Page 16 of A Mafia Christmas

“I never would have expected you to ask for something like that. Jesus, we’re talking about Beth. She tried to save kittens and butterflies, and you expected her to kill your child? I’m disgusted and disappointed that you would even think that way. We don’t kill the innocent. Isn’t that what you’ve said for years?”

Alastair nodded.

“But you’d kill your own child because you’re afraid of whatmighthappen?”

His father was yelling now. He was also making him feel like an idiot, which pissed him off. “I get to decide how I want to live my life.”

Angus sighed. “Yes, you do. But don’t you agree that things happen for a reason, and you must decide how to deal with it? Instead of any joy you should have felt, you threw your soulmate away.”

“There are others out there.”

Angus snorted. “No, there aren’t. I had one, and she was taken from me much too early, and I’ve never recovered. I’ve tried to move on, but I never quite get to the type of happiness your mom gave me, and you won’t either. You only get one chance at destiny.”

Alastair looked down at his feet. He didn’t need his father reprimanding him. But he had the feeling that everyone who knew what had happened would hate him.

“Can I go to work now?” he asked.

Angus ground his teeth together. “Yes. Go. I can’t be around you right now. You’re not the son I raised.”

Alastair turned and walked out. His mind kept circling. Was he being unreasonable? Fuck, he didn’t know. He went with his feelings, and that shouldn’t be a bad thing.

At the bottom of the steps, he saw Hope and Angel walk his way. When they saw him, they both had tears in their eyes, turned, and walked away. Great, he was now the pariah of the family.

He walked into his office to find the place clean, coffee and breakfast on the desk, and Graham was going over papers in one of the chairs. He closed the door. Alastair made his way to the chair he hadn’t used for over a week. He sat down and had a long drink of coffee before he looked at his brother. He studied him for any resentment, but all he saw was a blank slate.

“You know what happened?” Alastair asked.

Graham sighed and put the papers down. “Yes. To a point. Beth is at the Mortelli house. Faith’s mother called and told her what had happened, and of course, she told her sisters and so on.”

“But Dad didn’t know.”

Graham shook his head. “Not that I know of. We were keeping it from him because I knew how he’d react. It didn’t go well, I see.”

Alastair shook his head. “No. He’s disappointed in me and said this wasn’t the way he raised me.”

“I wasn’t going to ask. But I don’t think I got the story right. I’ve heard what Beth said, but I just can’t believe some of it, and I don’t think I got the whole story.”

“What did she say?” Alastair asked.

“Faith said Beth told her mom that she’s pregnant, but you don’t want the child.”

Alastair shook his head. “No, I don’t.”

Graham straightened in his chair and scowled. “That’s what happened? That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“So, you did tell her to get an abortion?” The words came out of Graham’s mouth with anger and disgust.

Alastair leaned back in the chair and then nodded. “I did. She knew I didn’t want kids.”

Graham looked confused and in shock. “I told Faith that you’d never say that.”

Alastair looked away.

“Jesus Christ. You really expected Beth to kill your child?”

He stayed quiet but continued to stare at him.

---