“Get in the goddamn elevator, Alexis.” I point to the now open doors. Her eyes go wide, but at least she fucking gets in the elevator and shuts her mouth.
“Hey, Aidan,” Calla greets us as we step off the elevator. “Calla. I appreciate this on such short notice.” She waves me off like it’s no big deal.
“Hello. I’m Calla. You must be Alexis.” Calla gracefully sticks out her hand to shake. With a sigh, Alexis takes it, and we follow Calla down to her office. I’m happy as hell when we walk in and Stefano is seated in one of the three chairs opposite of where Calla sits behind her desk.
Very few people know about this meeting. I made it my mission the other day to fill Stefano in on everything that’s been going on. He agreed with me that we shouldn’t tell Deidre a damn thing. Not until we absolutely have to. Just like me, he lost his shit. By the way he’s killing Alexis with his eyes, I would say he hasn’t calmed down one bit.
“Alexis. I would like you to meet Stefano La Russo. He’s Deidre’s father. You do remember Deidre, right? The mother of my son, my fiancée.” She looks flustered. I’ve tossed her into a damn snake pit. I’m an asshole, and once again, I don’t give a fuck.
“Hello,” she says nervously. I almost laugh when I see sweat form on her perfectly plucked brows.
“I would love to be able to say it’s my pleasure to meet you, Alexis. However, it’s not. You see, I don’t take kindly to people making threats against my daughter or my grandson. Frankly, it pisses me the hell off. And trust me, if you don’t tell the goddamn truth today, well,” Stefano shrugs. “I’ll see to it that you don’t walk again.” Heck yes, Stefano. I know he’s one badass in the courtroom, but shit, the guise on his face even scares the hell out of me. He is fucking pissed.
“I… Aidan. I would never do anything like that. My god, you really do hate me, don’t you?” Jesus. How many times is she going to ask me? I jerk my head back. Does she not realize the shit she’s done to me my entire life? I’m not here to hash out how I feel about her. The quicker she realizes this, the faster I can get back home to my family.
I lean into her, my eyes searing straight to her black heart. “We’re not here to talk about me and you, there never has been a mother and son relationship between us. Now, fucking talk. Where the hell is he?”
“I don’t know,” she whispers. Tears well up in her eyes. Her temperament turns from astonished to that of a woman who’s scared.
“Jesus Christ. He threatened you, didn’t he? What’s he got on you, Alexis?” I tunnel into her tainted world more.
“He has nothing on me. I have something on him,” she cries out.
This is even better. I wonder what the little worthless wonder has done to her. Something that has her shaking, that’s for sure.
“Alexis,” Calla interrupts. “You need to tell us everything. I’m here as Aidan’s friend. Stefano is here because… well, he’s already told you why he’s here.” Calla shoots a daggered expression in his direction. “Please continue.”
Alexis sighs. This time when she does cry, I know her tears are real. “When we came to you a few weeks ago, I told you Ryan was dead. You never asked me how he died. He was murdered.” She clutches her purse against her chest and lowers her head to her chest. Her body shakes, and fuck, I may despise this woman who gave me life, but my god, if what I have running through my mind right now is true, then she could be next.
I reach for her. Take hold of one of her hands. Her head lifts. Her eyes are rimmed red. Her makeup is smeared. She squeezes my hand. A slight smile curves her lips.
“Junior killed him, didn’t he?” I ask, knowing damn well what the answer will be.
“Yes,” she states.
“How do you know this, Alexis?” Stefano presses.
“I saw it. He shot him, right in his office at the dealership. You know the one on Kings Highway, Aidan. That one. I walked in on them fighting over money, over Junior taking over the business and,” she pauses. “Over getting my dad’s land.” I tug my hand away from her and run my hands through my hair, then down my face. People are fucked up, man. I knew that guy was nothing but a little weasel. But this, this sheds light on everything. Fuck. My woman. My son. If that fucker killed his own father, he won’t hesitate to take away the only two people I love.
“He’ll never get the land, Alexis. Not even if he kills me. It’s land, for fuck’s sake. My grandfather’s land. Not his. Never his, ” I shout at her. She fiddles with her purse more. Her hands are shaking.