Grownup
When my mom leaves, I turn to face Cyrus. “How’s my little son doing?”
His jaw tightens. “He’s not your son. He’s your nephew.”
“Yeah, but I’m his godfather. So, in a way… he’s kind of my son.”
Cyrus grits his teeth. For a second, I think he’s going to snap but then his eyes flick to Dad. And just like that, he schools his face into that fake-ass smile he’s perfected over the years.
“They’re fine,” he says. “Lively as Always.”
“Good,” I say, nodding. “I think I’m gonna see them. Haven’t seen them all day.”
“You just woke up,” Cyrus points out, dry as hell. “It’s morning. I think you’ll survive one day without seeing Bella.”
I grin, leaning forward. “I didn’t say Bella. I said I was going to see my nephew.”
He doesn’t respond.
“And besides,” I add, “you guys live just down the road. I'll just walk there.”
Then I smirk. “Thanks for moving back to the neighbourhood, by the way.”
That one lands. I can tell by the way his mouth goes tight, even if he tries to brush it off.
"As if it was my choice." He mumbles under his breath.
Of course, it was not his choice. He didn't want to live close to his father-in-law and his dad, but then he messed up big time. Our parents no longer believed him, so he had to buy the house closest to us in the neighbourhood so they could see Bella every day and make sure that she wasn't doing anything funny.
Ha. Ha. Ha
I don’t even know why I get to him. Like, he won. Bella loves him. He got her back. They have a damn family. A son. So why the hell does he act like I’m a threat just because I breathe the same air as her?
Or maybe I do have a chance.....?
I stand up, about to leave, but before I can take a step, my father speaks.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” he asks, voice sharp.
Did he just curse?
That’s when I remember my mother is no longer in the room. I smile, slowly turning back to him.
“I don’t know,” I say casually. “I was thinking about having breakfast, going to see my nephew who lives, might I add, just down the road. And I don’t know… maybe going back to sleep. You did wake me up in dramatic fashion, and kind of destroyed that whole peaceful morning thing I had going on.”
My dad smirks, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Very funny. I think you missed the part where I said you grew up this morning. From now on, you’re Scuderi’s shadow. That means you follow him everywhere until he dismisses you. He’s your boss now. You work twenty-four hours a day.”
He gestures around the room. “And last I checked, he’s still in this room. So tell me, why the hell are you leaving? If he’s still here, it means there’s still business. And as far as I’m concerned, the last person to leave this room should be you.”
I raise an eyebrow, deadpan. “Wow. That makes me your bitch now, huh?” I aim the line at Scuderi, Bella’s father who’s seated quietly like a king watching court fools perform. He smirks.
He’s always been kind of a second father to me. Grew up with Bella under his roof some time if Bella went home. Honestly, he’s treated me better than my real dad ever did. So no, it’s not going to be that hard being his shadow.
I step away from the seat where I’d just been the main topic and move to sit next to him on the couch.
I glance at him, and grin. “You know, I could’ve been your son-in-law.”
I mean it like a joke, light tone and, playful grin, but everyone else in the room knows I meant it more than I let on.
Scuderi chuckles, deep and amused. I laugh with him, but it’s clear only the two of us are smiling.
Cyrus and my father? Yeah, no. They didn’t find it funny at all.
“Well,” Scuderi says, clearing his throat after the laughter dies down and he notes the tension, “let’s get back to the matter at hand.”
He shifts in his seat, his voice taking on a more serious tone. “Meeting with Alex Volkov. That’s today.”
My father nods. “Yeah. Apparently, things with the Russians haven’t been smooth since we broke the marriage agreement.”
I scoff. “Yeah? And whose fault was that? Who couldn’t keep it in his pants....?”
The words leave my mouth before I can catch them, and instantly, I feel the shift in the air.
My father narrows his eyes, a slow warning burning through his stare. Cyrus stiffen, his jaw ticking, his whole posture coiled like he’s ready to pounce. He’s agitated, barely holding himself back.
And that’s when it hits me—shit.
Bella’s dad doesn’t know. He doesn’t know what really happened on Bella’s 18th birthday. Doesn’t know what led to the sudden marriage. Doesn’t know how Cyrus ended up with her.
“Anyway,” I say quickly, pivoting, trying to defuse the bomb I just lit. “So what does the Russian want?”
Scuderi gives me a look...confused, eyes narrowing slightly like he’s trying to read between the lines. There’s a pause. Tension still clings to the walls.
But then my father speaks, deliberately keeping his eyes off me. “What happened, happened,” he says coldly. “But now, it’s time we honour our agreement. We promised them another bride. And today, we’re going to deliver.”
He sits forward, his voice taking on that clipped, businesslike tone that means his mind is made up. “I’ve already spoken with the captains and capos. Told them that anyone of significance who has a daughter of legal age should send me photos. When we meet with Volkov, we’ll present him with a list. He’ll choose his bride.”
I blink. “Wow,” I say. Just that. Wow.
Cyrus snaps. “What? Do you have anything that’s actually important to add?”
I look at him, full of disdain. “I don’t know. I’m just wondering why you get to have everything you want, and the rest of us have to suffer for it.”
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