Page 13 of Tito
Valencia looked over at him and bravely replied, “We were not going to keep it from you Mr. Descalia. I already told themwe couldn't do that. But I do need to find out why Ophelia took me.”
He walked further into the room and said, “The answer is simple, mia cara. She was fifty percent evil and fifty percent insane. That is why.” He narrowed his eyes at her and asked, “What has happened here?”
I stood from the table to answer him, “Valen got a text from him this morning.”
My uncle swiveled his gaze over to me and asked, “Valen?”
I smiled at him as I replied, “Yes, Valen.” I took her hand into mine.
Her cheeks flushed to a bright pink.
“Quindi è amore, eh?” Uncle Stephano asked as he smirked.
I nodded.
“Deacon texted her,” Romeo explained as he still had Valencia’s cell, he paused to give Valencia a questioning look.
She gave Romeo a nod of permission.
He then handed it over to his father.
Uncle Stephano peered down at it and scrolled as he read it. “Hmmm.” He looked up at Valencia. “Do you believe he is telling you the truth?”
Shrugging, she replied, “I hope he is. I can’t think of why else he would ask me to meet him.”
“Si, my thoughts exactly,” Uncle Stephano murmured. “Why else? He knows you are here with us. How does he think you will get to wherever this is to meet him?”
Valencia stared at him then slowly shook her head.
“You mean he is laying a trap,” Julianna said.
“For me?” Valencia exclaimed.
“No, mia cara,” Uncle Stephano said. “A trap for us. For the Descalias.”
Sitting down in her chair, Valencia sighed. “I hoped he would have the answer. I hoped he was telling the truth.”
My uncle scoffed. “I talked with him a few times when he was in our custody, mia cara. And honestly, I am unsure if he lives in the truth? He refused to see what a monster his mother was. He hangs on to all the lies she told. I tried to show him the evidence the Walkers produced and he said they were all liars. I know he claims to have something to show you, but truly my dear,” Uncle Stephano reasoned. “Why would he take a chance on getting caught by us or the Walkers just to give whatever this is to you?”
Valen slowly stared up at him and gave him a softly spoken reply, “Because for twenty years, he was my big brother?” A lone tear rolled down her cheek.
My uncle did not reply. His expression was unreadable.
Good thing, because I would lose it if he said anything hurtful to Valencia. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and looked up at him. “I have never asked for anything beyond what I’ve earned, Uncle Stephano. But I request that you allow us to go to this meeting.”
“Alone?” my uncle asked. “No Tito, you and Valen,” he paused to actually smile at her. “Are very important. I dread to think…” He shook his head. “It is hard enough as it is to live with your mother, let alone… Dio non voglia. Heaven forbid, if I allowed something to happen to you. You will have protection and backup.”
I cocked my head at him to ask, “And you won’t interfere?”
“Not during the visit,” Uncle Stephano assured me. “But as this Deacon should know, after you leave, all bets are off.”
Chapter Six:Tell Me Lies
Valencia
I trembled a bit as I stared at Stephano.
He stared back at me. “Little Valen, you have to realize what this man has done. Even if I ignore all of what his mother did. I cannot get past the attack he made on my limo that carried my son and his fiancé. If Glory hadn’t been so well versed in fighting, I might not have ever been able to have my long lost son around for his wedding.”
