Page 54 of His Cursed Heart

It's not a question.

My father knows me too well.

"I tried." I say like it helps. "I was fascinated by her but that's what she was. A fantasy."

"Then why didn't you break up with her?"

I look behind me and make sure that my wife is not near and I walk closer to Dad.

"I thought it was a phase until I would fall for her, and when I realized that I won't, I still wanted to marry her. She was perfect for the Outfit, Dad. Our mafia and The Famiglia never had peace before. I wanted peace."

"I never asked you to make peace!" Dad growls.

"You don't need to ask. I will be Boss sooner or later, and when it happens, I'll be ready."

"And Althea?" My muscles tenses at her name.

"What about Althea?"

"What's her status in your life?"

"She's my wife. The Outfit most protected woman." My woman.

If Althea hears what I just said she will beat my ass red.

I don't need your protection, she would say.

"And that's it?" My Dad asks again.

"What do you want me to say? That she is my next breath? That I can't live without her? You arranged this marriage between us. You made me marry her even though you knew I don't stand her. She lives just to hate me." And it was the truth.

The little kisses and teases are not going to make us forget all the events that made us this way. We have to live together and stand each other sometimes, but we will never be a real couple.

I will find out what happened to her, but not because I pity her. I need to know what or who made her like that.

"I can't give you the mafia like this, son." His words make my blood boil.

"You can't give me your position because me and my wife can't stand with each other? Are you serious?"

"Yes, I am very serious. You have great abilities, an amazing brain, but I can't put at risk the whole Outfit."

"I thought you wanted to retire." For Mom. He looks at me with the same green eyes I have, and puts his hand on my shoulder.

"I do, but I want my son alive more than that." He leaves and I put my hands on my face.

He's asking too much from me. I am able to forget the past and be a husband for Althea, I won't love her, but I can be a reasonable man for her.

But she wouldn't do the same for me. She holds too much hatred in her.

And for what? A misunderstanding?

She thinks Keres died because of me, I don't think she assumes that I personally killer her because Althea and Hanibal would've had my head a long time ago.

But why did Althea cut her connection with her sister if she still cares for her?

Too many questions are in my head. All tangled with Althea.

How can I have the mafia and answers regarding Althea in the same time?

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