Sold to the mafia boss

I made my way into the planet Diner. The place was quiet as usual, having just a few number of people. It was past 3 o’clock.

I spotted my father as he stood out in the space. He waited in a corner booth. I studied the man whom I shared blood with. Money and laziness seemed to agree with him. His hair was highlighted by the Italian sun, and the deep tan that lined his face gave him a character he didn’t really have.

He was a tall man, and wore his designer clothes well. Today he was clad in a Ralph Lauren red sweater, black pants, and leather loafers. His dark eyes held a slight sheen of alcohol-induced humor. Probably a cocktail before confronting his long lost son.

As I slid into the booth, I noted the similarities in our faces and bone structure. I shuddered. What I dreaded most in life was sitting right across from him. The possibility of becoming my father.

” Logan, good to see you.” he spoke.

” So what brings you down here and why in the world would you wanna see me? ” I asked matter of factly. I was getting sick of sitting across from him, seeing his face as the seconds ticked away.

He shrugged. ” Thought I’d hang out with my son. It’s been a while, you know. How’s business? ”Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

“Good.” I sipped the coffee placed in front of me. “What did you want to talk about?” I asked him.

“Heard you have a woman living with you. I’m surprised she’s a live-in, surprised you haven’t killed her since she apparently means something to you. So tell me, Love, money, or sex?”

I blinked hard “Excuse me?”

I knew exactly what he was doing. He was trying to get me upset. That’s all he ever does.

” I heard some peasants stole your money and you took their only child. Tell me, are you torturing her and sleeping with her? Or are you finally in love with her? ”

I watched his eyes, saw the hate in them. My jaw clenched. I wanted to lie to him. But as I thought about it that split second, I couldn’t deny that what I felt for Layla was more than physical attraction. I was getting more into her than I’d ever been to any other woman. My uncle taught me there’s no dignity in falling in love with a woman, you only lose yourself.

” You’ve never cared how I lived my life, father, now give me one reason why you’re suddenly interested in this one? ”

“Arrogant, aren’t you? You know, I think we’re more alike than you want to believe. We both like money, and we both like women. There’s nothing wrong with that.” he pointed his fork at me “I’m not here to make trouble-I got my own fortune and don’t need yours. I’m here to tell you that we think it’s time for you to come home. We’re looking at a small family reunion. You, your brother and cousins …..”

The ridiculousness of the situation caused a moment of speechlessness. I thought of all the times I’d begged this man to have a lousy conversation with me, let alone a meal. And now he’s asking me out to his house again, for some reunion with family? That same family who couldn’t stand up to him when he sent me away? A twinge of bitterness leaked through the ice. Too little. Too late. Even worse, he didn’t really even care.

” Brother you say? ” I asked pointedly, weaving my fingers together. I leaned closer over the table, a smirk on my lips “golden boy doesn’t do it for you anymore? ”

“Your mother wants you back home, Logan ”

Makes more sense now that he would bring his ass down here. He didn’t want me there, my mother wanted me.

“You know I’ll never have a place in Italy. You chose to kick me out years ago and now, I choose to stay out. ” draining my coffee, I added. “Appreciate the offer, Dad, but I’ll pass. Haven’t needed you before. Don’t need you now.”

I made to stand up but saw how quickly his eyes turned mean. Now the show’s about to start.

“Always thought you were better than me, huh? The better man.” He said venomously “Listen up, son, blood is blood, and soon you’ll realize you’re destined to make the same mistakes I did.” He practically snarled his next words. “Wanna know the truth? I married your mother for love, but she only wanted my money. Once I sniffed out the truth, I was going to break it off but it was too late. She got pregnant. And I got stuck. With you.”

I swallowed as the nightmare enfolded before me “What?”

He gave a nasty laugh. “That’s right, you were her desperate attempt to keep me, and it worked. A kid means child support and alimony for life. I decided to stay and make it work, but I never forgave her.”

The knowledge made perfect sense as the pieces snapped into place. He never wanted me in the first place, so throwing me into Santiago’s arms was a merciful way of letting me out of his life. But he had thrown me into the best thing that could ever happen to me.

My father was an inhumane monster, and I was nothing like him. The world tagged me as the ruthless, merciless Mafia mob without truly knowing me, without caring to know why I do what I do.

‘ you’re a monster, I hate you’ Layla’s words seeped in on cue, testing my trust in myself.

The doubts attacked with a vicious punch, but I ignored them and held my head up. “We’re nothing alike. Good luck, Father.”

I threw some bills on the table and left, but his spoken words mocked me with every step.

Because in my secret heart, I wondered if it was really true. I wondered if I was more like my father than I thought. If Layla would see me just as a replica of him too.