Zeke's Rule(34)
“It’s all in the past. There’s nothing I can do to change that.”
“Again, I’m sorry. I’m not really good with people, especially in situations like this. Having a father like Zeke, and a mother like I did, didn’t make it easy for me to have friends, or know exactly what to say in situations like this. I’m kind of used to my own company. It’s my own fault, really.”
Alessandria liked her.
“I have to say I’m shocked.”
“About what?” Alessandria asked.
“My father being with you.”
“Because of Zeke moving on from your mother?” Alessandria hadn’t asked much about Daniella’s mother, but now she felt stupid about not finding out.
“No. Dad hated her. I hated her. She wasn’t a nice woman, and she actually used me in order to have a better life for herself. My mother was awful. You’re nothing like her. No, what I meant was, Dad never has a woman with him. He’s always alone.”
That very thought made Alessandria incredibly sad. “I don’t know what’s happening between your father and me.”
“Do you like him?”
“Yes, I like him.” She loved him. Even from as early as the moment he’d shot those men who’d roughed her up, he’d been making his way into her heart, and now she couldn’t imagine life without him. Alessandria didn’t know what she was going to do when Zeke got bored with her. She really hoped he never did, but men got bored, they looked for something better. Pushing those doubts aside, she focused on the beautiful woman in front of her.
“That’s good. I know Dad isn’t for everyone, but I want him to be happy. I really want him to be happy and to find the kind of happiness that I’ve found with Shakes.”
“Was it hard being with Zeke?”
Daniella stopped chewing on the piece of salad she was tossing into a bowl and smiled. “It was hard. Dad’s got two personalities. There’s the man he’s become to the outside world, and then there is that good man. He’s a good father, a hard worker, and he had a shitty life when he was younger. More often than not, the two men mixed, and I got more of Zeke than I did of Dad. It was hard. I didn’t make friends, and he was always away; that was hard. Then, one day, I discovered who he really was, and I just backed away. I changed, and it was always different.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m more sorry. I’ve spent so long seeing him as Zeke, that I forgot what it was like to see Dad. He’s, erm, he’s very protective. At times, he’s over protective.”
“That’s how dad’s are supposed to be.”
“I guess. Shakes is looking forward to becoming a dad. He’s going to be a great one.”
Alessandria saw the love in Daniella’s eyes, and she yearned for something like that.
“My dad cares about you; I can see it.”
She really hoped that Zeke did. Alessandria knew she was in love with Zeke and would do everything in her power to make him fall in love with her. It wasn’t about being desperate. She loved him and didn’t want to lose that.
The dinner went by without any problems, and Zeke was so damned happy. Alessandria and Daniella were his two favorite women, and Shakes wasn’t too bad when it came to company.
“That was wonderful, thank you,” Zeke said.
“I’ll get dessert.” Daniella grabbed a couple of plates, and Zeke picked up the rest, following her into the kitchen.#p#分页标题#e#
“Thank you,” he said.
“What for?”
“For being nice to Alessandria.”
Daniella smiled. “I like her. She’s a nice woman. You’re going to take care of her, aren’t you?”
“Yes. She’s my woman to protect.”
“I’m glad. I really like her.”
“Do you think she can be your new stepmom?”
Daniella scrunched up her nose. “I don’t think so. She’s strictly friend material, nothing else. I don’t mind you marrying her, it’s just, I don’t want to think of her as a stepmom”
“I love her, Dani.”
“Then treat her with love and care. Be nice to her, and don’t go all Zeke on her.”
“It’s all I know.”
“It can’t be all you know.”
“What makes you say that?” he asked.
“If Zeke is all you were then Alessandria would have left your club. And you wouldn’t have cared. You’re a bad man, Dad, a really bad man, but you’re not a monster. I didn’t know that before. I do now. There’s a difference between being bad, and being a monster.”