Terza was looked outside the car window taking in the property that the car that was carrying her and Vincenzo just entered. The place was huge. It was even bigger than her father's property. Entering the O'Kane property was like entering a New York Irish town of its own. It was crazy how it had expanded over the years. It was one of her uncle Jackson's bases. The properties in Boston were the main headquarters and the heart of the O'Kane business.
Terza admired the view as the car they were in was allowed through the gates. The car made its way through a road cutting through well designed gardens. Terza smiled. " I love this path. It always cheers me up to look outside at how beautiful this place is when we have to have to go through so many check points to get here every time. Security is excessive on the way here as you know."
Vincenzo looked at her "Terza. You mean when you come with your father you have to endure the checks too. But he is Irish."
Terza nodded "Yes and no. It depends on his co-operation. He can get through easily but he doesn't play his cards right and we get stopped sometimes." She then chuckled. "My father once came here and handed a framed poster to my uncle Jackson as present. It said on it, "Wanted Alive, Missing Irish Traitor; Terrance O'Neil". My father has a sense of humour and it doesn't work out well at times in his favour. They made him go through checks at times when he insulted my uncle Jackson like that time. My uncle likes to prove a point mostly. The more my father doesn't take the Irish family on his mother's side seriously, the more hostile my uncle gets. We almost were on house arrest here once because we hadn't visited for so long. My father keeps his distance and my uncle hates it. It's a power battle always with the O'Kanes..."
Vincenzo said " Considering I am Italian-American, they should have dismantled the car. But seems like today they let it pass because of you."
Terza said " True. My uncle subjects all non irish guest cars to over excessive safety checks at various check points on the highways leading to this property. But they treated you like an Irish which is a good sign. It is all a power statement from my uncle. He is going to exercise his family's power showing the O'Kanes are in charge from the moment the guests enter his territory until they join in the celebrations for appointing Tristan as the next heir."
As the car stopped in front of the mansion, Terza got off with Vincenzo. They were greeted by Tristan And Vienna of course who had arrived earlier. Tristan said to Vincenzo "I need to talk to you inside. Vienna can explore the place and geta tour. She vintage exterior and interior designs in architecture. This place is perfect.
Vincenzo didnt want to argue. He could talk to Tristan about not encouraging Vienna to go with architecture and art. But again architecture was better than art. It was engineering design. So he nodded to him and followed Tristan as he watched Terza taking Vienna's hand and leading her away.
Tristan lead Vincenzo inside the mansion and then to the second floor. On the way Vincenzo admired the inside of the mansion. The place was indeed massive and there were so many guards around. Tristan lead him up the stairs and when they reached a deserted corridor Tristan explained "You know, this mansion is special to my uncle. He calls it home. Its not his main business headquarter but its his home. So the place is very special to him. Do you know why?" Tristan then stopped at a door and unlocked it.
Vincenzo stopped too and leaned to the wall staring at Tristan "No. You tell me."
Trista glanced at him " He told me about it on the way. Years ago. Your aunt Anna stayed in a room in this mansion. When my uncle Jackson's father was away on a business trip once, my uncle allowed your aunt Anna to come here. He gave her a room. It's a long story how and why. He paid for it later on when his father returned. He has no regrets though. He tried hard to have the woman he loved but it didnt work out. Failure is not an option that we get to choose. Failure happens. He failed to win his woman. But he tried. He had honour and still does. So dont even judge him for loving your aunt Anna, Vincenzo. I mean it." He then unlocked the door.
Vincenzo replied in a whisper "I wasnt planning on judging your uncle. What made you think I will?..."
As vincenzo enetered the room as Tristan held the door open. He then froze as he found himself staring at the picture of his aunt Anna in that room at Jackson O'Kane's mansion. It was rare to ever see anything like this. Arturo Agostini hadn't even arrived at the O'Kane mansion. If he saw this picture, there could be clashes. He couldn't believe Jackson had a picture of Arturo's woman in a room.
