Growing Fires with Old Ashes

43 - Truth Hurts

Atlas.

Usoro base. 9:32 am.

Antonio called for a meeting this morning and my head is spinning with the possibilities of what it's going to be about. Did Tony know about my secret relationship with Sage? Did someone snitch? A new plan to kill Sage?

I stand in the foreground of the crowd with Dominic to my right and Tate to my left. I look at Tate, hoping to see some emotion on her face. Some sort of sadness after Nysa broke up with her. Maybe regret that she had a relationship with someone from the enemy. Or anger because her lover chose family over her. But there's nothing. Absolutely nothing. She is just staring at the door, waiting for Antonio to show up.

And then, all of sudden, she tilted her head quizzically and had a surprised look on her face. I looked up at the door to see what made her look like that. My mouth opens widely at the sight. In front of us are Antonio and another guy. But what shocked us all is that the other guy has the same grey eyes as our don. A younger version of Antonio.

Tony and I make eye contact for a few seconds. I couldn't see any emotion in those grey eyes of his, but his mouth went up in both of the corners, showing a huge smile on his face.

"Welcome my son, Grayson" Everyone's mouths open into a 'o' shape, full of disbelief. A panicked, caged bird was flapping inside of me. I heard the thumping. Maybe it was my heart, for all I know. Fuck. That meant that I wasn't the next in line to become heir anymore. This Grayson is.

Oh my god's and shocked sounds circled around the room. I looked around, noticing everyone's eyes on me. The pressure kept on rising and no one dared to make a sound. Until someone did.

"Good to meet you all," Grayson in the front of the room started talking. He didn't look like the type to take the mafia over, he's too sweet.

Grayson walked up to me, "I've heard a lot about you, Bressett". A smirk on his face as he shook my hand. Grayson inched his face up to my ear and whispered "Too bad we won't need you anymore" chuckling as he walked back to his place next to his father. Both of my hands fall to my sides.

"You all know how this mafia works. I just found out I had a son 16 years ago. A son I never knew of," Tony began again. Tate and Dominic look at me worried, we all know how this is going to end. "Grayson is my blood and flesh, Atlas isn't" Here it comes. The part we all dislike. The truth.

"Grayson will become the heir of the Usoro mafia." Everyone's eyes once again fall on me. And I decided to speak up. I won't let a child take over my hard work.

"If you've only just found out you had a son, isn't he a mistake?" My voice echoes through the silent room as the two pairs of grey eyes look straight at me.

"I would've met him way earlier if that bitch wouldn't have kept him from me" Tony makes sure he says 'bitch' extra clear.

"Which bitch?" Who does he mean? There are many bitches in this world, he has to be a little more specific.

"Mother of your distraction, Martina Morales" Grayson is Sage's brother? Sage is related to this son of a bitch? Martina had this thing come out of her? God damn it. This just keeps getting better and better.

"So Grayson, please tell me, why choose Usoro instead of Morales?"

"I- uh... " He mutters, unable to get words out that mean anything. Tony looks at his son with denial. I guess he got let down again.

"I think this is enough reason to conclude that Grayson is not fit to be the heir, don." And with that, I stormed out. When I expected the doors to slam shut behind me and they didn't, I turned around. Tate and Dominic standing right behind me in the doorway. At least some people are there for me, even when they hate me sometimes.