CHAPTER 35: You make my head hurt...

Ricco
"Love? That was fast."
"I know, Daddy. I can't explain it myself. I have dated men for years and never been able to say that to them. I couldn't stop myself from saying it to Randol, though. It feels so right. He feels like home, if that makes any sense. Like, by his side is where I'm supposed to be. The thought of being without him makes physical pains shoot through my chest."
I thought I was prepared for this. Maybe not. She's happy, though, happier than I have ever seen her. "I'm happy for you. I really am. I can't lie, it hurts a little knowing that I will have to give you away soon, but if I have to I'm glad it's to Randol. I know, in my heart, he will cherish you. Not as much as me, of course, but as much as a man who isn't your father can."
"Hahah. Thank you, Daddy. Just so you know, though, no man will ever be able to take the special place you have in my heart."
"Well, I'll try to be supportive then. I love you, sweetheart. I'll still always be just a phone call away."
"I know. I love you too, Daddy. I'm going to step outside and call Mr. Bianchi. Why don't you make us some lunch? I feel like I haven't been able to eat a whole meal in days."
"I can do that. Any requests?"
"Mmm. Some type of pasta?"
"Coming right up." With a delighted smile, she leaves the kitchen and heads out the front door. This is all so surreal. I finally have to look at my daughter as a grown - up. I mean, I already know she's an adult, but now she will be going off to start her own family soon. It's a scary thought, but I'm just happy she is finally thinking about herself and what she wants.
The pot finishes filling with water just as Thomas and Randol walk into the kitchen. "Hey, guys. What's going on?"
"We were just coming to get some lunch. Gotta keep Randol's strength up if he's going to heal. What are you making?"
"I was just about to make Celeste and I some pasta. Would you like to join us?"
"Are you sure you don't mind, sir?"
"Of course not, Randol. Making pasta for four is no harder than making pasta for two. I'm no chef, though, so be gentle."
"I have heard Celeste talk about your cooking, sir. I think you're better than you think."
"Hahah. My daughter is biased."
"Can I help you with that?"
"You don't need to do that, Randol. You should be resting."
"Come on, Mr. Torelli. Celeste hasn't let me do anything but rest since I woke up from surgery. I'm bored out of my mind."
"That sounds like her. All right, but if she gets mad, you're taking the heat."
"Duly noted." Randol walks around the bar rolling up his sleeves. I give him things to chop while I cook pancetta in a pan. We actually work really well together. We joke around and move about the kitchen in fluid movements. Just as I'm adding the cooked pasta to the pan with the sauce, I notice Celeste is sitting next to Thomas at the counter, smiling.
"Celeste, when did you come in?" I see Randol out of the corner of my eye look up in surprise as well.
"About ten minutes ago. I didn't want to interrupt the comedy routine you two had going there."
"Very funny." To even my own surprise, Randol and I say this in perfect unison. I think we both realized it at the same time because we snap our head toward each other, also in unison. We both look back at the two smiling faces across the counter. They turn and look at each other, and of course, they burst out laughing. Celeste is holding her stomach. Thomas has his forehead down on the counter smacking his palm on his leg.
"If you two are done? Lunch is ready." Randol has his hands on his hips, rolling his eyes. Celeste and Thomas try hard to stop their laughter, but it takes a minute. Celeste has tears in her eyes. Thomas's face is bright red.
"Oh my god. That was great. Hahah. Here, Daddy, let me help you carry the plates to the table."
"Are you sure you're stable enough now?"
"No, but let's give it a try." We finally get the food to the table, and Thomas brings in some drinks. Celeste is the first to dig in, not surprisingly. "Daddy, you have outdone yourself. This is so good!"
"Not just me. Randol helped too."
"No, this is all you, Mr. Torelli. All I did was chop herbs and veggies. The flavor in this sauce is ridiculous. I may have to steal this recipe for the restaurant."
"I think you're both exaggerating, but thank you. Eat up before it gets cold." I think we were all hungrier than we thought, because it doesn't take long before all the plates are empty. "Celeste, I forgot, did you get ahold of Bianchi?"
"Oh, right. He said he would have his men pick him up and deliver him here within twenty - four hours. He is going to let me know when they are about ten minutes from the house. It will basically be a rolling dump out. We will need to grab him at the gate."
"Twenty - four hours? I didn't expect it to be that quick. You really do get things done, don't you?"
"Not me. Mr. Bianchi. He doesn't like loose ends."
"Wait, I'm confused, can someone fill me in on what's going on?"
"Yeah, I'm with dad. What did we miss?"
Celeste fills Thomas and Randol in on General Clark. She explains our plan to use him to free the children, so that we can go after Donnelly. They listen, but Randol does not look happy. I think I know what he is about to say.
"Celeste, when the children are back with their parents, how will we be going after Donnelly exactly?" I see the muscles in Randol's jaw flex while he waits for the answer to his question.
"We don't really have a set plan yet." Celeste pauses and looks between Randol and myself. "I have rolled it around in my head some. I think it would be best not to go with the entire group. A smaller unit would have a better chance of getting close to Donnelly undetected."
"How much smaller, Celeste?"
"Randol..."
"I knew it. You want to go on your own, don't you?"
What? He can't be right. She can't possibly think I wouldn't lose my mind over this.
"I am the only one who can reprogram him. It has to be me."
"Celeste Torelli! Have you lost your ever - loving mind?"
"Daddy, please, you know I have to go. You were there last night. You know my suggestive powers are the only ones that can't be compromised."
"That absolutely does not mean you need to go by yourself. It was bad enough when you were working alone a few yards from me. You cannot go across the country to fight Satan himself alone."
