was Aryana, slightly hidden from view, being protected by my third-in-command.
I walked steadily to the podium, and with a cheeky grin from Marcello, a soft smile from Alfonso, and a small smile from Aryana, who must have been informed about what was going on, I felt my nerves loosen themselves from the tangled ball they had tightened themselves into.
I turned to the crowd. Their eyes roamed all over me, trying to ascertain whether I was worthy of this position. I could tell they were looking for flaws to capitalize on, but I wouldn’t give them the opportunity.
“Men.” The garden's stillness was daunting, but I would not turn tail and flee like a coward. I had done enough running.
“I know you are unhappy with me, and I apologize. I was not here when I was needed, and you are displeased. I would also be displeased with myself if I were in your shoes. In your mind, you probably believe I abandoned my family, but you must throw that thought away and know I would never do that. I care for my family more than anything in the world. I know I was nowhere to be seen when needed, but I vow not to leave again.” I spoke calmly and slowly. With each word I said, my anxiety started receding like a wave moving away from the shore.
“How can we believe you’ll be here for us when you were not even here for your father?” A voice shouted from the crowd.
“Silenzio!” myfratellishouted and pulled out their guns.
I located the voice owner and saw a middle-aged man with a scar running from his hairline to below his eye. He wasn’t afraid of the two guns that were aimed at him. He glared at me with mistrust evident in his eyes.
His comment tore my invisible wounds concerning my father open. I was tempted to pull out my gun and shoot a bullet through his head for daring to insinuate that I didn’t care about him. I would never tolerate that, but it wouldn’t be a smart move to do such when they were all displeased with me. I wouldn’t start my reign as a tyrant.
My father was a man loved by everyone, but no one loved him as much as I, his son.
“It’s okay.” I gestured for Tony and Marcello to lower their guns.
“I had indeed disappeared, but it is not without reason. I had no choice but to leave. My father, God bless his soul, had ordered me to do so.” It was here that I stopped.
I turned to look at Aryana, and the kind understanding in her eyes made me want to fall in love with her all over again. There wasn’t even an ounce of hesitation in her eyes. There was discomfort and awkwardness at facing a large crowd of what the law labeled as criminals, but no hesitation spoke of her regretting her decision or having second thoughts.
I held a hand out, and when she placed hers in mine, I led her to stand right beside me. I could see the faces of the men as the gears clicked in their heads. I opened my mouth to explain before they could come to any misunderstanding.
“This is Aryana, a woman I greatly care for.” I would have introduced her as the woman I loved, but I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. The awkwardness that had been palpable between us was no longer there, and I didn’t want to bring it back. Even if she didn’t love me, I still adored her and missed her presence.
