Mafia's Redemption: Terzo - Chapter 93: Chapter 93

TERZO
“I’m fucking rich!” She threw herself at me.
I caught her in the air as she snaked her arms around my neck, her legs around my waist.
I chuckled. “I bet you are.”
“Let’s go home, baby.”
“I love the sound of that, sweetheart.” I carried her outside the museum. People were smiling at us, though all of them had no idea what we came here for.
Once we got to the SUV, Marco was already opening the door for us, and I ushered her inside.
The 7-seater SUV drove smoothly to the main street, heading towards the compound.
The guys didn’t ask how it was, or did she get it? It was written all over her face. No questions, just smiles.
“Guys, what’s wrong?” she asked.
“So? What was it like inside?” Gio finally broke the silence.
“Have you been to a data facility?”
Marco and Tristan shook their heads.
“Me neither,” Gio seconded, “But I saw it in movies.”
“Similar to that. That’s how big the area of safe boxes alone is. Then there was this big door of a vault. Anyway, I got this inside the envelope and the passbook, but I left it in the box. Just the ring and papers.”
“Your father’s.” I took the gold ring from her, inspecting the design. I noticed the M engraved on it.
“I think so, must be a signet ring. The design looked old, probably passed on through generations.”
“That’s huge, girl. Congratulations.” Marco just called my woman girl— my woman. They high-fived together.
“And I’m rich!” she gushed, making everyone laugh.
“You deserved it, signora. I’m happy for you. The entire Siciliano clan,” Tristan said.
“Thanks, Tris.”
“So, that’s what Giordani had been after, huh? No wonder he & your mom—”
“That bitch is not my mom,” she said angrily.
“Sorry, Signora, that woman is a witch. The reason they could not get the money was that you couldn’t remember anything. Imagine their frustration of taking care of a girl for two decades and still not getting anything,” Gio chuckled, shaking his head. “I wonder what they would do to her if they got what they wanted.”
“They would have probably killed me,” she said.
“No doubt,” I muttered.
“Are you okay?” I felt her hand on my knee.
“Yeah.” I smiled at her, kissing her lips. “How does it feel to be rich?”
She laughed. “I don’t know. I feel the same. When I was there, I honestly didn’t know what to do with that amount of money. Before, I was happy to have a thousand dollars in my account, and now, I have more. I just looked at the amount in shock when the manager updated it with the latest number.”
“Maybe we should celebrate, signora,” Tristan suggested.
“That’s a good idea.” She raised the black sack and shook it. “Boys, we have cash, and you will get gifts from me. Since I don’t have time to go shopping, you do it on your own.”
“Oh, no. That won’t be necessary. We’re just doing our job, and we’re glad you finally get to know your real parents and get your inheritance. They worked hard for it, Dani, sweat and blood.”
“Thanks, Tristan, but I would be very mad if you won’t take this, and you don’t wanna see mad Dani.” She pulled a bundle of cash and handed one to each of them.
“Take it, boys. It’s rude to turn down gifts.”
Marco grinned, smiling at the ten thousand euros. “I’ll buy a new jacket.”
“And maybe you should ask the girl out,” Dani said.
“Who? What girl?” I looked at Marco.
“Come on. Leave him alone. I’m sure he will tell you if he’s ready.” She smiled at me. “How about us? Can we go out on a date?”
I felt suddenly guilty, realizing that we hadn’t formally gone out on a date. Oh, shit. I was so stupid. I didn’t even ask my wife out. “Are you up for a date?”
“Born ready, baby.” She hugged my arm, clinging to me. “I want a lot of pasta. You owed me that. I wasn’t able to cook the pasta I bought in Marettimo.”
“That was not real pasta, signora.” Tristan chuckled. “You’re in Italy. You should eat fresh pasta. And your mom is half-Italian.”
“Oh, yeah.” Her eyes widened at me. “I don’t remember much of what dinner was like at home.”
“Don’t rush it, sweetheart. It will come little by little.”
