Page 62 of Romeo
“Yeah, he’s fine,” Redemption spoke up.
“Right?” Legend laughed. “Same old Jarret.”
“So, where are we?” Jarret asked.
“You are my guest,” my father replied. “At the Descalia Estate in New Orleans.”
“Well damn,” Jarret said. “So you are Legend’s father.”
The room went silent.
“If you mean Giovanni’s father,” my father replied. “Then si, I am. From what I know, you took him in and helped him.”
“He was more help to me than I was to him, sir,” Jarret answered. “Your son is smart, capable, honorable and just an all around great human being.”
“Amen to that,” Glory added with a smile.
My father stared at him then looked over at Legend. “He is as proud of you as I am.”
Legend stared at him. “You’re proud…of me?” he asked as he looked stunned.
“Si, of course I am.” Our father nodded at him. “At seventeen, you said you wanted to be a doctor. And after you left here, you did the schooling to get your doctorate. Then you did your time in residency. You never quit, despite possible hardships.”
Legend cocked his head at him. “How do you know of my hardships?”
I watched them closely. This could swiftly spiral into a fight if they weren’t careful. The history between them had been tumultuous at best.
“I had you watched for the last six or seven years, son,” our father openly admitted.
I was even surprised by this answer. Legend had been gone for ten years now. Our dad never mentioned that he knew anything about Gio’s whereabouts during those years.
“What?” Legend asked. “You knew where I…” He shook his head as he looked astonished.
He nodded. “You left home. I couldn’t stop you. After you were of age, I could only keep an eye on you. In case you needed me.”
The room again went silent.
I felt stunned as did Legend.
Dante even looked surprised.
Our father had known where he was for almost the whole time? Yet, he made no attempt to contact Gio at all.
“Wow,” Glory exclaimed.
Our father glanced over at her. “Then you bring a firecracker home to marry.”
Glory raised her chin up as she stared at him defiantly.
Raising his hands at her in defense, our father laughed. “I certainly mean no disrespect, mia cara. I admire you very much.” He glanced over at Jarret. “You did a wonderful job with her and Redemption. You see, we have more in common than you know, Mr. Walker. I too became a widower when my children were young. I know how difficult it had to be at times. Then you practically raised my Giovanni as well? I mean you already had five children of your own.”
Jarret slowly shook his head. “One of the best decisions I ever made was taking Legend home with me.”
“And I will be forever grateful,” our father replied in a quiet voice. “All kinds of disasters and misfortune could have befallen a young man at eighteen. You took him under your wing and protection and I thank you.”
Ok…this surprised all of us. We stared at our father as if he were a total stranger. The man had been furious when Gio had first disappeared. He sent every tracker and every thug he knew of to find him. He had argued with Zia and some of us over the whole event. Most of us agreed with Gio or Legend as he was now known as. He wanted to be a doctor, not a mafioso. Just like I wanted to be an attorney and not be part of the mafia. Same for Dante and Amadeo. Luca seemed to be the only progeny interested in being mafia.
Jarret gave him a nod. “I was fortunate to be able to watch that young man grow up.”
