Page 15 of War
“Thank you. It does take a village. I’ve had a lot of help.” Simone nodded. “Do you want anything to drink?”
“No, I’m fine. I think Eli and I are leaving soon so we won’t stay much longer.” Nick leaned against the entryway and glanced out the kitchen window. “It’s interesting how all of the D’Amato grandchildren have a certain trait that’s undeniably D’Amato. Kieran’s children, Joey’s twins, my kids, and finally, Eli’s children. The only one who doesn’t share that trait is Tyson, and that’s because he has a different father.”
Anger boiled at the surface but Simone kept her composure. “What are you implying, Nicholas?”
“I’m not implying anything,” he turned his attention towards Simone, “I am stating now is a good time to stop the bullshit you’re doing with my baby brother.”
“What went on between me and Eli is between just us two.” Simone stated.
Annoyance twisted Nick’s arm. “When it comes to an innocent little girl, I think not.”
“This is not a battle you should be involved in, Nicholas.” Simone stated, “I don’t know what Eli has told you or implied but this is not something you want to be involved in.”
“When it comes to family, I’ll always be involved.” Nick held his ground. “This is a battle, however, you and Darren won’t win.” He heard Eli’s footsteps down the stairs. “Choose wisely on how you want to proceed.” Nick turned to his brother who stood beside him. “Ready to go?”
“Ready,” Eli nodded, “I’ll be back tomorrow before I head out. I’ll see you later, Simone.” The two left her home.
“So do you think, big bro?” Eli asked. “What’s your honest opinion?”
Nick looked around to make sure they weren’t in earshot of any fans or paparazzi. “Honestly? I don’t think she’s a D’Amato. She has none of the features the others have. Then again, genes are a bit of a lottery. She could be yours and just look like Simone.”
“I would accept that but she also doesn’t really look like Simone,” Eli looked up at the sky.
Nick softly blinked and turned to his younger brother. “Oh?”
“I didn’t ask her if there was another possibility,” Eli shrugged.
“But you think there was?”
Eli thought back to when he was with Simone. They saw each other plenty during the week, but the weekends were always swamped. There was also a time period they didn’t see each other for a couple of weeks.
Could she have? It wasn’t like they were in a committed relationship and Eli was still trying to process what he did to Faith and Nathan during the time. “Anything’s possible,” Eli replied, “I wasn’t with Simone all of the time, so…”
Nick shook his head. “Your ego is out of this world, little brother.”
“I’m speaking the truth,” Eli defended with more haste than he’d intended. “I don’t know what she was doing.”
Nick simply smiled. “Just come correct with me, Eli.”
“About what?”
Nick stopped walking and turned to his younger brother. He briefly looked around the Houston sky and admired how sunny and bright it was before he redirected his attention back to Eli. “You can’t stand the fact that while you were cheating on Faye, Simone could’ve been cheating on you.”
“She was never my girlfriend,” Eli replied.
“But I’m almost positive you didn’t want her sleeping with anyone else.”
The truth was a punch to the gut. “Why does any of this matter?” Eli defended. “This was three years ago.”
“It matters because it’s your ego. Eli, you know Elena is not yours.” Nick took off his sunglasses. “The way you’re acting tells me you know deep down Elena is not your child. But you don’t want to accept the fact that the woman you gave up your marriage and family for, was also playing you like a fiddle. You cannot accept the new pussy you chased and threw everything out the damn window, only saw the prestige of being connected to a D’Amato and dollar signs. You cannot accept the fact that the sweet Moni you knew in high school and lost your virginity to, grew up to be Simone, the home wrecking gold-digging whore.” He spat. “So that is why we’re here in hot-ass Houston, examining an innocent little girl because you want to be convinced so badly that Elena is your daughter, it would somehow mean what I just said isn’t true. I have news for you, sweet brother, even if Elena is proven to be yours, what I just said about Simone stands.”
