Silence And Submission (Editing)

Evidence

"Don't listen to anything he says," Matteo said, stepping forward. "He's just trying to plant doubts in your head."

"Uncle Vincentè, I believe you but Antonio doesn't. And I trust him. I really do. That's why we're going to keep you here until papa's killer is found. I hope you understand," I ended. I turned to Matteo and T. "Please keep an eye on him."

They nodded and I walked out of the basement.

"What were you doing down there?" Claudia asked as I reached the final stair.

She was dressed in her night gown and stood with her arms beneath her breasts.

"Why do you want to know?" I asked.

"I came across Antonio sulking on his way to his office and one of the guards told me he saw both you and Antonio going into the basement."

I listened as she spoke, going through some of the things she said. I knew there were guards around. It was a matter of principle. I just thought I would have seen them. The house had seemed so deserted when I'd come down earlier to for a glass of warm milk.

"Don't look so surprised," Claudia said. "Just because you don't see them doesn't mean they aren't there. D'Mecurio guards are the best in the world at the moment."

"I don't doubt you," I said.

"Tell me, why is my brother sulking?" She said.

"I doubt he's 'sulking'," I said. "He isn't the type if man to sulk."

"Is that what he told you?" She asked curiously.

"That's what I think," I answered.

"I have to show you some of his childhood pictures then," she said, grinning mischievously.

"I bet he was a cute child," I said.

"You don't know the half of it. Our parents used to get a lot of compliments when we were children."

I nodded. I didn't doubt what she said. As handsome as he was now, it was logical to think of him as a cute baby.

"Get some sleep," Claudia said softly. "It's late."

"I'll speak to Antonio for a while before I go to bed," I said as I walked past her. "Good night, Claudia."

"Sleep tight."

*************************

"Antonio," I called as I pushed open the heavy door slightly and peaked inside.

"You should be asleep," he said.

"I needed to tell you something," I said, stepping into the room.

"What is it?"

"I don't know," I said honestly. "I want to believe that Vincent is the man behind my father's murder but I can't help but think there is something wrong. He couldn't have killed my father. Vincent might hate me but he loved my father. They were brothers. Blood brothers. It's against the code to kill family. Besides what did he stand to gain? He's too weak to rule the De Laurentis family. That position has always been between my father and uncle Paulo." I breathed in deep.

"You've given me no evidence except your word. I'm an emotionally driven person yet even I know that without evidence the suspect is innocent."

"You doubt me," he said solemly, staring at me as he tapped his long fingers on the desk.

"Have you heard nothing I said? Give me evidence, Antonio D'Mecurio. I asked for my father's murderer not suspects."

"What if I told you that I killed him? What would you do?" He asked curiously, leaning back against the leather chair in which he sat.

"If you killed my father, I will have your head," I said.

"Talk is cheap, Irene. You have no power without the backing of your family."

"The Mexican families have always been loyal to my father. I can depend on them." It was a bluff. The Mexicans hated my father. In fact I suspected they'd kill me if they saw me anywhere near their territory.

"I'll give you all th evidence I can possibly gather and then you'd know that I was right. That I'm always right," he said firmly. "Good night, Irene."

"Good night," I replied softly as I walked out of the office, all the way up the stairs and back to my room. I fell on the bed with a sigh and closed my eyes. Tomorrow, I'd call Lucas and my madre and tell them both of this new development.