Page 90 of United Loyalties
“Please don’t shout, Papa, you’ll upset Andrea.” I hush as I take him from Adelina’s arms, who’s looking at me with sorrow in her eyes.
“I will not be quiet. The boy will have to get used to loud noises, Carmella. You’re raising a made man, remember that,” he seethes.
My father has a terrible temper, but that doesn’t mean I will just back down. This is my home, and he will not shout around my son.
“Papa, he is my son, and I will raise him well. But this is my home, and if you can’t talk civilly, then we can’t have this conversation right now.” I hush Andrea as I sway. “I’m going to put him down in his cot and then we can talk about this.” As I stroll past him, I call over my shoulder, “Calmly.”
Once I’ve put Andrea down and returned to the hall, I can hear my papa growling at Rafael.
“I won’t stand for this, Raf. Your son has made a mockery of my daughter and the Giordano name. His actions are fucking disgraceful. I want this marriage dissolved. I’m taking my daughter and my grandson home to Boston,” Papa growls. “I barely restrained Nicolo from tearing your son apart when he violated my daughter. I will not hold him back again.”
“Dante,” Momma has her hands on Papa’s chest as she pushes him away from Rafael. Adelina is standing in front of her husband in the same position.
“Don’t threaten me, Dante. I’m just being made aware of this situation now, same as you.” Rafael looks to be barely containing his anger. “I will give you the divorce you ask for without retaliation.”
Papa nods as if this pleases him.
I stand there mute, listening to the conversation about Al’s, our son’s, and my future.
“But Andrea is a De Luca, I will not take him from his mother yet. But when the boy turns five, he will be brought to Philadelphia to live. He is my son’s heir, and therefore, belongs to us. This you cannot argue.” Rafael glares at my father.
“I will agree to that.” Papa nods as my momma gasps.
“Dante, you cannot be serious.” Momma shakes her head. “It’ll tear her apart.”
“She’s a grown woman, who’s made the wrong choices, Lucia.” My papa states.
“Absolutely not. No fucking way!” I hiss as I step out of the hallway.
“This is not up for discussion, Carmella. You and Andrea will return to Boston with us,” Papa growls.
“I’d like to see you make me.” I jut my chin out as I step farther into the room.
“Don’t push me, Carmella.” Papa shakes his head as my momma tries but fails to calm him.
“Alessandro will never let you take us. He’ll burn Boston to the ground to get us back.” I walk past my father and take a seat on the couch.
My fucking couch, in my fucking home.
How dare he.
“Carmella,” Momma scolds.
“I’m not leaving my husband,” I stare at my father, then look toward Rafael. “And you are not taking my son.”
“I don’t wish to take your son, child. This is not my doing.” Rafael shakes his head and glances toward Papa. At least he has the decency to look guilty.
I could kill Alessandro myself for putting me through all this shit. And now, here I am, dealing with the backlash of his fuck ups on my own.
“We haven’t presented Andrea to the world yet, not to our Mafia or the public. The only people that know of his birth are the Bianchis, Marinos, and Max. The other baby was born within a few weeks of Andrea, we can present them as twins,” I suggest.
“I will not welcome the child of your husband’s whore into our family. What if the child is a boy? Who then will inherit the underboss of Philadelphia? Hmm? Raf, are you going to let the son of a whore rule your city?” Papa scoffs.
“That has nothing to do with you. How me and Alessandro raise our children will be between us. None of you get a say in that.” I get up as I pace the floor.
“We won’t accept this child, Carmella, it won’t be welcome in Boston,” my papa growls. “Think about this, and stop being an idiot.”
“Dante, stop.” Momma has tears in her eyes as she tugs at his shirt.
