I looked skeptically at my dad for a few more minutes. What if he wanted to spy on us? I didn't trust my family anymore. Everything I've gone through all my life was because they didn't tell me the truth, they didn't tell me I was involved in the mafia from the beginning, they hadn't let me know who I was and who I shouldn't be involved with.
He sold me to the mafia, something he'd never do to his daughter. I came to know he'd blamed me for the death of my mother all his life, he treated me very badly after she died. My dad blamed me for coming through a man who raped my mother under his very own nose. I thought Zavi's background was the most complicated, I didn't know mine was worse than his. At least he saw his family to blame, and I had no one to blame. I was an orphan brought up by a step-dad.
"What if I can't trust you?." I asked him, Irene and Will by my side, very alert.
"I don't wanna get involved considering that the son of Lucien pulled a bullet on my wife's stomach, but I don't want Janie to get involved with Matteo."
Yeah, it's all about Janie.
"Where were you when Janie met Matteo? Yo, you've always been a bad father to us, you've always cared about yourself. I and Janie survived, not with you."
"Don't sound like a saint, Nora." He paused, "You're enjoying life and you weren't good to Janie either."
I seethed, "Do you know how I survived?You sold me out. I know for some reason, I liked it because I found something worth fighting for, but you gave me this life. You pushed me to it, you wanted me out of your life, it worked, I left, yet you blame me for not stopping over. If you are here to ask me not to kill Janie, then it's working. I wasn't planning on killing her because she's family." I turned around and left the room.
A tear dropped from my eyes as I looked up at the picture frame of me and my husband on the wall. I prayed silently for nothing to happen to my husband.
I felt a small pain by the side of my stomach and groaned. If he was here, he'd be kissing that spot.
"Are you sad, nuggets?." I asked, biting down my lip.
I heard footsteps approaching the room and looked towards the door.
William stood at the threshold, his hand by his pocket.
"We're ready. Uhm.. there's someone you would like to meet."
He stepped aside, and Becca walked in, carrying her baby in her arms.
Tears flooded my eyes immediately after I saw her, and I quickly walked closer to them.
"Becca?." I called, my lips wavering.
"Hi, Nora." She smiled.
I thought I'd never see her again, when she left, she left with Alec, his space was empty and no one had gone there ever. He remained in our hearts, his laugh, his jokes, and his memories all remained in our hearts. We didn't talk often about him, we tried not to mention him in any conversation, it was hard because he seemed to be everywhere.
Seeing Becca now with mini Alec brought back memories.
"I came by to say hi. We left the graveside just now." She told me.
I carried the baby, as he slept softly, his mouth pouting every second. The striking resemblance of Alec was there.
"He looked beautiful." I laughed, tears flowing down.
A beeped watch made us look towards the door.
Irene ran in quickly, "We found them..with the help of your dad."
It was fine she had them tracked in case dad decides to bail out in the end. None of us trusted him with the information.
"Hi, Becca. I'm sorry, we have to um..leave now." She told Becca, grabbing Will's hand and exiting the room.
I turned to Becca, "Stay here until I'm back. I know I'll be back."
I walked past her and stopped when she held my hand.
"Please live, all of you." She pleaded.
I smiled, "I've survived easily, this is my last problem, I'm going to take that out myself."
I hugged her and left my room in a hurry.
I went out of the house, everyone waiting for me outside the cars that we were taking out.
I looked at my family once more, everyone knowing what they were getting into, the last fight was going to be fierce, we all are gonna try our best.
I cleared my throat and addressed them, "If you wanna back out now, you're free to leave." I stated.
Everyone looked at each other, none moving out of where they stood.
"We've lost a family before, we're not ready to lose our boss." One of them said,
"We're in the mafia, we know what we're getting to, our lives have been to live or die, we gonna show them what we got, they don't take our leader and expect us to sit back, a leader who loved us is worth fighting for. Spread out and let us take this fucker down, together."
They chorused, "Together."
Everyone got into the car, I sat in the front beside the driver, and when I looked beside me, Andrea was smiling.
She took off her shades, "I'm gonna save my brother and protect you. That's how I'm gonna repay you for uniting me and my family."
I laughed, "The last time we were in a car, we were fighting."
She smiled, "That's how we roll, sister-in-law."
That was the first time I saw her smile, and that was the first time anyone from Zavi's family acknowledged me.
"Don't die," I told her as she put back her dark shade and ignited the car.
****
There were 10 cars, and 3 trucks filled with guns and explosives going after the criminal.
We had men, the fighters who were ready to kill the enemy went with us and left the trainees to guide the estate.
"We are getting closer," Irene said from the back.
I pressed my hand to the airpod and said, "Get ready to move out."
"Yes, boss." They replied.