Francesco covered his forehead with one hand and closed his eyes.
O'Neil and Riordan Rossi watched him. Vincenzo felt the tense atmosphere. He just could sense he was not welcome in whatever conversation that was going to take place. O'Neil was the one who confirmed his thoughts "Vincenzo, go home."
Riordan said "Good idea. My sons have gone to Francesco's home. He can wait there. Safety comes first. We dont want our heirs to get tangled in these matters."
Vincenzo did not move.
Francesco whispered "Leave Vincenzo. Now."
Vincenzo reluctantly decided to obey. This was most personal to his father. He never thought his grandmother would visit."
Francesco opened his eyes and rubbed his forehead as he watched his son leave. He then glanced at the two men "Show me where she is."
O'Neil stated "You will see her? Really?"
Francesco nodded and walked past the two towards the mansion slowly "Yes. Of course. She has come all the way for one reason only. She has come to see through the safety of her husband..."
The two men followed him silently. It was rare for Francesco to let out his feelings about his mother. They knew how unique they were to be allowed in the private matter. They remained silent.
Francesco said "All these years she didnt come visit me. Only she came because she has heard my father is in danger because of his ambitious plans... Does she know he is caught by me?"
Riordan said "Yes. Costanzo told him everything. Vitale had also given news to his father about this matter that your father is in danger..."
Francesco laughed darkly "Danger? He brought the danger on himself... I never acknowledged his existence. To me he has been dead for years. My father is the one showed up in my life again after harassing my son and befriending him with the help of Antonio. But to her he is pretty much alive. My mother doesnt just want to save his life. Not only she wants his life... She wants his freedom too."
Francesco reached his car and turned to O'Neil "Tell your men to bring my father to Riordan's place. Keep him under lock and key. My mother is here to see him safe. She is not here for me."
O'Neil nodded. It was a sad truth. O'Neil would have done anything for Francesco to be adopted by his own family. His parents would have adopted him if Francesco wished it. They would have shown him more love than anything Maria and Paulo could show him.
Riordan asked "Are you sure about this? You dont have to do this."
Francesco opened the door "There is not a damage that hasn't been done already. Let the worst happen. I welcome it with open arms..."
Riordan said "Alright. I will lead the way." He turned to O'Neil "Clear the roads. Will you?"
O'Neil nodded.
Francesco leaned back and thought about what he wanted to say to his mother. All the way to Riordan's hotel. What could she say to her? All his life he wanted to make her proud. He wanted to become a man that she would have liked to meet one day once she was free. He ignored the monster who fathered him and tried to live a life that his innocent mother would have liked to see him live. All his life he had received nothing but pain from his father. Nothing good came out of anything he touched. He ruined his life. He told himself to not look back and he did not wish to look back. But the past caught with him when he least welcomed it.
Francesco got off the car as his car stopped inside the private villa building that was part of the massive hotel complex that belonged to the Rossi family. He remembered the last time he had been here. They used to have college parties here. Years of abstinence but plenty of friends and foes to network with.
Francesco got off the car and followed Riordan. He found himself face to face with his brother was standing in a deserted corridor outside a door that he assumed was his mother's room.
Francesco asked " Did you know she was coming?"
Costanzo shook his head "No."
Francesco said "You want me to believe you had nothing to with it?"
Costanzo said "It was Vitale and uncle Pietro who arranged it. I had no knowledge. I would have told you if I knew she was coming."
Francesco said " For once you are not hiding secrets from me. Thats a first." He then opened the door and noticed he wasn't coming in. He turned to his brother "Come in. I have no secrets with you."
Costanzo looked surprised "Alright. I come in after 10 minutes If that's ok..."
Francesco said "Suit yourself." He then went in and closed the door. Costanzo felt like giving Francesco some privacy. He needed some time alone with her.
Costanzo closed his eyes feeling overwhelmed already.
Costanzo finally went in after 10 minutes true to his word. He found the room silent. His mother was sitting on a sofa with her eyes down cast and her hands on her knees. Francesco was sitting opposite her with one leg crossed over the other as he had leaned back and his hands resting on the arm rests. Maybe the hugs and tears were over now. There was just silence now. Costanzo sat on a sofa that was next to Francesco. Their mother looked passive.
Costanzo wanted to break the silence but couldnt. He just stared at their mother like how Francesco did.
Costanzo noticed Francesco having poured himself a glass of vodka that was resting on the side table. Francesco picked up the glass and held it up "Here is to this family reunion... Its about a few years too late. Now... Lets get to the point. Why are you here mother? You havent come to see me and Costanzo. You havent come to see my wife and children. You have come here for him haven't you? You are here for him."
Maria nodded "I am here for him."
Costanzo covered his mouth and leaned forward as he ran his hands over his face.
Francesco shook his head and looked at Costanzo "You are shocked. Are you Costanzo? I am not. I expected her to be here for him only..."
Maria looked up and stared at her two sons "I am so sorry..."
Francesco chuckled "You are sorry? About what? Re-marrying the monster when I asked you not to? Or coming here to save his pathetic life. What are you apologising for mother?"
Maria shook her head "I never meant to hurt you... Neither did your father."
