Page 42 of Amadeo
“Father,” Amadeo called to Stephano. “You need to understand this. Valen is Deacon’s sister. She was raised by him. You cannot expect her to cheer you on in your endeavour to end him.”
“Si,” Zia spoke up again as she nodded. “You do realize that if you harm Deacon, it will split our family.”
Stephano looked over at her. “What nonsense are you talking about now, Maria?”
“Oh, no, you cannot be so dense. No!” Zia went over and poked his chest with her finger. “Tito is in love with this girl.” She motioned to Valencia. “You know this. If you kill herbrother…” Zia’s eyes filled with tears. “He will leave and if he leaves, I leave.”
Stephano stared at her. “Cosa ti succede? What are you saying? Are you pazzo?”
“I tell the truth and you’d better face the truth soon brother, or you will be living here in this mansion…ALONE!”
Chapter Fifteen:The Stars
Amadeo
Yes, this discussion had gotten out of hand. But I had to agree with Zia...My father couldn’t carry out his threat against Deacon. If he did, we might not be the same family ever again. I stared at him. “We need to wait and see if Deacon is found.”
“And you’d better not harm him if he is found,” Zia warned my father.
He shook his head at her and seethed. “You cannot tell me what to do, Maria.”
“I can if it happens in this house.” She again planted her hands on her hips. “Years ago, you and I made an agreement about your work and this being my home. This isourhome, but you cannot be plotting murder here.”
“Murder?” he exclaimed as he shook his head.
“Yes, hurting an unarmed man who is ill would be murder, fratello.” Zia then looked over at me. “Take Gia to her room, Deo. She has been through much today. It is getting late too.” Nodding at Valencia, she said, “You, my dear, will stay with me until Tito returns or until he calls.” She then glared at my father. “And you need to return to your evil lair.”
Stephano barked out a laugh. “You are so dramatic, sorella.” He shook his head and left.
I leaned over with a chuckle and kissed Zia’s cheek. “I don’t know where we would be without you, Zia.”
She smiled at me. “You are such a sweet man, bambino.”
“Sweet? Shhh, I got a rep, Zia Maria.” I chuckled again as I took Gia’s hand and we left the kitchen. Silent, we went downthe hall and headed up the stairs. I got to the hall and paused. “Where are you staying?”
She motioned ahead. “Just a few doors down.”
I wondered before where they had put her, but I didn’t want to be too aggressive and get caught asking about her.
Finally, she stopped at her door and opened it.
I paused and stayed in the hall.
Turning, she stared at me. “I don’t understand why you are even being polite to me.”
I cocked my head at her and asked, “What?”
“Come on, no one is that forgiving!” she accused.
I slowly shook my head. “What are you talking about?”
“Deo, I treated you like mud on my shoe! I accused you of horrible things!”
I shrugged. “You had good reason to—”
She jumped over and grasped my shirt collar in both hands. “No one could be this nice!”
Laughing, I shook my head. “People make mistakes, Gia. Come on, you believed that had been his name for two years. Why would you think it was false?”
