The Lost De'Luca

Chapter Seventy Eight

Third person's pov-

The door burst open, and the former Don of the Russian mafia stood before them. Despite his advanced age, he exuded an aura of vitality. His dark, calculating eyes scanned the room, locking onto Gabriella with an unnerving intensity. He froze, his gaze fixed on his granddaughter. "Avrora," he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and longing.

Antonio instinctively raised his gun, his eyes narrowing as he took aim. He knew exactly who this man was, but where his sister's safety was concerned, he wouldn't hesitate to act. "Put your gun down, boy," Vladimir said calmly, his eyes still fixed on Gabriella. "I am your grandfather."

Antonio's grip on the gun tightened. "I don't care. If you're here to cause trouble, I suggest you leave. Now. Or I won't hesitate to pull the trigger." His voice was cold, detached.

Vladimir finally tore his gaze away from Gabriella, his eyes locking onto Antonio's. A small, enigmatic smile spread across his face as he regarded his grandson.

"You caused quite the stir before you were even born, boy," Vladimir said, his eyes clouding over with memories. "Your mother, my daughter, had to leave my house because of you." His voice was tinged with a mix of regret and resentment.

Antonio's face darkened. "What the fuck do you mean by that?!" he snapped, his finger inching closer to the trigger.

Gabriella intervened, her voice soft and soothing. "Tony, calm down. If he wanted to cause trouble, he would've done it already."

Vladimir's gaze lingered on Gabriella, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Just like my Avrora," he said, his eyes shining with affection.

Antonio's anger boiled over. "I asked you a fuckin' question!" he growled.

Vladimir's smile never wavered. "Put your gun away, and we'll talk, boy." He sounded amused, but his eyes betrayed a glimmer of steel.

After a tense moment, Antonio hesitantly lowered his gun. Vladimir sat down comfortably in the chair opposite Gabriella, his eyes never leaving hers. He reached out and caressed her hair softly, his expression a mix of nostalgia and longing. Gabriella reminded him so much of his beloved daughter.

Vladimir's gaze turned somber, his jaw ticking in annoyance. "I apologize for what Viktoria did to you," he said to Gabriella, his voice low and gravelly.

Gabriella's eyes locked onto Vladimir's, her voice barely above a whisper. "You knew?"

Vladimir's expression turned somber, his eyes clouding over with memories. "Yes, I did. I tried to stop Viktoria from acting foolishly, but she was consumed by her desire for revenge. After all, your brother here did murder her father." His voice was laced with a mix of sadness and regret as he continued to caress Gabriella's hair.

Antonio's face twisted in a snarl. "That's because that bastard tortured my siblings! He deserved to die, and I'd kill him over and over again if I had the chance." His voice was calm, but his eyes blazed with a fierce intensity.

Vladimir's gaze never wavered, his eyes boring into Antonio's. "There are two sides to every story, boy. Don't jump to conclusions based on what you were told or what you saw." His words hung in the air, heavy with implication.

Gabriella's brow furrowed, her eyes darting between Vladimir and Antonio. What did he mean by that?

Vladimir's expression turned contemplative, his eyes gazing into the past. "Let me tell you something, boy. Maxim loved his sister with every fiber of his being. Do you really believe he would try to hurt her children, whom he knows she loves so dearly?"