Tristan closed the door and walked to a desk looking Vincenzo. He leaned to the desk standing tall staring at his rival and friend " I knew it would get your attention. This is his very private office. My uncle doesn't let anyone else in his personal office except me. But I can let you in and I did. That's not the only picture of your aunt Anna. He has more. That's his favourite. It was taken in Sicily in front of the land that belongs to Don Vitorino. Your aunt Anna has many secrets. That picture is taken by my uncle Jackson. He has a good memory of that time that he managed to get himself some time with her."
Vincenzo hadn't left his stare from the picture ever since he had entered the room as he had frozen in front of the door. He finally stopped staring at the picture and turned to Tristan. He then walked slowly to him. "Tristan. I think it's a good idea for us to leave this office. I don't think I wish to glance at my aunt's picture in the office of a man who is not her husband."
Tristan said " Come on Vincenzo. I told you not to judge my uncle. He is an honourable man who just happens to love only one woman in his life."
Vincenzo stood in front of Tristan "He has eyes for another man's woman. He loved the woman and he still does. How can you ask me to not react and judge. It is not right to have her picture here. I wish to leave the room. I feel offended that he has my aunt Anna's picture in this room where anyone can see. What if my uncle Arturo sees this?"
Tristan said "Dont judge him. I warn you. No one else gets to see this and is meant to see this except himself and anyone he allows in the room. This is his private study that no one can enter except me of course because I am his heir. I let you in to talk to you. You are smarter than this to just want to walk out of here before I have gotten my point across to you. There is a reason I brought you here. Look at your own actions. Don't you think you could be in my uncle's place right now if my sister didn't wait for you? I brought you here so you could see what could happen to you if my sister didn't wait for you. Always remember that. She loved you but that wasn't the reason she waited. She forgave you and she also didn't find another worthy enough to replace you with while you kept Letizia safe for your cousin. Love is not enough to save a relationship. Your aunt Anna in my view loved two men. She chose one who fought for her harder because he could and got her for himself. My uncle was kept away. He could have killed his father to be with your aunt Anna but he couldn't bring himself to do it."
Vincenzo shook his head " Blood comes first."
Tristan declared " But if blood betrays you then you betray your blood." He wanted to tell Vincenzo that Francesco Rosario could have killed his grandpa Paulo too but he decided against it. It wasn't his place to tell Vincenzo that. His father had told Tristan how Francesco Rosario was kept away from his woman for a decade. Tristan believed Francesco Rosario should have killed his father but he couldn't bring himself to do it. But again maybe he would have killed him if Paulo had opposed to Francesco Rosario's marriage in the end. Tristan was not sure how much Vincenzo knew. Francesco Rosario had a strict policy on how little his children were allowed to know about their past and their Sicilian relatives. Even Tristan didn't know much about Francesco Rosario's past. Only his father was one to dare to give him hints about the past. Tristan knew enough to be able to predict if Vincenzo found out the truth about his grandpa then his grandpa was going to die at his hands. Vincenzo was a danger to everyone. He loved his family more than he loved his life. Tristan could totally see Vincenzo acting as a brutal Sicilian mob boss taking no prisoners. It was in his blood.
Tristan took a step forward and stood close in front of Vincenzo staring him down " I want you to admit it to my sister that you know you messed up your relationship with her and you are willing to make it up to her. Your woman comes first. You should tell her you know she did the noble act by waiting and she didn't have to do it. She forgave you and she didn't reject you when you came back for her. But if you don't cherish her then I won't blame her if she chooses another. Don't take my sister for granted Vincenzo. It won't end well for you. The love of a woman is hard to gain. It's as hard as climbing Everest. Once you have it you should protect it with your life and not let your woman go."
Vincenzo asked " Point taken. Are you finished Tristan?"
Tristan said " Pretty much. Just know that my sister doesn't have to forgive you and stay with you. If she chooses another I will protect her from you."
Vincenzo argued " I have a feeling she won't need your protection."
Tristan replied "Against you... everyone needs protection Vincenzo. I never undersestimated you. Take this talk how you want. But cherish my sister or someone will take her away from you, someone worthier in the right place at the right time."
Vincenzo said " You said it yourself. Your uncle could have solved the problem of being watched by his father by simply killing his father. Then he could fight for my aunt Anna. I think I am fully capable of making difficult choices to protect my woman."
