Penitence (ON HOLD)

Chapter Eighteen

Heyy!! It has been a long time since I've posted a chapter and that's because I have been going through some things. I've been working on this chapter off and on and that is why it's been taking me so long to complete it. I hope that you all like it and I am trying to get to a 100+ votes so if you can, please share my story on social media or with your friends!! Love all of you!! This story is in Rick's POV

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I remember our first lunch together like it was yesterday...

*Flashback Begins*

"Nina I know that I am a few years older than you, so if this makes you uncomfortable just let me know." I say, keeping my eyes on the menu in front of me.

"You don't make me uncomfortable and it's not like we're dating." She says nonchalantly.

But I wish that you would think about us dating instead of putting me in the friend zone.

"What are you going to order?" I ask to keep my mind off of those thoughts.

She licks her perfect pink lips and says,"I think that I'm going to get the chicken salad."

"That's my favorite thing to eat from here." I say smiling.

We place our orders and talk about our lives and our jobs while eating our lunch.

*Flashback Ends*

At first she was just an assignment that Nicoli gave to me. I was given the task of observing Nina's dating habits. I know that I invaded her privacy, but I don't regret it. Having those lunch dates showed me who the real Nina Holter is.

That's why I know that she is hiding something from her father. Everytime that Nicoli calls Nina, she makes up an excuse as to why Anderson can't come to the phone.

Everyone is so concerned about being prepared for Leonardo's attack. There is no time for us to go by the apartment and check on her.

"Rick we are about to have a meeting with your father and I would like for you to be there." Nicoli states.

Nicoli and my father are around the same age. They were really close when they were kids and their friendship never faltered.

I've alwas been closer to Sergio. Although there is a huge age difference between us, we have common interests.

People tell me that I'm mature for a twenty-eight year old. I guess that they're right.

I make my way towards the conference room even though my head is throbbing. My father has a tendency to criticize my every move and I'm not really in the mood for that today. I'm just going for Nicoli and Nina's sake.

"Son, how nice of you to join us." Charlie Donati says sarcastically.

"Nice to see you too dad." I say plastering a fake smile on my face.

"Rick sit right there. We have to discuss our plan." Nicoli orders.

I take a seat despite the urge I have to slap the  smirk off of my father's face.

"We're here to address the obvious. Leonardo wants to take down the Costanzo family and he's using the weakest link to do so." My father states.

You may think that she is the weakest link but she has more balls than everyone in this room put together.

"So what are we going to do? Are we going to focus on protecting Nina or are we going to focus on destroying Leonardo? It's obvious that we can't do both." Sergio points out.

Nobody answers. I guess the reality of what he just said is too hard to face. The Costanzo's have been protecting people all their lives, but now they have to worry about protecting themselves as well.

If we choose to protect Nina, we risk our lives and all we have worked hard to create. If we choose to kill Leonardo, we become the most feared Italian organization and we risk Nina's life.

It's obvious that killing Leonardo would be the easiest way to go, but Nina has the Costanzo's blood running through her veins and Nicoli would probably die if we didn't protect her.

"I think that we should split it half and half. Some of us should keep an eye on Nina while the rest of us go out and find Leonardo." I say, breaking the silence.

My father's scoff follows soon after.

"That is the most absurd thing that I have heard all week. Why in the hell would we send half of our men to fight Leonardo's whole army of cartel men?" He asks.

"You have a better plan? All you're doing is criticizing my ideas and wasting your breath. Meanwhile, you could be coming up with a better plan!" I yell at him.

"Why don't we call in our associates. Everyone knows how much Leonardo has put us through." My dad snaps back.

"Yeah you do that. By the time they get here all of you old bastards will be dead along with this company." I retort.

I knew I should have stayed in my office. No matter what I do my dad always has to oppose it. He still hasn't gotten over the fact that mom and I left him. What were we supposed to do? Stay there and let him beat the crap out of us for the rest of our lives?

No one in the room speaks. They can't say that they didn't see this coming. My dad and I can't even be in the same church without arguing.

"Sir, someone is here to see you." My secretary says.

"Send them to my office. This meeting is over." I say.

"That is exactly why I contradict you. You don't give a damn about anything that you do. What if that person is Leonardo?" My father yells.

"They know what Leonardo looks like. Security searches everyone that comes through those doors. Hell, even security is checked." I state.

I know how to run my business. Who is he to tell me what I should and ahould not do.

"They're waiting in your office Sir." My secretary says quietly.

I nod a thanks and leave the room. This meeting was a complete failure because of my family's problems.

"I'm sorry for barging in here like this. I didn't have anywhere else to go." She says before I can ask her why she's sitting in my office.

Her face is bloody and scratched and she looks tired and worn out.

"Come on. We need to get your bruises cleaned and then we'll talk about who did this to you." I sigh and grab her hand.

This is just going to make everything even more complicated.

THIS CHAPTER IS OFFICIALLY OVER AND LORD KNOWS IT TOOK AGES BUT ANYWAYYYY... THE PICTURE YOU SAW WAS FOUR FROM DIVERGENT!!! (MY HUSBAND) Jk Jk I ship him and Tris, but I do imagine him as Rick sooo yeahh vote, comment, share. The next chapter will be coming sooner than this one did.