Page 104 of The Diávolos: Part Two
“This is just the tip of the iceberg, my angel. I’m going to make you forget what life was like before me.”
A couple days later, I decide it's finally time to see my father.
We leave Saintville in the morning and make our way to lower Cebrene where Evan’s main warehouse is located. I’m nervous, but I’m looking forward to the impending relief of knowing that I’ll never have to face my father again after today.
I asked Evander to invite Gianis, so he coordinated for us to all meet there. I won’t be able to do this without him. Gianis knows firsthand how strained my relationship has been with myfather over the years, and if there’s anyone who knows the head of the Kouvalakis clan better than I do, it’s his enforcer.
When we pull up to the lot, Gianis is already here, waiting next to his car, smoking a cigarette. My brows furrow. He has never smoked in his life, especially since he’s always been serious about his fight training.
“Since when do you smoke?” I ask as I step out of the car.
“I don’t,” he responds coolly as he blows out a puff of air. Evander takes this as his cue to light one up and grabs a cigarette from his case.
“I’m watching you inhale toxins as we speak, G.”
“It’s just to relieve some stress,” he says with nonchalance.Is he nervous about seeing my father too?I don’t buy it, but it’s not the time to question him.
After the guys finish their cigarettes—while I wring my hands almost to the bone—we walk into the warehouse. It’s a large, cavernous space with metal shelves stretching to the ceiling. Fluorescent lights flicker overhead and cast a sterile glow over everything.
Inside, the air is cool, but it feels dry, and I’m hit with a pungent and acidic odor.Blood.
As we walk further in, Evander takes my hand and stops me. “Listen, Angelica. Your father isn’t in the best shape right now. I don’t want you to be shocked by his appearance.”
“I’ll be fine, Evan. I promise,” I assure him, but he still looks concerned as he places his palm on a reader and opens a sliding door.
My heart races as I stand there, surrounded by the buzzing hum of machinery, pulse quickening, and an uneasy sensation settles within me. The thought of seeing my father stirs a mix of conflicting emotions.
When I walk into the room, I see my father, tied to a chair by his wrists and ankles. His face bloodied and bruised from themany beatings he’s received. I expected to be immobilized by the sight of him, but I’m not.
The hurt mybabahas created in my heart lessens from a glaring ache to a dull throb. The pain had already reached its peak, and now, it’s gone, vanished into thin air.
When I look at him, a man I once worshiped as my guardian, I feel nothing but anger. There’s no joy anymore, only spite.
His beaten face lights up when he sees me, and still, I feel nothing.
“Giegie,” he croaks between his cracked lips. But all I see is my mother’s depression, and all those girls stolen from their families and groomed to be sold to older men. All I remember is the moment he took me to the Sisterhood while I screamed and cried and pleaded with him not to leave me.
I turn to the men behind me. “Can we get him some water, please?”
A minute later, one of Evan’s guards hands me a water bottle that I help my father drink.
“Peter,” I say finally, not missing his flinch. In my twenty-five years of life, I’ve never called him anything other than ‘baba.’
I pull out a chair from the side and sit a safe distance away from him. “We need to talk.”
My father looks around, hinting that we should get rid of our audience, but Evander and Gianis refuse to move.
“It’s okay,” I promise them.
“I’m not leaving you alone with that cunt.” Evan seethes as he walks up to me, putting his hand on my shoulder. I place mine on top of his and squeeze.
“It’s fine, baby. Trust me,” I confirm. His eyes search mine, but the worry lingers. His shoulders are tense, and I can feel the weight of his anxiety in his stare. “Evan, please.”
“What if he tries to hurt you?” He throws daggers at my father with his eyes.
I offer him a soft smile. “He won’t. I got this.”
“Okay.” Evander and Gianis then reluctantly walk out the room.
