Deadly Mafia Bonds

Chapter 8 - Biological father

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Bella

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“What are you doing here?” I ask August, walking inside our living room, where I find him sitting with my mother. Augustine and I dated in high school, but it was brief. His family used to be our next-door neighbors. They moved to another city around two years ago, but he had already left town. I would sometimes see him when he came to visit them, but I haven’t seen him since they left.

August was my boy next door. My first boy crush, but when we finally got together, it soon became apparent that it was never going to work. He was the hockey team's captain and had the physic, looks, and all. He was a full package and had every girl in our school swooning over him. Unfortunately, that went to his head, and before I knew it, he was everybody’s man.

He broke my heart, and after him, I promised myself never to date a good-looking guy again. That resulted in Lucah having to pursue me for two years before I finally said yes, but I'm glad I broke my promise. I’m happy I gave him a chance cos he’s been nothing but amazing, and he has never given me any reason to feel insecure.

“I’m working on a case here, so I’ll be here for two weeks. I just wanted to come by and say hi. I’m also hoping that maybe we can get together and catch up if you’re not very busy.”

“Oh, okay,” I reply, heading over to him and hugging him, not missing the smile on my mother’s face. August, like me, is a lawyer and my mother adores him. She knows we dated but doesn’t know why we broke up. I never told her, even though I wished I had on so many occasions when she'd be shoving him down my throat. She and August’s mother were best friends. I didn’t want to complicate things, and I’m glad I didn't cos by the time he left, he and I had made up and were friends again. He apologized for what he did, and I forgave him. We were young and still trying to discover who we were, so it was inevitable for hearts to get broken along the way. I wasn’t going to hold that over him. He did try to rekindle the spark between us, but it was too late. I didn’t love him anymore, and I had already started going out with Lucah.

“I didn’t expect you home so soon, honey. I was just telling August he’ll have to come back later.”

“I had to cut my day short. I received a call from Luna, her cousin, the one I told you about. She just got news that her father died, and she’s in pretty bad shape. So I’m just going to head over there. You don’t mind if we meet up tomorrow, do you?” I say the last part, looking at August.

“No, no, I understand. I also should have called before just showing up,”

“Don't worry about that; it's okay. It's nice seeing you; I’d be happy to hang out and catch up,” I tell him, and he nods, smiling at me. My mother’s expression on the hand is a different story. “I’m going to change quickly,” I state, ignoring the frown on her face, and walk out to my bedroom. I get out of the formal attire and put on a yellow sundress with brown sandals. I’m still untying my hair when I hear a knock on my door and turn to find my mother. “Will you be home for supper?”

“Uhm… no, I’m not sure. Don’t wait up for me, just in case.”

“Mm.” she hums, obviously unhappy with my response, and there’s silence for a moment before she speaks again.

“You know, Bella, August was really looking forward to seeing you,” she says, and I roll my eyes. I could tell when I left the living room that this was coming.

“And I’m glad to see him too, mom, but right now, I have to go.”

“No, you don’t. Yes, it’s sad that the girl lost her father, but your presence there won’t bring him back-”

“Mom!”

“What? You’ve known August your whole life, and now you’re just going to rudely leave, all because of that criminal and his family.”

“Mother! Please! I can’t do this with you right now.”

“Honey-”

“-No! I don’t want to hear it, and don’t even try and make this about August. Why can’t you accept that I love Lucah and be happy for me?”

“What kind of mother would I be if I did that? Do you think it’s easy for me to watch you throw your life away?”

“How is being with someone I love throwing my life away?”

“It’s not if that person is a good, decent person, not a dangerous thug,”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Please,” she scoffs, “you know I’m right, and one of these days, he’s going to drag you down with him, and you’re going to lose everything you worked for,”

“You’ve been saying that for the past five years, and it hasn’t happened yet,”

“It doesn’t mean it still won’t. Bella, you're a lawyer; he's a mafia, for goodness sake. Do the math. This boy doesn't love you. He wants to use you. He’s going to be the end of you!”

“That's not true! I can't believe you just said that to me. You know nothing about him. He's… You know what? I’m not going to listen to this. I’m out of here.” I say, pushing past her, my voice breaking at the end. I grab my purse and walk out. August gives me an awkward smile, obviously having heard everything. I try to return it, but I can’t. I’m too upset right now. For the past five years that Lucah and I have been dating, this is what I’ve had to endure. In the beginning, I thought my mother would realize that we love each other and support me, but it’s like she grows to hate Lucah more and more, and the worst part is she doesn’t even have proof of Lucah’s family’s criminal activities.

She hates them based on rumors. They have reputable companies, yet she keeps saying it's blood money. She’s rude to Lucah every time they cross paths, she keeps breaking my heart repeatedly, and she just doesn’t care.

.

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.........

Luna

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“Hi, Dad,”

“Hey, honey. How are you?”

“I’m well, thanks. How are you?”

“I’m good, sweetheart. Listen, your brother and I are in town for two days, so I thought maybe we can have lunch? I have already called Lucah, and, well, let’s just say it didn’t go well. Between him and Oliver, it’s… you know, all I want to do is put my family back together before I die, but it’s….” he sighs, pain evident in his voice as he struggles to finish the sentences.

“I’m sorry.”

“Thanks, sweetheart, but it's my doing. Anyway, what do you say? Do you think you can make time for your old man?