“I don’t wanna see a shrink again. I feel like the shrink is judging me inwardly. It feels awkward telling your life story, your struggle to a stranger.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“From their point of view, it must be hard for them to listen, like a serial killer confessing his crime, and they can’t do anything about it. Like those brothers who killed their parents. It must be terrifying,” Gio said.
She turned to look at Gio. “If you were not here right now, what would be your dream job?”
“I wanna be a butcher.”
“Oh.” Dani looked surprised.
Gio laughed after. “Look at your face. Priceless. Of course, I want to teach. I like history.”
My phone vibrated in my pocket again for the third time, making me groan.
“Are you not gonna take that?” she asked me.
“It’s Arturo Danatti.”
“Oh.” She blinked at the unexpected name I mentioned. “What does he want?”
“I don’t give a shit what he wants. I can’t trust them anymore.”
We finally arrived at the compound. The boys climbed out, but Dani held my hand.
“What is it?”
“Here.” She grabbed something from her bag and put it in my hand. Plain white papers. “Maybe this is the list. I don’t wanna see it. Keep it where it’s safe. If something happens to me, give it to the authority.”
“I don’t like the sound of that, but are you sure?” I ignored the thumping of my heart. At the same time, I was curious to know what was in these papers.
“Yes.”
“Okay. Sweetheart. I’ll check on Papa first before I go to the house.” I helped out.
She smiled, though something was bothering her. “Say hi to your father, and if you see Celestina, tell her to come and see me.”
“Okay, my love.” I kissed her lips and watched her walk inside the house with the boys tailing her.
I was still smiling when Celestina called my name.
“I like that smile, brother. You have to stay put at home. Work is piling up, and you don’t even read emails. Hire somebody to do your shits because I resigned, remember?”
I smiled at her. “You’re feisty. Excited to travel?”
“Yeah, but I can’t leave while works are kept piling up.”
“Leave it. Dani can’t do the job. I’ll hire someone later. Tristan is interested. I don’t want to hold you up here. You can leave tomorrow morning.”
“Really?” She looked surprised.
“Yes. I’m staying home. Dani is done with the US and Ireland trips. We’re settling here.”
“That’s great. What did she find out?”
“Everything.” I almost forgot. “She wants to talk to you. I’ll go see Papa.”
“Go ahead. He’s talking with Mr. Braddson on the phone. Sounds important.”
When Celestina went to my house, I went inside.
I barely made it to the door, I sucked in a sharp breath as if something force that pulled me back, knocking me on the chest. The world seemed to stop, tilting its axis, and I hung for a moment in the air before I dropped to the ground.
The deafening explosion still resonated, followed by a fierce ringing in my ears. It took me seconds to realize what it was. By then, I saw the fire and the smoke coming from the house.
I coughed, gasping, as the fall knocked the air out of my lungs. “Papa!” I tried to get up. Hands helped me up, gripping my arms. “Let me go!”
“Boss, you can’t get inside!” It was Matteo.
“Let me fucking go!” I turned and growled at him. “Or I will fucking shoot you.”
He froze at my threat, finally letting go of me.
“Papa!” My sister came back, screaming at the top of my lungs. “No!”
“Stay here, Celestina. I’ll go find him.” I watched half of the house engulfed with fire, and there was no way I could get inside without burning myself and killing myself in the end. And it was fucking blazing.
The men were quick to work, using the water hose for the garden.
“Spray me with water!” I thought of getting from the back entrance. The west wing of the house looked like it was not affected by fire. At least, not yet, but soon enough, if the firefighters did not arrive quickly, it would be gone in a matter of minutes.
“Oh, my God!” Dani came, staring at the fire. “Your father?”
“He’s inside. The last time I saw him. He was in the office.” Celestina was already crying, eyes overflowing with tears.
Once I was soaked, I looked at my wife once again. “I love you, Dani.”
She nodded, tears streaming down her face. I was glad she did not stop me because she knew that it was my father inside that burning house. And I would do anything to save him, if he weren’t already dead.