“They didn’t give you a choice.”
“There’s always a choice, Antony.”
“But
not on your end, there wasn’t. How many guns were you staring down?”
“Three,” I said.
“And you weren’t the one calling the shots. They were. You gave them a choice. Multiple choices, from the sounds of it. And then they threaten this family and think they can strong arm you into keeping a deal that doesn’t benefit what you’re trying to do? They would’ve killed you on the spot, and you know that.”
“That doesn’t excuse what I did,” I said.
“It was your life or theirs. And if anyone else ended up in your situation, they would’ve done the same thing. It wasn’t a gun deal gone wrong, Romeo. This wasn’t some bullshit Dad pulled. You were fighting for your life. If you’re dead, you can’t clean up the family.”
“Antony. I—”
“Look, what happened was unfortunate. I get it. I know you wish it didn’t have to happen, especially given the fact that you can smooth talk your way out of just about anything. But you have to forgive yourself. You did what you had to do in a circumstance that was unwinnable. And now? You get to live another day to make this family something you can be proud to pass onto your children someday.”
I felt a grin tick my cheek as Antony pushed himself from the chair. If he only knew.
“You’re going to do this. I believe you will. But it isn’t going to be easy.”
“Thanks brother. You’ve actually made me feel a bit better about it all,” I said.
“Great, now I can piss you off again,” he said. “Julia coming back anytime soon?”
My smile fell from my face as I walked over to my bed.
“Oh, come on. I know Mom talked to you about her. Did she give you her blessing? Is that how you’re going to bring peace? By fucking the Bianchi girl?”
“Can it, Antony. You’re treading on thin ice,” I said.
“Oh shit. Have you already fucked her?”
“Get the fuck out,” I said.
I slammed the door in his face and gritted my teeth. That fucking asshole. He was so close to getting on my fucking good side. I stared at the breakfast cooling on my bed and was no longer hungry. All my mind could think about was Julia. And my son. And how I couldn't fucking see him because of the monster she thought me to be.
Because of the monster I was scared I was becoming.
I wasn’t willing to tell anyone yet that I had a son. That would only complicate matters further. I had to figure out how I was going to handle the situation myself. I needed to be diplomatic and filled with integrity. Otherwise I didn't stand a chance at ever seeing my kid.
And that shit wasn’t an option.
I knew Julia would put up a decent fight, so I had to prepare myself for anything and everything she threw my way. I reached for the breakfast and ate it, forcing my thoughts to stay at bay. I had a family and I couldn’t even reunite us. I couldn’t even be the father I’d always longed to be because of my fucking job. I swallowed down my coffee and shoved the tray off to the side, then I slipped my feet into some shoes and made my way downstairs.
I slipped out the side door before someone else caught me and left the house.
CHAPTER 10
JULIA
I sat in the front window of a coffee shop on the edge of town. I’d asked to see him, knowing it would make my uncle happy. But I had to ask him about what had happened with the men found on the docks. I had to look him in his eyes when he answered me. I sipped my coffee and gazed out among the crowd, looking for Romeo’s tall form.
It wasn’t until a shadow loomed over me from behind that I tensed up.
“Julia,” he said as he sat down.