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Diego is fighting tears. Amelia's tears are streaming freely down her face.
Yes. Suffer. Feel the heartbreak. Take it in and know that this is what you made me suffer through when you left.
"Dad?" Amelia says desperation in her voice.
"You've got five minutes," I say and walk back into the house. I don't leave though. I stay just behind the wall to listen to their last conversation.
I want to enjoy their pain.
"Dad, you have to do something; there has to be some way out of this." Amelia is crying, her words are tight, and her voice is strained.
"What can I do, Amelia? He is more powerful than our family. There is nothing I can offer him to make him change his mind. You need to go ahead with this. He will kill us. Don't you see? You should never have gotten involved with him in the first place. I warned you so many times."
"Dad, I know. I made a mistake. But you can't possibly want me to marry him? You can't possibly want me to go ahead with that?" She asks in absolute horror.
"Yes, sweetheart. I want you to do whatever it takes to keep you and Elle safe. Even if that means marrying him. The mafia has certain unspoken rules. Once you are his wife, you will be protected. It will be better."
"How will we ever be safe living here? You have no idea what he's capable of." She remarks bitterly.
"Actually, I know exactly what he is capable of, which is why I have to accept this."
"Dad - " Amelia's voice is softer now, perhaps she is also starting to accept her fate.
I carefully move the blinds on the massive patio doors and watch them secretively.
Amelia is wrapped in her father's arms, holding him for the last time.
She used to want to hold me. She used to want to be close to me.
My lips curl into a sneer.
"That's enough time." My voice booms as I step outside. "You need to leave, Diego."
"It hasn't been five minutes." Amelia protests.
Diego turns towards me. "I just wanted you to know that I give you my blessing. I won't argue against this or make any issues for you."
"That's kind of you, old man, but I don't need your blessing. I'll do whatever I want."
I turn towards my security.
"James, you may escort Mr. Ricardi off the premises, and if you ever see him around here again let me know immediately."
"Yes, sir."
James steps towards Diego and grabs his arm, dragging him towards the door.
"I love you, Amelia," Diego calls out.
"Don't do this." Amelia turns to me to beg, tears soaking her cheeks. "Let him walk out on his own."
But James has already dragged him to the front door. Diego tripped up and James just lifted him and continued to walk before he even had a chance to find his feet again.
Amelia turns away from me to run after her father and I grab a handful of her hair, yanking her back towards me, her back against my chest. I grab her jaw from behind and force her to watch her father being dragged away.
"You will never see him again," I whisper darkly against her ear. "This is the last image of your father that will be burnt into your memory. How weak he looks, how he couldn't save you from your fate."
"Fuck you." She spits the words at me as she tries to escape my grip. I pull her hair harder, yanking her face backward so that she is looking at me now.
