The Don's Daughter: Love & Betrayal

Twenty

De Luca

           I'm coming out of the kitchen with a beer when Carina comes back. She looks happy and is smiling, something I haven't seen on her for a while. I'm thinking I made a good call by letting them go out. Is it a wonder they're always fighting? They've been cooped up in this house for weeks. Maybe unwinding and coming back with hangovers will give me one day of peace.

"Hey" she says surprising me. After letting Marianna give her the five lashes, she's been walking around glaring at me. I wonder why she's decided to talk to me.

"Hey, where's Marianna?"

"Still partying. I think she needs to dance off her bad attitude. Don't you?"

The thought of her grinding on some guy all night doesn't sit well with me but then again I have better things to do. Carina is right about Marianna letting loose. When she left earlier I got the feeling she was scared. I've been living with her for a month and I think I'm starting to understand the mystery that is Marianna Lombardi. She snapped at me but I got a feeling her anger wasn't directed towards me. And I don't know, this might be wishful thinking on my end but I think she wanted to talk about something. I don't know why she didn't just approach me and said whatever it is that was bothering her. I would be more than happy to help her.

You would?

I shake my head looking down at my watch. It's a little past midnight.

"Oh don't worry about her. When she decides to party, she paints the town red. You should expect her in the morning or at midday tomorrow"

"I guess you're the sensible one then"

"Always. Let's go Damiano, it's way past your bedtime young man" the guy looks at me strangely, turns his head towards the door then reluctantly follows Carina upstairs. Looks like someone wasn't done partying. Honestly, I don't know why I allowed him to stay other than the fact I was hoping he'd keep his girlfriend busy so she wouldn't have time to fight with Mari.

Christ, this is who I've become now. Letting strangers stay in my house just to stop two little brats from fighting. When did I become such a pussy? I don't tolerate this kind of nonsense. Even Tommaso who's the only one allowed to be a child knows that. Then why am I putting up with all this? Her. Marianna is the reason I'm like this. I don't want to like her but I do. She's slowly getting under my skin and turning me into a people pleaser. I like her filthy mouth and how she doesn't hold back when she wants to say something, even when she's talking to me. I like that she had the guts to shoot me. A few people can look me in the eyes and dare to point a gun at me.

I've never met anyone like her, fearless, beautiful and crazy at the same time. Her personality is like a beacon, always calling to me to go closer and see what's underneath all her madness. Funny because normally I would be distancing myself from someone like her. There's too much drama around her and instead of walking the other direction, I'm heading toward her, to the center of it all. Sometimes I think that I'm the crazy one. If I haven't lost my mind then I'm on way to losing it.

Since its only a little past midnight, I decide to go to my office and do a bit of work. Normal people head to bed so they can wake up tomorrow and do the shit they normally do. And honestly I can't understand how a man can sleep for eight hours. It's a waste of time. Even the CEOs only manage four to five hours. How do the rest lay in bed for eight full hours just doing nothing? I will never get that. The most I can sleep is three hours and that's when I'm really tired.

While I find a replacement for Fausto, the books of my illegal business will have to take a back seat. I am widely known as a mafia boss but what most people don't know is that I have legal businesses too. A textile company that deals with women's clothing and a small PR firm. Although it's really not that small seeing as it deals with famous people across the country. I call it that because compared to my other businesses, it's nothing. I also own a chain or restaurants with Nev and a five star hotel. All these are backup plans for Tommaso and my children if I ever have any. I want them to have a good life even if I won't be there to watch over them.