Call Me Yours

Chapter 24 - His Story

Mia
~~~

I stood outside the overwhelmingly large gates of the prison as a guard approached me, patting me down to check I hadn't smuggled anything in. I walked through a metal detector, the machine beeped and although I knew I wasn't smuggling a gun or a knife in, the loud beeping of the machine really had me stressing that I had something on me. Turns out it was just my earrings.

I walked alone towards the large room full of tables of expecting family and friends, waiting to see their criminal loved ones. There was a general buzz of a strange feeling amongst many of the visitors, excitement, anticipation?

I on the other hand was terrified. I felt small and alone but I knew that I had to do this. I'd needed closure my whole life, not only to meet my father but to try and understand what had happened with him that had driven him to throw away his future with his family for crime.

And still, what crime? I had no clue. I mean I knew now, he'd somehow fucked over Dante's father, Salvatore, by getting involved with the DeLucas behind his back. Sounded similar to something I'd just been doing, but with the families switched.

I took a seat at my allocated table, my legs were shaking under it. I couldn't believe I was doing this right now. And my Mom had no clue. I'd become gutsy in my old age.

The sound of a metal door opening alerted me to the men in orange jumpsuits and handcuffs beginning to spill into the room. I'd seen pictures of my dad, so I knew who I was looking out for. The moment my eyes landed on him I had the urge to get up and run out of this place. Come on Mia, grow some balls.

I took a deep breaths, in and out, as he was led to the table. I tried to read his expression as he took a seat opposite me on the small wooden table. He looked pretty empty, his eyes held a sad, somber story. He had a pretty deep scar across his head which I hadn't seen in the pictures of him. His hair had greyed quite significantly and he'd lost quite a bit of weight.

I don't know what I'd expected, coming to see him. Whether I'd thought he'd look exactly the same as he had all those years ago, I wasn't sure. But to me, he seemed more like the ghost of that man as he emptily sat across from me.

"Hey, Dad, it's Mia."

He didn't say anything for the longest time. He watched me before finally speaking.

"Mia? What are doing here?" Well then, I missed you too, Dad.

"I decided to come and see you. I need to speak to you about something."

He just nodded slowly, waiting for me to tell him.

"Dad, what did you do to get here?"

He seemed to take a deep breath before answering me, as if it was a big burden to speak about it.

"I did some bad things, Mia. But we all make mistakes, I'm paying for mine, I've been paying for it for most of your life. I just always hoped you'd learn from it and get yourself a good life. You look well." 

I sure didn't think he would like what I was about to say to him after that comment.

"Dad. I know who you were involved with. I l just need you to tell me how you even got wrapped up in all of that?"

"What do you mean you know?" He suddenly leaned across the table as far as his shackles would allow him.

"Mia... are they threatening you? Mia you can't mess around with those guys, if they contact you, you've got to listen, and if they threaten you, you've got to get out of wherever you are. Leave as soon as possible. Those guys don't play around, I'm lucky to even be alive right now." He seemed to think on that last comment for a second before adding, "although, I'm not so sure I am."