Page 30

Tito

It had been a week and still, the prognosis was the same. He hadn’t woken up. The lady doctor who had come off the copter with him had told us they had no way of knowing when or if he would wake up.

The day that copter landed behind the Descalia Estate had changed everything and yet, it changed nothing. I didn’t like how pale Valencia had looked once she realized the truth of it.

They had captured Deacon Walker.

However, it had only happened because when he tried to leave the airstrip, his plane had been shot down by Luca and his men.

Then not wanting to involve the authorities, Luca took him to our own private hospital.

The one run by the Famiglia. They did an MRI and all the other tests that were needed before they released him into Luca’s care.

Well, the doctor they assigned to him, was caring for him here at the estate, along with a nurse.

Valencia had been with Deacon for a couple of hours every day. Julianna had seen him once. She just couldn't be there, she said. We all understood, even Valencia. So now it had been a week and he seemed the same.

To me, it had been a blessing in disguise. He was out for the count. They couldn’t outright kill him and they couldn’t really hand him over to the Walkers either.

All of this affected me very personally though.

I wanted what would hurt Valencia the least. And that meant for Deacon to not be capped as we called it.

I had no say in it though. I did feel that killing him would hurt Valencia so much that it truly might ruin our happiness.

After all, how could she stay here after Uncle Stephano put him away, so to speak.

Today, I had an appointment with my Uncle Stephano.

I had a feeling he knew what it would be about.

And no, it wasn’t the story he had been about to tell us the day they flew Deacon in.

No, it was about saving Deacon’s life. I hadn’t told Valencia about this meeting.

In case it went sideways. The problem was that this subject of Deacon might become a real family crisis. If and when he awoke.

It could possibly fracture the family for good. How could I stay and serve the Descalias if my woman, soon to be wife, could not live where her brother came to his demise?

Kill him and I lose my girl. Let him leave and my uncle would feel like he would always have to look over his shoulder.

He would also lose face in front of all the Famiglia who knew the true circumstances between Deacon and Stephano.

Show weakness and lose respect with the fratellanza legge della sopravvivenza.

The brotherhood and their law of survival. The fact would then remain…

Deacon Walker had crossed the Dark Moon.

So after this happened, the members of the southern factions expected retribution.

They were all very aware of this as they knew about it since the day Legend came back into our lives.

They knew even more as it came out in the Council's chambers after Rocky and I got into that gunfight at the underground parking of Descalia Corporate headquarters.

Could I really ask my uncle to forgo killing him as expected? Leave a loose thread? I shook my head. More like a huge loose rope, not a thread. Then if my uncle did not do what was expected, he would then have dangerous challenges in the future as he would be seen as weak.

So, this was one of those dannato se lo fai…or damned if you don’t.

I took a deep breath then stepped into the study.

Uncle Stephano sat at his desk.

I went over and came around to sit in the chair.

He looked up at me. “Bene Tito, I wondered when you would come.”

I nodded and didn’t mess around. “Please consider some other way to deal with Deacon?”

“I am considering it. We shall see what happens, eh?”

I stared at him. “And that’s your answer?”

He shrugged. “It is the one I have in questo momento.” He then stared at me. “As to what we were speaking about that day—”

I raised my hand at him. “I wish to have Valencia here for that discussion.”

Staring at me, he broke into a smile. “Tito, you make me proud every day. Your father would be proud as well. To think you will wait for this secret until your beloved is ready to deal with it. You are taking care of her.” He looked down at the picture frame on his desk.

The one of his wife Bella as he called her.

I knew he wouldn’t share personal thoughts with me. I also knew he had tried everything in his power to take care of his Bella. I stood and walked across the room as he still stared at the photo.

When I got to the doors, I almost ran into Max, but as was his usual swiftness, he smoothly stepped out of the way.

Giving me the formal nod of his head, he moved to go around me.

“Um, Max,” I called to him.

Pausing, he swung his gaze over to me. “Yes, sir?”

“Stop with the sir crap. I did not forget,” I finally told him as I smirked at him.

“For most of that day, I admit I had no memory of what we learned in the basement. Then the next day I was in the kitchen and Mama sent me into the pantry for something. As soon as I stepped in there…BOOM!” I chuckled.

“I remembered it all.” I tapped his neat bowtie with my forefinger.

“I think it is because I don’t want to forget badly enough. ”

Max then gave me a nod of his head and said, “Perhaps someday you will wish to forget.” He then walked away.

NOT QUITE THE END…