Page 13 of Driftwood Daffodil 2

“Yes.” My father swung his eyes her way. “I don’t want sickly grandchildren.”

“Grandchildren?!”

“That’s right. I expect the first one to be conceived after the wedding on your twenty-first birthday.”

Now Nova’s eyes were really wide. “Wedding?”

“Is that a problem?”

It was for me, but he wasn’t asking me.

“No… it’s just…” She blew out a breath, I assumed to calm herself down. “Marriage just feels like a really long time.”

This time it was me that answered her. “Your brother owes us a life debt. What exactly did you think that meant?”

For once she didn’t open her big fucking mouth. Nova remained quiet as my father continued. “Now, I understand school is important, so you will move in with Giovanni after graduation. Until then you will spend every weekend and Friday night here…”

Nova cut him off. “Wait, Maw Maw will never agree to that.”

My father didn’t even look at her when he said, “That’s not my problem.”

“You don’t understand, there’s no way she’d let me spend the night with a boy, let alone an entire weekend.” Nova argued. “You can’t expect me to do that.”

My father closed the file and sat back. “Do you want me to make this my problem?”

And by that he meant take out her grandmother, which I assumed she understood by the loud gulp she sucked back. Nova didn’t say anything, but she wanted to. I could see it written all over her face, and apparently so could my father.

He let out an annoyed sigh. “I don’t think you’re taking this very seriously.”

“Of course I am,” She argued. “It’s just…”

“There’s no just. You had your opportunity to leave, and you chose to stay. The deal is done.”

“I know… but…” Nova shook her head. “You have to be realistic.”

Clearly she didn’t know my father.

“I don’t have to be anything.”

That’s when she finally shut her mouth.

My father however wasn’t done.

I felt it coming before he leaned forward and narrowed his eyes. “I think a test is in order. Suck Giovanni’s cock.”

Son of a bitch. Of course I couldn’t say anything because this bullshit wasn’t just a test for her, but for me as well. He wanted to know I could do the deed.

Motherfucker.

NOVALEE

He wanted me to do what?

This had to be a joke. What father would say something like that? I mean alright, Cesare Mancini was a tad intimidating – I kind of wanted to pee my pants when I walked in here – and the closest thing I had to a father was Kato, so I wasn’t exactly up to date on male parental figures. But I was pretty sure they didn’t typically demand girls to do things to their son.

“You can’t be serious.”

There was no way the Mancini’s family dynamic was that fucked up.

---