Chapter144
An hour laterandBastiano and Tito were escorting Raniero and Cianna into the apartment and the tears which the little family shed togetherearlierwerelong gone.Theyweresitting composed,inthe living room,on the sofa with Antero sitting between them.
Brunella,Cicciu and Lorita were sitting on a loveseat set perpendicular to the sofa.
Raniero’seyesnarrowed on the group as he wasledinto thespace.“What is going on?”
“Family meeting,” Torq said coolly and pointed to the chairs set up for him and Cianna. “Take a seat.”
“This feels more like an ambush than a meeting.” Raniero said bluntly.
“It’s the way it is with him.” Cianna spit out angrily,
“You will do well to watch your tongue, Cianna. I put up with a lot of your shit last night at dinnerbecausewon’t make again. Sit the fuck down,shut your goddamned mouth and listen for a change.”
of
the situation.
It
wasa
mistake
“Torq,” Raniero’s voice deepened at the insult to his mother.
“Sit yourassdown, Raniero,now. We still haven’t fully addressed the situation with you and your comments last night either.”
Raniero looked to Bastiano who made a bold move and went to stand behind the sofawhereAlcee,Torq and Anterosatand stoodtallnextto
Tito.
“Is this how itis?”Raniero asked Bastiano with a crack in his voice.“You stayed out all night and come home to bringmeto this ambush and then you stand there.”
“The fact you see thisasa divide,” Torq spoke before Bastiano could, “is a problem, Raniero.This family,swearsloyalty to it’s Don. It is a family built on tradition, strength of leadership and loyalty but also oneofrespect for the headofthe family. You sitting there,” he pointed towhereRanierowasseated next to his mother, “is a direct result ofyoucreatingassituationwherethereare sides in my family. I willtolerateanyonetaking sides in my family. Itismy side or no side.”
Raniero looked away, his eyes staring at a spot onthewall. “I am your brother.”
“Yes,youaremy brother,which means,I expect more from you. You,asmy brother,should know how much I value loyalty. I allowed youentrancetomylifewhenmy own grandfather cautioned me against it because hefeltitwastoo risky.Hesworemore than once you would betraymebecauseyoudidn’t onlyhavethe blood of one betrayer in your veins but of two betrayers.”
Ranierobristled.
“Iloveyou.Youaremybrother,”Torqcontinued. “From the moment mygrandfathertoldmewho youwere, I wanted you to be partofour family.Iwentagainsthis wishes to do so.Iconvinced him, you would not be likeCorrado,or your mother and you would be loyal to this family. When youfellinlovewith Bastiano,Iwasconvinced it meantyouwerepart of this family, andyourloyalty would be unwavering.Isupported your love. Whenmygrandfatherarguedwithmebefore hisdeathIwasinvitingtroubleinto the houseofLozano, I argued I knew your heart was good. It is good.”Torqleanedforwardhishandsresting on his knees. “I know yourheartis good. I know you love me, and you love the manyouwould wish tobeyourhusband.WhatIdon’t know,and Iamnowsecond–guessing, is whetheryoulove this family, theLozanofamily. The family I fought your wholelifeto makeyoupartofyoudo notappreciate. You do not respect.”
“This is bullshit.”
“ShutthefuckupCiannaorIwillendyourighthere,right nowandmy son will begivenfirst row seats to whathappenstoanyonewhodisrespects hisname. The Lozanoname.”
Cianna blinkedatthe cold rage comingfromTorq. He motionedtoAlceeto puttheheadphoneson Antero.Whenheknewtheywere working he continued.
“I gave you space becauseyouarehis mother,” he motioned to Raniero,“but it is clear it is a mistake. You do not appreciate theopportunityyou were given. You think becauseIvaluehim, you deserve recognition and valueofyour own.Youforget,Cianna,what you did. You forget we all know how my father told youpointblankitwasover. You forget he told you hedidnot wish to be with you anymore because he was going to do what was ordered by hisfatherand bethefamilyman.Hewasgoing to settle down and do what was right. He married my mother. Instead of abiding by this,youwanted his wealth and part of his power. You hounded him at every turn. You showed up uninvited likeafucking parasite to places you should never have been.Youputyourself in his car naked and he threw you outthefirst three times. You showedupto a suit fittingandaccostedhimin a dressing room. You insulted and belittled my mother in social circles. Itwasonly after you flungyourselfat him for months and months and months did his dedicationwaver. My mother who waspregnantwithmeandfeelinghorribleboutsofmorningsickness
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Chapter144
and his stupid libido being unsatisfieddidheweaken and give into you. Then you blackmailed him.Helost everything because of you, and he foolishlylethis pride and arrogance win. Insteadofadmittinghewasweak, he professed some kind of love for you we all know he never felt toexplainhis weakness.Heusedanexcuse, but we all know it wasn’t love.”
“Heloved me.”
“He loathed you. You cost him everything. He loathedyousomuch he forced you to hide your son from the world. He refused to let Raniero bear his name because he did not want you legally tied to him. Even the marriage you proclaim happened was never legal. He gave you a little ceremony in your back yard with his friend doing the ring exchange but no priest, no legal marriage license. He did not love you.”
“Torq. Enough.”Astearsstreamed down Cianna’s face Raniero growled, “I do not know why you want to hurt her.”
“I want to hurt herbecauseshe takes pleasure in hurting my family. Itissimple enough.”
ChapterComments
Visitor
yes!! I like Torq again
Visitor
yeah Torq, tell them the way it is!!!!!
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