Outsider - Book Two

Chapter 17

Zoie and Harry were in the living room and Julian had pulled Cece aside - into the spare bedroom.
She had expected there to be baby things everywhere but they must be somewhere else.

'We're alone, now talk!' He sat at the edge of the bed.

'Where did you get the information that Giovanni had ratted on my father?' She asked abruptly.
'I have my sources.'
'You told me to figure it out so here I am trying to figure it out.' She backfired. He sighed, thinking deeply for a moment.

'When my father had gone to prison he had been accused of a lot of things, including ordering the hit your father did. He plead guilty to the charges but confessed he only plead guilty because it was after your father had been killed.'

'What do you mean?'
'My father isn't a rat! I stand by those words, he got arrested after your father was killed.'
'So?'
'So only three people knew about the hit being placed on that FBI agent. And one of those three people was your father.'
'Let me guess, the other was Giovanni?' Cece asked.

'Giovanni and my father were in business once. The FBI never would have had anything to pin to my father if an annoying source hadn't given someone in the FBI clues that only top-tear mobster knew. One of those mobsters was a man called Ricky Vandini, also known as squeaker.' Julian explained.

She leaned against the wall, her arms cross over her own chest. Memorizing every word he said. 'Squeaker was a double man, he worked for both my father and Giovanni Rossi. My father had planned to kill Vanni because Vanni was swiping money off the top of some deal they both had fingers in.'

'I still don't understand what any of this means.' Cece rubbed the back of her head.

'Squeaker knew that my father was going to put a hit on Vanni, so he told Vanni. Vanni then gave the idea to my father to kill the FBI agent. Saying he was going to tell the authorities and get my father arrested.'

'But how does this have anything to do with my father? Was he just a random pick?'

'No one is randomly picked.'

'So what then?' She demanded.

'My father liked yours, they were friends or allies. Giovanni knew that your father was involved with both mobs. He was worried that if my father was planning to kill him he'd get your father to take over as boss. Take his place, Vanni was just scared he was going to lose it all. Your father was in on the idea to kill Giovanni.'

'But why would my father want to kill Giovanni? They were friends.'
'Who told you that? Vanni?' Julian asked. Too much information was racing through her head. She didn't understand why her father would betray Giovanni?

'My father was loyal.'
'Giovanni was sleeping with your mother and your father knew about it.' Her heart sank. She knew that Vanni had screwed her mum before but she assumed it was way after her fathers death.

'Look, I can't say for certain but the reason why your dad wanted Vanni killed so badly was because he knew the truth.'
'Which was?'
'Thomas isn't his kid.' Cece's heart sank even further. She felt the blood leave her face.
'What? Are you saying...'

'I think Giovanni is your brothers father.' He foretold. She had no idea what to do with this information. Now her head was really hurting. She stood up off the wall.

'Why? Why would you tell me any of this? Why would you say it to me? How did you even find any of this out?'
'I went to see my father after my brother Ezekiel died. I've seen him every now and again. While you were still tied up at the club I went and spoke with him. Told him about you, he told me everything. Said he had nothing to do with your fathers death, it was all Giovanni. It's always been Giovanni.'

'But why would you tell me?'

'Honestly? I just wanted to screw with you. Burn it in your face, pressure you with it.' Julian said with a smirk. Cece shook her head.

'And for a second I thought you had a heart.' She shook her head.

'Maybe also because I knew what it was like to have a half brother. I knew the difference between me and Luis. I'm guessing you and your brother are different.'

'So you told me for fun? To mess with me?'
'You threatened my family! My girlfriend, you expected me not to retaliate?' He stood up from the bed, their eyes at equal levels.

'Fuck you!' She spat in his face.
'Would you wish I never said anything?' The question had been unexpected.

'What?'

'Do you wish I hadn't said anything at all? You'd just keep going around sleeping with him, playing house or whatever.'
'Why do you think I am sleeping with him?' Julian didn't say anything but his facial expression said it all.

'I think maybe he's just using you.' Julian confessed.
'Maybe I'm the one using him?!' Julian took a step closer, so they in and exhaled the same oxygen.

'Than that makes you just as bad.' He noted.

After the full on conversation she had with Julian earlier she had needed a drink. It felt like his words had been stuck in her throat, blocking air from moving in and out of her lungs.

She believed him, that was what she knew for certain. But could Tommy really only be her half brother? More over, could he really be Giovanni's kid?

'Another one!' She shouted at the young female bartender behind the counter, tapping on the wood. She was at Kaden's bar again. Though she was quiet relived when he hadn't actually been here.
It was still really early, just past noon.

If Giovanni really was Tommy's father she'd have to tell him right? But would that make it harder to kill him if he was? She didn't want Tommy to have the same emotions as she did when she saw her father be ripped from her arms and killed right in front of her.

The thick, dark blood pouring out of his skull. His eyes still open, staring right at her like they'd be her death themselves.

The girl placed a glass in front of her and she shot it down. 'Keep them coming.' Cece ordered.

'Are you good?' The girl asked.
'Do I look good? No? I didn't ask for you opinion, I asked for another glass.' She fought back.

'Jesus!' The girl reacted. 'Don't make me cut you off!' She started with Cece.
'Don't make me climb over this counter and rip your ditzy little head off.'
'Okay! I'm getting a manager.' The girl flicked her pretentious blonde hair over her shoulder and walked off out the back.
Great.

Cece climbed over the counter and grabbed her glass. Snatching a bottle from off the shelf, pouring more into the glass herself.

'Please, help yourself.' Someone spoke. She looked up, you've got to be kidding!