Tristan asked "Would you be willing to kill your father to be with your woman?"
Vincenzo retorted " I would make sure it doesnt come to that. I protect my woman at all costs. "
Tristan asked "Answer the question."
Vincenzo said "No. Of course not. Would you?"
Tristan said "Exactly. You won't. So you need to make sure you chrish my sister. I chrish your sister. Thats for sure. I am lucky my father supports my choices. I cant kill my father either. I dont have it in me. Neither did my uncle O'Kane and neither do you by the sound of it. So dont judge him. We only kill if our loved ones are in danger." That explained why Francesco Rosario hdnt killed his father perhaps. Since Adele Rosario was actually watched from far by the Rosario guards duing the decade the couple were apart. If her safety was guaranteed, Tristan knew Paulo was a dead man.
Vincenzo said "The love of a woman can change a life. I know that Tristan. I will cherish your sister. You should cherish mine."
Vincenzo and Tristan stared each other down silently for awhile. Vincenzo was thinking over Tristan's words. Then Tristan silently legs the room and Vincenzo followed. As they went down, Jackson O'Kane went up. He went to his private room and decided to take some private time to himself where no one disturbed him.
Jackson stood next to his window and watched the snow. He smiled at his memories of the past as he watched Anna getting off her car with her daughter. The woman had given him so much joy even within the short time he had encountered her. It was along time ago when life was much simpler. He had met her many times in bars and restaurants in New York when they were younger. He had met her in parties. She didn't bring guards around with her much. Her father was a well known sniper working for the Rosarios. No one dared come near her. But he did. He dared many times and even abducted her afew times. Even in Europe when dealing with business he had managed to slip out to the Scilian land where Don Vitorino ruled. He feared nothing and neither did he.
Jackson had no interest to go down. There was a drinks reception down there and Tristan as his new heir could receive the guests. For now he wanted to wait there. He sat behind his desk and poured himself some Irish whiskey. Then there was a sound behind the back door of the room and then here she came inside. There she was Anna. He didnt expect her to come up. She knew the way. She was allowed to. But he didnt think she would come
Jackson almost choked on his whiskey. "Anna."
Anna closed the door while shakily looking at him "Jackson. Where is my husband and my son?"
Jackson smiled "Their car is held up at one of the check points. Its procedure Anna. Dont worry. my people won't hurt him unless he hurts my people."
Anna walked to his desk "My people will hurt you if you hurt him. I promise you. You have done this on purpose. No one lifts a finger without your approval in this side of town."
Jackson stood up and his expression changed to a serious one "Anna. Calm down. Its my part of town. I run it. Security protocols are strict here. But you will see your husband and son in the next hour..."
Anna sighed and looked away and then gasped "What? Thats my picture... What is it doing here on your wall?"
Jackson walked around his desk and stood behind her making her tremble "Of course it is here. Where else would it be?."
Anna was aware of his closeness and took a step away as she turned around. Anna felt for him. "Jackson you should let it go. When I see this pitcure here it reminds me of what I have done. I broke your heart and I am truly sorry. Dont make it so hard for me. Dont you think I know what I did to you was wrong? Dont you know I know I ruined your love life? I am sorry Jackson. I really am. You deserve better than what you have now. You deserve much better. Forget me Jackson please."
Jackson said "Will you forget Arturo if I asked you to? No. I dont think so. Anna "
Anna replied "Jackson. I am not here to argue... I just want your assurance that my husband and my son would be getting here safe."
Jackson said " I would never hurt your son. He is safe. I dont have a reason to kill your husband either unless he gives me one. I dont break apart marriages. I heard your marriage was on rocks after you agreed to an operation on your daughter. Well, if he had divorced you I would have ambushed him and would have killed him. Then you would have been mine. As long as you love him, he lives. Tell me Anna, do you still love him?"
Anna replied "Yes."
Jackson said "Are you sure about that? You love him just like when you used to?"
Anna said "Yes."
Jackson said "I love you Anna. Much more that when I used to."
Anna looked around "Jackson. Dont."
jackson said "Dont what? Love you? Impossible."