"I know how you feel, Daddy, but you also know how hard it will be to get to him if there are twenty people running across his lawn." I hate like hell that she's right, but she is. I rub my temples for a minute trying to soothe the headache I can feel creeping up. "Celeste, I understand all of that, but I don't want you going alone. At least, for the sake of your father's sanity, take a few people with you in case something goes wrong. At least then someone will be in the area to come to your aid instead of having to fly across the country to do so."
Sigh. "Fine, Daddy. If it will make you feel better."
"Well, I am going."
"You are not going, Randol. I haven't even removed your stitches yet. You were just sliced in half, for Christ's sake."
"I don't care, Celeste. I'm going. I cannot emotionally handle you being somewhere that I know you will be in danger and not be there with you. Kai is losing his shit right now. It is taking everything
I have not to shift."
"Oh, I like him even more now."
"Daddy, please. Randol, if you are going to come with me, you have to do everything I say until then. If you don't, you won't be healed enough to be able to shift safely when you need to. Deal?"
"I am fine with that."
"If I'm taking a team, I guess I will need air support and someone to veil everyone if I have to use my song too."
"I will send Anthony and Yamaguchi with you."
"Why them?"
"I can send Ajax and Ryu, if you prefer."
"Absolutely not," Randol grumbles out which gets a glare from Celeste.
Sigh. "If you have to go in there with such a small team, I want you to have as much power as you can."
"I'm surprised you didn't volunteer yourself to go, Daddy."
"I want to, but I honestly can't say I wouldn't kill him on sight."
"Daddy, I can't promise that either, but I need him alive to dissipate this idiotic group. As long as he or his men don't try to hurt Randol, Uncle Anthony, or Mr. Yamaguchi, I will do everything I can to refrain from subjecting him to a slow and extremely painful death."
"Well, if you can't refrain, I'll understand, sweetheart."
"First things first, though. Let's just all calm down until Clark gets here. We can't do anything else until he does."
"Agreed. That goes for you too Celeste. Please relax a little. The amount of stress you have put on yourself in the past few days worries me. You need some time to recuperate too."
"I will, Daddy. I promise. Now if everyone is done complaining, I'm going to take the plates to the kitchen and put them in the dishwasher."
"Thank you, sweetheart." Everyone else says their thank - you's, then she disappears into the kitchen.
"Dad, would you mind helping Celeste with the dishes? I would but, you know, my injury and all."
"Oh, uh, of course, son. Just sit tight." Thomas gets up and hurries after Celeste.
"Very subtle, Randol. You could have just asked to speak to me alone."
"Sorry, Mr. Torelli. I panicked. I guess I'm more nervous than I thought."
"Hahah. It's all right, Randol. No need to be nervous. I think I know what you want to talk about."
"You do? How?"
"Celeste told me she loves you. She said you feel like home, like by your side is where she was always meant to be. I assumed you would be coming to talk to me at some point because that is the kind of man you are. I respect that."
"Holy shit. Um, okay. This is a little unexpected. I guess that only leaves two things for us to discuss then. The first is that Celeste said she wants to move to New York. I assure you I didn't ask her to, and I even offered to move to Chicago with her."
"I know. I kind of suggested to her that you would give up everything for her, so she should be willing to do the same for you. I thought she might decide to move."
"What the hell? Are you always one step ahead of everyone?"
"Honestly, Randol, a lot of the time, yes. Celeste seems to be the only one that constantly surprises me. My own daughter. Go figure."
"Well, I'm sure this last item on the agenda won't be anything new to you either then, but I truly need an answer, so I'm going to throw it out there anyway. Sir, wolf shifters have a ritual called the claiming. I'm sure you know it."
"Yes, I do."
"Well, once Celeste and I go through that process we will be magically bonded for life. We would definitely have a regular wedding, but that is essentially the shifter version of a marriage. The only way for that bond to be broken once it has been made is for one of us to die. If the bond is strong enough, it remains even after death. Anyway, Celeste is not a shifter. I know it's not a normal thing for you or her. I want to be bonded to her more than anything, but I won't do it without your permission. This bond is a big deal. There is no such thing as divorce when it comes to this. I would never marry your daughter without your permission, and I damn sure wouldn't claim her."
"Randol. The fact that you understand how serious this situation is and the fact that you feel the need for my permission speaks volumes about your character. She is my little girl, no matter her age. I want nothing but the best for her in her life. I truly believe she has found that in you. When the time comes for either, you have my permission. I'm passing her heart on to you now. Don't let me down." I hold my hand out for him to shake, and he does. With gusto.
"I won't, sir. You can trust me."
"I do. That's why I haven't thrown you off the roof yet."
"Hahah. Lucky me."
"Hey, guys. What's going on?"
"Hey, Princess. Nothing. I was just making small talk with your dad while mine was helping you. All done?"
"Yep."
"I hope Dad didn't get in your way."
"Easy there, smart - ass. I'll have you know I was a big help."
"That's right, he was. Not to mention, I got to hear some very interesting stories about baby Randol, while we worked."
"Ah shit. Dad! Really?"
"Randol, did you really used to call your privates Mr. Pinky?"
"Okay, and that is the end of your alone time with my dad indefinitely."
Everyone, except Randol, of course, laughs uncontrollably. Celeste is the first one to stop. "Daddy, do you mind if I take the car?"
"Sure, but where are you going?"
"I'm just going to head into the nearest town for a bit. I need to get away from this house."
"Just be careful. The keys are by the door."
"Thanks. I'll be back before dinner."
"Wait, Celeste. Can I go with you?"
"I don't know, Randol. I don't know if you're healed enough yet."
"Please. I am going stir crazy in this house. You'll be with me the whole time."
"Fine, but I don't want any shit if I say it's time to go."