Costazno gasped as the glass in Francesco's hand cracked. Francesco stood up and threw the glass at the fire place in the room and it didnt miss. It went write in and a pop sounded that made Costanzo and Maria jump.
Francesco said in a strained voice "Dont ever say he is my father. I dont wish you to call him my father. The rest of the world can. But not you. You are legitimising his claim of fatherhood when you say he is my father. He was never a father to me or to Costanzo."
Costanzno whispered "You are scaring her."
Maria was shaking visibly.
Costazno Whispered " He hurt us. He hurt you too."
Maria swallowed hard " I am sorry ... But he is my husband and he is... your..." She looked at Francesco who was looking at her with rage daring her to call him their father again.
Francesco put his hands on his hips "Dont be sorry. He is not my father. He never was and never will be. He is your husband by law. But he is not in my book. A husband cherishes his wife. I am married to a woman who I love. I have never hurt her. I have never hurt my children. I have my flaws but I have never hurt my family. Your husband hurt you and us. How can you turn your head the other way, turn a blind eye to his sins and just stand by him?"
She gave the answer Francesco expected "He is my husband. Its my duty."
Francesco inhaled "You call him your husband when he never treated you like his wife and the mother of his children. You call him our father when he never was a father to us. I thought after all these years you could see the truth. I was wrong."
Maria had tears in her eyes now and took a handkerchief out to wipe her tears "I heard from your uncle Pietro what you told him... about how Your f... I mean ... how you were treated after I was gone..."
Francesco corrected "You weren't gone. You were kicked out of your house. You were ripped away from your children who were too young to even know what in the world a divorce was. You were forced. You didn't leave by choice mother. You need to acknowledge that. If you heard how we were treated by him why did you stay with him?"
Maria said "I am sorry...." and she sobbed.
Costanzo stood up and walked to his mother. He sat down next to her and rubbed her arm "Mother calm down. We are your sons. We love you. But we have the right to ask you why you don't come live with us in New York when you can. Francesco can protect you."
Maria looked at her youngest son "I can't leave him... I can't leave my husband."
Costanzo looked at Francesco who was looking at their mother with rage.
Francesco's voice made his mother cower and hide behind Costanzo "You live with him even though you know the truth... Really mother? You could live with us. You chose him over us when you know full well I can protect you from him."
Maria took a deep breath "He is ... a changed man. He is sorry.... I am sorry Francesco ... I wish I could change the past. I wish you allow him and I to be part of your life now..."
Francesco walked towards her and stood in front of her as she was seated. He looked into her eyes "You have come here to be his lawyer. Is that it? You are here to defend him? This is no court of law. He needs no one to defend him. He is fully capable of doing that himself. Digging his way out of trouble is what he does best. He is not weak mother. So he does not need a lawyer..."
Maria whispered "I am here to ask for forgiveness from you." She turned to Costanzo "From both of you..."
Francesco said "There is nothing to forgive. You don't need to ask for forgiveness... You are asking on his behalf. Isn't it? You want us to forgive him."
Maria nodded "There is nothing I can do to change the past. He wants to be part of your life Francesco. He wants to be invited to your table for thanksgivings..."
Francesco said "No. He doesn't. He wants to hurt my family. He wants to force his ideals on my family. He went after my son after he was done ruining my life and Costanzo's. A man like him will never stops. He has been endangering my family with his reckless actions. I have spent years and still am fighting his enemies who are after me and the legacy I have inherited."
Maria said "I wish I could undo his actions. I truly am wishing I could do this my son. He is sorry..."
Francesco stated "He is not sorry. He is proud of his actions." He started pacing the floor "A man like his never feels remorse. He only cares for himself. He never cares for anyone else but himself."
She said " I want you to forgive him."
Francesco turned to his mother "Mother. You didn't come all the way here to ask me that. He was fully capable of asking that. Say it. What do you want. There is no way I will ever forgive him. Neither will I ever forget."
Maria said "You might forgive him in time..."
Francesco said "It's not going to happen Mother. I think you knew that already that I was not going to forgive and forget. I made it the last time I saw you. What do you really want from me mother?."
She stood up with tearful eyes "Please Francesco. I have come all the way here to ask you to ... not make me a widow and set him free."
Francesco shook his head "After all these years, I waited for you to say my name, to call me, to see me ... Yet you choose to ask me to spare him the instant you visit me after all these years and you don't even ask how I have been or how Costanzo has been. This is the only reason you came here for. You want to secure his release and safety. You finally said it. What do you expect me to say mother? You expect me to say yes to your request and just wave you goodbye."
Maria said "Yes."
Francesco said "How can you choose him over your sons? How can you ask for his life to be spared and be shown mercy when he never showed you mercy and didn't show any empathy to his own sons? How can you defend him? You know the truth now...."
Maria said "He has changed. Not a day goes by that I haven't thought of you. Not a day goes by that I don't pray to the lord for forgiveness... Not a day goes by that I don't weep for what's happened to you..."
Francesco asked "Why do you still want him to live?"
Maria simply stated "He is my husband..."
Francesco said "He never honoured you like a husband should... Then why don't you leave him? Why do you take his side?"
Maria whispered "Because I love him."
Costanzo closed his eyes. He couldn't believe what he just heard.
Francesco looked at Costanzo and then at his mother silently. His mother's words hurt like hell.