Page 6 of Doormat
“She is a damn good cook,” her father said.
Liana was not there to be praised.She wanted to be with her mom.There had been a few moments throughout her life where she wished she had her mother by her side.This was one of them.The times before when she got her first menstrual cycle.Talking about it with her brother and dad, they had been considerate, but it wasn’t the same.She would have loved to have her mother to talk to about her wedding night.But she had her friends.She made a note to call them, to see how they were.
After she broke the eggs into a jug, added the milk and some melted butter, she got to working on the dry ingredients and nearly forgot the canned pumpkin while she was at it.
****
If it hadn’t been forhis brother-in-law, Diego would not have gotten any food for breakfast.He had his doubts on Liana being able to cook.She had not stepped foot inside his kitchen at home, nor their penthouse apartment.He had a cook who handled his meals.A man he trusted.
However, the pumpkin pancakes with maple syrup and bacon were to die for.They were buttery but not too sweet, with just the right amount of pumpkin to make them taste so damn good.They were amazing.He was in shock.Liana could at least cook pancakes.According to her father and brother, she could cook a lot of other things.
He expected her to sit with them at the breakfast table, only Liana never joined them.He, instead, sat with her father and brother-in-law.
“She’s not coming to sit down,” Enzo Jr.said.“She’s too pissed at you to sit with you.”
“Son!”
“What?He should know the truth, like the fact she wants to get the D-word.”
He saw Enzo glare at his son.
“D-word?”he asked.
The Valentino family had always been close.He was aware of how loving Enzo was to his children.Enzo had been the first man to ever fall in love with his wife.Diego had never met Liana’s mother, but he heard the tales and saw the pictures.It had been rare, but they had an arranged marriage and a love that developed out of that arrangement.
Diego knew her death had come at a great cost to Enzo and the whole family.Unfortunately, it had been a hit at a gas station, and she had been at the back of the car.The bullet was intended for Enzo but had hit his wife.From what he heard, she had died in his arms, telling him how much she loved him.
He didn’t believe in love or connection, or soulmates.People described Enzo and his late wife as having been a true love.So much so, that no one ever mentioned her name.This was not out of a lack of respect, but to honor her, and to help Enzo heal.
“My sister wants to divorce your ass.You seriously hurt her last night.”
“That is not going to happen,” he said.There was no way he was going to be the first one who accepted a divorce in the Colombo Mafia.His name would not be smeared like that.
Enzo Jr.clicked his tongue and looked away.Even Enzo didn’t look convinced.
“What?”
“Liana is a very strong-willed woman.You hurt her, and she does not wish to stay married to you.You are going to have a difficult time attempting to convince her otherwise,” Enzo said.
“Strong willed?Do we even know the same woman?”Diego asked.
Enzo Jr.lightly slapped his father on the chest.“See, I told you, you were making a big mistake suggesting she be agreeable.He now thinks she is a doormat.”
Diego looked between the two men.
Enzo got to his feet with a heavy sigh.“Walk with me.”
He had no choice but to follow the older man.Enzo Jr.did not follow them.
Enzo’s office was covered with family pictures.Some were of his late wife, and he saw at times Liana did look like her mother.Pictures of Enzo Jr.and Liana were all there, and ones with just the three of them.He even noticed several of them wearing matching Christmas pajamas, but he was not going to ask questions about that.
“I’m afraid I gave my daughter some bad advice when it came to being married to you.”Enzo sighed.“Liana is no doormat, and in all honesty, she is probably not the most agreeable person either.”
Diego frowned.
“Liana is a lot like her mother.Marissa, God rest her soul, she wanted her daughter to grow up free and happy and not be burdened by the life we’re part of.She would always say that just because we are mafia doesn’t mean we have to have the evil in our home.She told me when I left home to deal with business, she wanted me to actuallywantto come home.And I did.No matter what, I knew my home was ...everything.I did what I had to do, and my wife and two beautiful children were waiting for me.We were lucky with Enzo Jr.My wife got pregnant on our wedding night, and for ten years, we kept trying for another.We had pretty much given up hope of having a second child.Then, she got pregnant with Liana.”
He listened to Enzo bare his soul.He respected this man.
