Chapter 403 Brush Off
Samuel's questions didn't stop as they continued down the hallway with what Richard hoped would be the right question.
"Is that something that runs through the family, or did something trigger it?" Richards shrugged in response to the question.
"I don't make a point of studying other mafia families to find out why they are fucked up or what's wrong with them. If I had any say, I wouldn't be a part of this world anymore." Almost twenty years later, though, he still hadn't found a way to get out and make his own decisions. Once in hell, always in hell, he supposed. This thought lingered around the back of his head as he directed Samuel to turn down another hall. The ordeal would've been much easier if Jovani had kept his phone on.
"You're not here by choice?" Something about that tidbit of information seemed to catch Samuel off guard as he stopped walking, causing Richard almost to bump into him. However, a gentle nudge from the back got the other back into motion.
"Who is? Most people join because they don't have an option, are born into it, or are sold into it. No one says it out loud, though. Who wants to risk getting killed for speaking their honest opinion?" Richard's case was a bit different...
"I'm only partly here because I want to be. Call it paying back an extended debt to a friend I haven't ever been able to give back enough to. I planned to leave this side of the world when I was younger than you. However, one thing leads to another, and I am still so many years later. I wouldn't call everything about it hell, but it hasn't been any walk in the park either." No thanks to Zane, for that matter. Hmph. If it weren't for him, Richard would have vanished long ago.
"Does that have something to do with why you're so close to Lena's family?" Richard made a nonverbal noise of confirmation as they made their way through another room—definitely one way of looking at it.
"Lena used to be quite different as a child. You might even believe it if I told you she used to be much more bright and bubbly." The mafioso sometimes struggled with remembering how the young girl used to be. The person had grown into was a stark contrast to the young girl who would run over and hug his legs any time she came to visit. He could still hear that childish voice scolding him as she looked up at him with big bright eyes any time he was away for too long.
This life... their world wasn't the kind of place for children to grow up in.
"I hope this is the right door here, and we can continue talking about this another time." Richard shut down Samuel's questions, even though it was his fault for shifting the conversation toward the princess. The sturdy oak door was a silent blessing against all the dark winding halls they had been going down for fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes that felt like a century and melded together with everything looking so similar.
Too annoyed by everything taking place, Richard didn't even bother knocking before he opened the door. If Jovani was in there, he would have to deal with them barging in on them.
"Well, now. I didn't think it would be quite some time until anyone else decided to stop by and visit. I'm even surprised that you managed to find this place." Jovani's voice came out in a dry drawl. The exact location was difficult to discern with how dark the room was. Between night having fallen, the thick dark red curtains covering the window and the room light not being on, it was impossible to see anything.
Richard fumbled for the light switch but didn't have to see Jovani to know what state he would be in. Between the drugs and Marcus, it was a surprise he was still even awake at this point. The Vedova Nera boss hissed against the bright light that filled the room.
"I am happy to see that you brought Samuel with you. However, I think that it would have been much better if he had come on his own. I don't think that there is anything left for us to say." Jovani chose not to even properly acknowledge Richard Even a the other made his way over to the bed, his unfocused eyes instead choosing to focus on Samuel as he gave the other a once over.
"If it wasn't for all the shit problem you have been causing, I wouldn't even have to be here in the first place. Why don't start though by explaining what exactly is going on here? Which part of your brain thought that it would be a good idea to let Marcus stay here again?" Jovani rolled his eyes in response to the ridicule. At least he'd had the decency to keep his clothes on which made it easier for Richard when he hoisted the other up so that they were at eye level.
Jovani may have hard a time getting his eyes to focus fully but that didn't stop him from fixing Richard with the best glare that he could muster. One which Richard returned full force.
"I don't care what it is you decide to do with your own life and your pieces when you're left to yourself. I do however expect that you will at least have enough common sense to not make stupid mistakes such as this one. Willing to involve someone else that you know Marcus has been interested in for some time without any warning? That crosses things even a hair above what I thought was possible for." Jovani swiped at Richard to push the other off from touching him. He flopped back on the bed and shut his eyes once more and he retorted that the other said.
"I don't think that you have any right to be talking in this matter. There may be al to of things that I don't know what I am doing with but this certainly isn't one of them. Marcus and I already made an agreement before he came here. He could stick around if he behaved." Behaved? Richard out let out a low, harsh laugh in response to Jovani's words.
"Behave? I hardly think based on what I have been seeing that Marcus even knows what that means. If you're state is anything to go by not to mention the havoc he was causing just moments before. You know if it wasn't for Emily, he would have already forced Samuel to go with the induction whether or not everyone else necessary was there."? Jovani fixed Richard with a look that clearly said? he didn't belive what the other.
"We had agreed that the induction would be taking place at a different time. Marcus already knew what I had planned." Jovani brushed it off.
"Marcus did intend to go through with the induction. He even spoke with Lena on the phone regarding whether she would be coming or not." Jovani would have continued to brush Richard off if not for Samuel interjecting.
"He didn't seem to want to change his kind on that matter until Emily managed to somehow get him to go along with her. He is still wanting to go about getting it done tomorrow though." The older cousin raised one eye brow as he opened his mouth to spoke but Samuel hadn't finished yet.
"If Lena isn't here either tomorrow, he's saying the engagement will be called off and there won't be an alliance between the two families." Something about the look on Samuel's face caused Jovani to sober up.
Well Damn.
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