Page 31 of Forgive Me, Father

His eyes narrowed, a sigh escaping his lips."Alfonso?"

I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping me."No, Father.It's the truth.We have traditions to uphold, and you—" I stepped closer, letting the weight of my words sink in, "—you loosened the ropes.Nunno warned you.Hetoldyou never to let them slip."

“We are not barbarians,” Father roared.

“We live by codes, for generations we’ve lived by them, spoken their oath, and now you want to break it.Nunno warned us that you would become too weak.”

“I’m not weak.I’m just not as ruthless as your grandfather.The man never thought things through.He just pounded and killed.”

“Maybe there was a reason, to keep the other Dons in line.To live by traditions.Honor the code.I did.I did them all, I’ve lived by them all, and I got a whore as my betrothed for my efforts.I deserved a virgin.I obeyed the rules.”

“Alfonso, I didn’t think that she would turn out to be like that.”I could see the truth and regret in my father’s features.But it didn’t matter.His weakness was why the other members of our organization thought they could take these liberties.

“No, you didn’t, but you’d loosened the ropes around her father’s neck.You know if Nonno was still alive, the DeLucas would’ve been made part of the past as of last night.They would’ve been annihilated for what that little bitch did.The new Dons are growing weaker.He thinks it’s okay to break rules and break traditions.You’re only making more shit for yourself, shit that I’m afraid will fall on me to clean up.Fall on my children one day to clean up.”

“You are not serious about this marriage.”

I laughed.“Oh, I am dead serious.It’s done, and can’t be undone.She is everything I ever wanted and deserved.”

“Alfonso.Did you tell her about your darkness?Does she know what she has to do?Look the other way.We groomed Simi to assist you in any way she can.Fuck, this one can’t even speak Italian.”

“I don’t care.She’s worthy of the Ponticello name, and she will carry that name until the day she dies.I will put back the fear of the Dons and the Ponticellos into everyone as long as I live.Now get the fuck out of my penthouse and only speak to me again when you grow a pair of balls.”

Father pushed me against the wall.“I’m still the head of the circle, Alfonso, and you will not speak to me like that.You might not have respect for the way I reign over the Dons, but you will obey my rules.The DeLucas stay where they are.I’ll draw up a new deal with Jason, let him know what Simi did was wrong, but you will not harm one hair on their heads.Is that clear?”

I grin at him.“I assume in your dash to repair this stupid fucking merge, you neglected to check your emails.”

His gaze took me in, a frown pulling at his features.“What did you do?”

“The only thing I could, because I knew you were just going to slap them on the wrist and send them their merry way.”

He released me with a glare as he made his way out of my penthouse without saying a word.

I could easily take my father, but what sort of a son would that make me?He was right; he was still the head of the Dons, and there would be consequences if I tried to take his place.

THE LITTLE RUNAWAY

I woke up the next morning with a bigger ache between my legs.Shit, how long was this going to last?The satin sheets slid over my skin as I stretched, and the coolness of the morning hardened my nipples.Alfonso wasn’t there.No sign of him, not even a trace of his presence.I didn’t think he slept in our bed last night.

I got out and walked naked to the bathroom, picked up the robe that I’d worn last night, and went back to the room I had used yesterday.

I dressed quickly and followed the sound of voices echoing from the lounge.The sharp, cheerful tone of a woman’s voice caught my attention.I didn’t understand what they were saying, but it was definitely filled with excitement.

I stepped in and immediately saw Alfonso.He looked happy, elated, even.Beside him at the table sat a woman, absolutely stunning.She looked to be around my age, with jet-black hair that seemed to absorb the light, and those same piercing green eyes.

“Camilla, I want you to meet my cousin, Lorette Ponticello.”

The woman stood up and extended her hand toward me.I took it, noting the firmness of her grip.

"Welcome to the family," she said, her smile wide."I was just telling my cousin how your little nuptial rites caused quite a stir back in Italy."

“How do you feel?”Alfonso inquired before I could ask questions.

“Better, I guess.”

“You guess?”His eyebrow raised.

“Fine, I’m still tender.”It barely came out, and I lowered my head.