Mafia's Redemption: Terzo - Chapter 29: Chapter 29

TERZO
“You married Francesco’s daughter?” My father’s face reddened. I was scared he might have a heart attack. He’d been yelling at me the moment I brought Dani home after I cleaned her up in the bathroom of the hotel.
I respected my father so much that I never broke his rules or his words. I always did what he asked me to do without question. I was a good son, a good soldier. I’d been his puppet rather than his son all my life, but I knew he loved me. He’d give up anything for me.
I never questioned his actions, his plans, because I knew he did what was right, and this family would come first before anything.
We made it this far because of his ability to think before he acts, his compassion for his family and people, his intelligence, and his experience in life. Papa was a good man. He only had one rule— don’t break my rule, and I just did.
The yelling continued, “I specifically told you not to bring the girl safe, not marry her. I don’t want bloodshed, I want you to keep your hands clean, and you did the opposite. I want you to settle down so you can take my position, but not this way. I won’t be here with you any longer, son. I want to retire.”
“It happened so fast, Papa.” I tried hard to defend myself, but the longer I talked, I more my guilt got the best of me. My father saw it. I was losing this argument.
“You’re the most reasonable man I know, Terzo. You don’t act out of your guilt. The reason you escaped death because you were not this reckless. What the hell happened to you, mio figlio?” Good, my sister hadn’t told him that I got shot, that Dani shot me. “What are you going to do now, huh?”
“You were the one who suggested marrying her. Have you forgotten—”
“I did not forget what I said! I was suggesting that you pay your blood debt. I want you to marry her in the right way, ask her hand from her father. Not to elope with her to Las Vegas and marry her without her father’s consent. How did you manage to convince her? Did she know you were paying your debt to her father?”
When I shook my head, my father just lost it. It was a good thing he wasn’t violent toward his children. He never raised a hand to us.
“You, stupido, idioto!”
I held my breath for more insults to come. He turned around and faced the wall in my office, hands on his hips. I could see him breathing hard.
“I’m so sorry, Papa. I hope you can forgive me.”
He turned and faced me again, shaking his head. “I trusted you, figlio.” His words broke my heart. He’d always been supportive of my plans. He always praised me if I did something good.
“So you don’t trust me now?” My face fell. I felt like I just stabbed my father in his chest, piercing his heart. I knew I betrayed him. I just told him before I made plans. Right now, I din’t know how to make him to trust me again.
“How are you going to fix the things you did, Terzo?”
“I don’t know, Papa.” I had to tell him the truth. I could barely breathe. I always thought many times, planned ahead of time, and reran it in my head so I wouldn’t make a mistake that could jeopardize my plans and get hurt or get my men killed. “But I can’t hand Dani to her father.”
“And why the not?” His gaze was sharp with unwavering anger.
“Because she’s my wife. I’d rather go there and let him do whatever he wants, but not my wife.”
“Are you insane?” His voice echoed. “You’ve lost touch with the reality, son. You’re resking a lot of lives for that woman. Have you forgotten about Celesina?”
“I killed her brother. Maybe I should pay that price.”
He shook his head, inhaling sharply. “You’ve only been gone for a week, and you’ve lost your mind. He won’t recognize your union, Terzo. You married his daughter without asking for his approval.”
“Because he arranged her with someone else. I’ve been hearing some rumors since I planned this that Francesco wanted an alliance with a gangster, Alonzo Moretti.” It was half lie.
“That’s not your decision to make. He can decide what to do with his own daughter.”
“Is that what we are now? Letting an innocent woman be tortured to pay my debt? We’re better than that, Papa. Our family has been through a lot. My sisters almost died—”
“The situations are completely different, Terzo. You can’t save anyone.”
“If I brought her to her father, and if terrible things would happen to her, that’s on me. That’s my conscience.”
“Then you could have brought her here first, and we plan to ask for his blessings like every respectful man before you married her, but no, you decided on your own and put this family at risk. You’re about to ruin this family’s reputation because you thought it was a good day to be rebellious for once. We’re on the brink of going into a war with Giordani when we could have prevented it, and it’s all because you were irrational. You used your emotions instead of your brain. You disappoint me, Terzo.”
“There was no emotion involved,” I denied. “I just did what I thought was right.”
“For a wrong reason. Do you have feelings for her?”
I stared at my father. “I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t, but it’s obvious you want to protect this woman by risking us all. Men only act irrationally if they wear their hearts on their sleeves. I hope you know what you’re doing, son. I hope she will protect you the same way you’re protecting her. Does she know? Have you told her why you’re doing what you’re doing?”
“She found out. Her father told her.”
“This is just getting better and better. Puttana,” My father cursed at my face, and it had never happened in a long time. The last time he did was when I was about to beat Celestina’s husband for planning to marry her. I did not approve of that affair, and look what he did to my sister.
“Now what? End this relationship. Divorce her before Francesco finds out or we are all doomed. Then turn her over to her father.”
“No. I would not abandon my wife! I gave her my word.”
“Then you just killed us all. I’m done fighting. I’m done with the bloodshed. And you will not meet Francesco because if he finds out you married his daughter, he will make you an example of your betrayal. He will execute you, son. I’d rather see you alive than you break my heart. I can’t take it anymore. You’re the one who’s keeping this family together. You might not realize it, but it’s you, Terzo. Not me.”
“Then I will keep my wife and protect her and everyone in this family until I die!”
The door swung open even though we didn’t hear a knock. We stopped. I watched my father’s eyes somehow softened.
My heart instantly raced as I realized who had just burst through the door. When I turned around, Dani was right there, standing in both shock and embarrassment.
She was always beautiful without makeup, and there was a tinge of red blossoming on her cheeks the moment she walked in and realized who was standing behind me.
“Dani, you’re awake.” I was relieved to see her standing before me and not drunk. I guess my sister went to her when my father told her to leave us.
“I-I uh. I’m sorry.” She looked so embarrassed that she even forgot how to breathe, and I thought it was cute. “I should knock. I’m leave now. My apologies, Mr. Siciliano.” She dropped her gaze and pulled the door.
It should piss off my father for the interruption, but she quickly apologized.
“Danielle,” my father’s voice softened. “Please come in.”
“How’s the hangover?” I asked her before she melted before my father.
“Your sister gave me Tylenol.” She smiled tightly, almost grateful, and then she stepped close to my father and offered her hand. “Hi, sorry for the interruption. I’m Dani. Of course, you know me already. I’m probably the reason why you both were yelling.”
“I wish we’d met under different circumstances, Dani. But welcome to the family.”