“I would love to, but I’m afraid this isn’t a good time for me. A friend of mine just lost her father, and I can’t leave her alone right now. I can try and see if we can meet tomorrow, but I can’t make any promises. If, say, I could manage the time tomorrow, would that work for you?”

“Yes, as long as it’s early morning. I’m flying back in the afternoon. A business associate of mine also passed away, so there are a few things I need to take care of.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll try and see you tomorrow then.”

Goodbye, sweetheart,”

“Bye.”

“Daniel?”

“Yes. He’s in town, and he would like to meet. Please, don’t tell Lucah I picked up.”

“Yeah, of course.”

“I’m sorry I’m making you lie to him, Bella. It’s not fair for me to bring you into our family drama.”

“Hey, it’s okay. I understand, and technically, it’s not lying if he doesn’t ask me about it... Luna, you can go meet up with him if you want. I’ll stay with them.”

“No, that could get you in trouble with him if he ever fou-”

“-Luna, you and Lucah are twins, but that doesn’t mean you have to want the same things. He’s still angry with your father, but you have found a way to overcome his anger. It’s not fair for him to expect you to hate him just because he thinks he does. Go meet up with him.” Bella says, I know she's right, but I don't want to betray my brother.

“I don't know, Bella.”

“Go see your dad, Luna. For once, put yourself first.”

I remain silent for a moment. I would like to see him. Elle's situation has made me realize that you never know how much time you have with someone. “Are you sure you don't mind staying here?”

“I'm positive, go. Elle is my friend too.”

Thank you, Bella. I really appreciate you,” I say, hugging her.

“How far are you in looking for him?” I ask after pulling back for a hug, remembering I haven’t asked her how it’s going since she told me she’s also searching for her father.

“I decided against it,” she replies with a sad look on her face, and I take her hand in mine. “My mother says he knew she was pregnant, and yet he never cared to come look for me. Yes, the fact that my mother won’t even give me his name makes me angry and hurts, but what about him? I’m his flesh and blood. Doesn’t he ever wonder about me? My mother had to struggle on her own, trying to make ends meet. She worked two jobs, Luna. Where was he?” she says, her eyes tearing up, and I pull her into a hug again, wishing I knew what to say to make her feel better.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, still in the hug. This is weighing heavily on her.

“No, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I still give him that much power over me. Even when I promised myself I wouldn’t. My tears are too good for a heartless bastard like him...” she says, pulling back from the hug and wiping the few tears that managed to escape. “Go to your father; at least he’s trying.”

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.......

Elle

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It’s been three weeks since my father’s funeral, and I haven’t had the energy to leave this room. I can’t believe he’s gone. I can’t believe I’ll never see him again. I didn’t know if I would ever go home again, but deep down, I hoped to return one day. I hoped for Alaric to meet his grandfather, but now… now it will never happen.

Our last interaction at the hospital keeps playing over and over again in my head. He looked so sad in the articles I read, and a part of me keeps thinking maybe if I stayed, he’d still be alive, but how was I supposed to? I couldn’t give away my baby; I had to fight for him, even if that meant losing the only other person that meant the world to me.

Luna and Lucah found out that he wasn’t my stepfather but my biological father. I apologized for lying to them and told them why I did it. They understood and wanted to arrange for me to go to the funeral, but I told them I didn’t want to go. I couldn’t go back there; I can never go back there. My father is gone; there’s nothing for me there anymore. I could never set foot in that house again, knowing my father would never return home. It’s too painful.

A knock on the door brings me out of my thoughts, and I wipe the tears that have started running down my cheek before telling whoever it is to come in. I think it’s Luna; she took Alaric out. I try my best not to cry around him. “Com...e in,” I try to say loud enough for her to hear, but my voice comes out raspy. So I say again, and this time the door clicks open, but it’s not Luna, but Lucah.

“Hey,” he says, advancing to the couch.

“Hey,”

“How’re you holding up?” he asks, and I look at him, not knowing how to answer that. I’m in pain, excruciating pain.

“I’m sorry, that’s a stupid question,” he says, with a sad expression. “I’m sorry about your dad, Elle. I know you’re in pain right now, and it feels like it will last forever, but I promise it will get better. It does with time. I haven’t been the friendliest when it comes to you, but I’m also here for you,” he says, and I find a few tears escaping my eyes. He gets up and grabs the box of tissues on the bedside table, and hands it to me.

“It’ll be okay,”

I take the tissues and blow my nose. “It’s my fault,” I finally admit. “If I didn’t leave, he’d still be alive.”

“No, this is not your fault,” he says, getting up and kneeling in front of me.

“It is. This is my doing.”

“You don’t know that.”

“But I do. I do, Lucah.”

“How? How could you possibly?”

“My father didn’t attend charity events, he donated, yes, but he always sent someone to attend in his place. Ever since I ran away, he’s attended event after event. It’s obvious he was in pain and used it to cope. Maybe he thought somehow it would lead him to me. He was suffering, Lu-” A sob chokes me, making me unable to continue talking, and Lucah gets up and holds me. He rubs my back, whispering comforting words, and I completely break down in his arms, shaking in anguish. I want to wish I never drank that night cos then, if I never did, he’d still be alive, but how can I? When that night brought me, my baby. If it didn’t happen, I wouldn’t be his mother, and I would never wish that away. Not even if it meant having the power to reverse the sun.