Mafia's Redemption: Terzo - Chapter 55: Chapter 55

DANI
My heart pounded against my ribcage as I watched Terzo on the monitor as he arrived at the private parking area of this building.
“Well, it didn’t take long. Lake called earlier while you were in the shower. He said Terzo was at the mansion asking for you. He thought I brought you there, but what’s funnier is when Lake thought that I kidnapped you,” Maverick said proudly as if she just won an argument in court.
Maverick told me how she met Lake. I stared at her for long seconds, digesting what she said. I knew she wouldn’t just joke about something, like her contract marriage with Lake Winston, a billionaire. And then she found out later on that she was the secret love child of Don Gaetano Siciliano with her estranged mother.
She was raised by her Nana, who got kidnapped and was threatened by my brother. But there was always a villain in a love story. In their case, it was Lake’s father, Wallace, who hired my brother. Apparently, she and Lake fell in love and had a beautiful baby boy, Atlas.
I chuckled. “A beautiful and kind kidnapper? I don’t mind at all.”
“Oh, my God. He’s persistent, isn’t he?” She groaned as her mobile rang, simultaneously with the phone in the penthouse.
“He won’t stop until he talks to me. I’m sure you know your brother better than I do.” He was definitely the one calling. He had his phone pressed against his ear, and the other one was my phone, calling the penthouse number.
How the hell did he manage to unlock my phone?
“Do you wanna talk to him?”
I looked at Maverick. A flicker of curiosity and concern flashed in her eyes. “No, but if he keeps bothering you and the security guard, that might get him in trouble. I don’t want that to happen.”
“Okay.” She answered the call when it rang again and put it on speaker. “What do you want, brother?”
“Put my wife on the phone, Maverick,” he demanded, unable to keep his anger in place.
“She doesn’t wanna talk to you, Terzo. Isn’t it obvious?” Maverick was stubborn. I had a feeling she and Lake also fought, but they loved each other, and that made this whole situation different, and Lake respected her as his wife and never embarrassed her.
“Don’t come between us, sis. I love you, you know that, but this matter is between me and my wife, and only we can resolve it.” He glared at the camera, not backing out. He knew we were watching. His stance was straight and unwavering. I could see the tension in his shoulders. “Do you hear me?”
My mind raced. His words flashed back. The way he looked at the camera, at us, it felt like he was talking to me, like he was just standing before me, but still unreachable.
The idea began to form in my head. I was grateful for Maverick, but I didn’t want to create a rift between them.
“Let me talk to him,” I told her, my voice barely audible.
“Are you sure?” She looked concerned.
“Yes.” I offered my hand.
“Okay, but if you don’t like what he says, hang up the call. I don’t care if he burns the entire building down or if he gets arrested.” She placed the phone in my palm.
“I hope it won’t come to that.” I turned off the speaker mode and drew a deep breath. “What do you want to say?”
“Oh, thank God.” He sighed, sounding sincerely relieved. “Can you come down? I know my sister won’t allow me to come up. She just updated the visitors list.
“Just talk, Terzo.” Deep down, I wasn’t ready to face him. I still couldn’t shake off the way he looked at me in his apartment.
“I’m sorry, Dani.”
“You’re sorry for what exactly?” My voice was steadier than expected. “You’ve said a lot of hurtful things. You treated me like trash. You disrespected me in front of your cousins. You locked me up in your apartment alone, Terzo. You took my phone, and you scared me. What we did in private. What we discussed in private should stay just between us. You hurt me.” I let go of a shuddering breath as I was done talking.
I had a lot to say but not enough over the phone. I wanted to say it right to his face. I wanted to watch how he reacted, how he took it.
He blew a heavy breath. “Everything. There was a lot in my head, that’s what took me longer in the shower. There are a lot of things I have to do that I couldn’t tell you, the things I learned in the last twenty-four hours. Then, after what we shared, you treated me like you didn’t enjoy what we had, like you regretted doing it with me.”
“So it hurt your ego, that’s it?”
“No, Dani. It hurts my feelings, and you avoided me after that like I had some kind of disease or a motive. But I’m sorry for what I said and how I treated you. No one should be treated that way. And for a moment, I forgot that you were not just anyone. You’re my wife. I fucked it up big time, and I know I hurt you, but let me make things right between us. Come down, Dani. Let’s go home, and let me unfuck it even if it takes a long time.” Genuine regrets flashed across his face.
I shook my head as if I were standing before him. “It’s not that easy, Terzo. I’m still hurt. I’m still terrified. I know you have a lot on your plate right now, but I deserve to be treated better. I deserve a little respect, and what you just did is beyond disrespectful.”
“I know, Dani. I know. Trust me, I know.” He took a deep breath and turned away from the camera. He ran his fingers through his hair and walked away until his image disappeared from the monitor. “What can I do to make you forgive me?”
“I don’t know. You have to earn it because right now, I don’t know how.”
“When can I see you?” he asked, his voice faltering.
“Right now, it’s not the right time. I wanna stay here for a while, and I think I’m safer here than in your apartment alone.”
“Okay. I’ll leave your phone at the reception. I’ll call you when I arrange our flight back to Italy.”
“I’m not going back to Italy, Terzo.” I swallowed hard and closed my eyes.
“Dani. Dani—”
“Terzo, give me some time. Regarding the book, I’ll do my own research. If I find something, I know how to contact you.”
“No. Forget about the book,” he replied almost immediately.
“Why? What do you mean? This is your way out, Terzo.”
“Our way out, Dani, but if you don’t wanna come with me, what’s the point?”
“What do you mean, what’s the point?” My voice rose. For a moment, I forgot why I was angry at him.
“The book is a myth. It doesn’t exist, and even if it does, he doesn’t own it. He wants us to find it. It means this book is either dangerous or with someone dangerous. I’m not risking your life again. I’m done playing games with your father. I’ll give him what he wants. If he wants me, then he can come to get me.”
“Are you crazy?” My voice broke. My eyes watered.
There was a heartbeat of silence before he chuckled. “I guess I am.”
I stared at the phone in my hand, tears dropping on the screen.