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“It’s what the boy I raised would have done,” Thadeo tells him bluntly and when I look across the table toward Cassio, he quickly flicks his eyes away from me.
“Another thing you may have forgotten is that NicolasConte is family now.” The warm, fuzzy feeling Dario’s words put in my stomach is quickly dashed away when his father stands up and slams his fist on the table.
“Not by choice. I had to offer one of my most profitable districts to an old fool so you could get your little fuck toy, and what was witnessed last night by all the people at your party was the consequence of it.”
“What did you just say?” Dario’s chair scrapes back and he charges at his father before he can answer, gripping him by his shirt and holding him up to his face. “Call my wife a fuck toy again and not only will I kick the ass out of you but I’ll walk away and you can have your bastard son take my place!” He shoves the old man back into his seat and storms back to his chair, sitting down and reaching across the table for my hand.
“Pancakes or waffles, sweetheart?” He turns his head to ask calmly, and I feel the heat fill my cheeks as I answer his question.
We eat breakfast in a long, awkward silence and as soon as I’m finished eating, I make my excuses to leave. Something tells me the DeMarco men have a lot to discuss.
“I’m sorry about my dad.” Dario finds me out on the patio a few hours later and I place down the book I’m reading and take a deep breath.
“I’m sorry about your father too. He’s awful.” I note the way he smiles to himself as he takes a seat beside me.
“Did you manage to come to a decision?” I ask, knowing that whatever it is will affect Nic and Serena.
“I’m sorry Madalina, I know he’s your brother and you love him, but Nicolas hasn’t got the maturity to manage a district.”
“But your brother has?” I laugh, and when I see the look on his face I realize how harsh I just sounded.
“I couldn’t defend him any more than I already have. Your brother doesn’t make things easy on himself.”
“I know and I appreciate that you’ve done all you can.” I take his hand and smile knowing that this is going to hit Nic hard. “I just worry about him. He would have wanted to make Father proud and this is going to feel like such a failure.”
“I will make sure he and Serena are taken care of. Cassio has even offered to give him a position within his faction.”
“A position my brother will be far too proud to take.” I roll my eyes knowing how stubborn Nic can be.
“Hey, don’t worry about him, I can deal with him. You just keep doing a good job of growing those babies.” His hand strokes over the dress I’m wearing. “Which reminds me.” Dario stands up. “Lorna’s on her way, I’ve arranged for you, her, and Serena to go to the lake house for some R and R.” He shocks me, not only because he hasn’t let me out of his sight since the accident, but because he’s still unsure about who's responsible for it.
“The lake house?” I check I’ve heard him right.
“Marco and Vito have put together a security team that will join you and ensure your safety, and I’ve made them promise to stay out of your way.” He laughs as if all this is perfectly normal behavior when it’s completely the opposite.
“Dario, what’s going on?” I look at him sternly.
“You're ten weeks away from giving birth to twins, you’ve been through a lot lately and I want you to relax and have a good time.” The answer he gives me doesn’t convince me at all.
“Don’t lie to me.” I shake my head letting him see how hurt the thought of that makes me.
“Madalina, there is a lot going on here, right now. I just want a few days to figure it out and have you safewhile I do it.”
“We’re safest when we’re with you,” I argue.
“I’d like to think so but not in this instance. I’m sending my best men, men I trust and who will die to protect you.”
“I can’t believe you're doing this.” I stare at him, still in shock.
“Honestly, neither can I, but it’s best for you and the babies. The lake house was built to be used as a safe house, it’s much easier to keep you secure there.”
“Then come with me. Let’s all be safe together,” I beg him.
“Not while there's someone out there who might want to hurt you. I need to make them dead. You understand that, don’t you?” His eyes plead with me to understand.
“I understand it but I don’t like it.” I try to remind myself that he’s doing this in my best interest but it’s hard. I’ve gotten attached to my husband and I know I’m going to miss him, even if it is for a few days.
“Just look at it as a trip. You get to spend some quality time with your best friend and Serena, she could use the break too,” he reminds me.
