CHAPTER TWO

Alexandra Dellarosa POV

“Dad, what are you saying? Tell me you're not high on something again” I said, standing up from my seat with a sense of urgency as I moved towards his direction.

“Alexa, stop ittt!”

“I'm totally fine and I'm not high on anything. Just a little champagne that was forced down my throat at the Gambino's. That aside, I'm fine” He finished with a sigh, running his hands through the length of his hair.

“Did you say forced?” I was unable to understand the context in which he spoke.

It was well Evident that something was wrong. Whenever Dad grew nervous or uncertain of the outcome of something, his countenance and aura usually left him disoriented and as if out of compulsion, he'd run his hands through and through the length of his hair. Dad had the hair length, longer than that of an average Man's, and at times I'd find myself lusting over the lush of his hair which was far thicker than mine.

“Don't tell me you're obsessing over my hair again” He said, drawing me out of my reverie.

I chuckled out with a reply “You know me too well.”

“Alexa, this isn't the time for jokes” And He was back at it again, and I still wasn't able to understand what Dad was driving at.

“Dad, what's all this talk about the Gambino's and me leaving town for a while?”

“I thought we both agreed you'd stay away from those crooks” 

“Are you still associating with them?” I asked, irrespective of the fact that the situation at hand had already done a good Job in giving me an answer.

“Look Alexa, it's far more complicated than you think. You just need to stay out of town for a while”

“I've made arrangements already with your aunt Lisa. It's not a vacation. Three months max and you'd be back please” He voiced out holding me by that hand, his voice cooing with subtleness, rich with the hope that I'd oblige to his plea.

“Three month's? Dad, that's like a century if you ask me” I said, pacing away from his grip.

“What's really going on Dad, Are you in trouble?” I garnered courage to ask the question, and I had long begun dreading the answer already.

“Alexa, That's not for you to know. Please just do as I say.” His voice was a bit stern this time, but his eyes sold him out.

 It was obvious that all was not well. This would be a complex statement if you ask me. Ever since Mum's passing, things haven't turned out smoothly. Dad had tried managing the Family business but things didn't turn out so well when funds were no longer rolling in. You'd wonder how exactly Mum was able to manage the business all on her own, but I wouldn't dare to give an appropriate answer. Mum was simply the definition of perfection. How she did what she did no one ever knew. All we knew was that she had things covered.

But life happened, and Mum was now out of the picture. Although Dad seemed to have everything in control, he didn't. Dad although he wouldn't admit it was at times Complacent, and that was one of the reasons the business crumbled and we ran into debts. The story from here is really rough.

Dad sought help from the Gambino's after a “friend” had put in a good word for him, and the story's kinda bleak from there.

“So you are in trouble then” I concluded, nodding my head in affirmation.

“Alexa, I'll explain everything later. But you leave tomorrow Morning.” He said with an air of Finality.

“Go get your things ready, I'll make dinner” He added, his attempt to discharge me from asking anymore questions.

“If Mum were to be here, things wouldn't have gotten this Bad.” I said under my breath, but I guess it was loud enough for him to hear me because he had immediately stopped in his tracks.

It was as though someone had stabbed him in the back, and he was taking some time to process the depth of the Stab.

Facing my direction again, I could see a tear slip from the corner of his eye “Alexa you know I love you right?”

I couldn't bear it, seeing my father broken. The last time I had seen him cry was when Mum had been laid to rest. I had heard him sob and curse at nature countless times after Mum's demise, but I had never witnessed it ever since the first. But here I was, torn into pieces at the sight of Dad's brokenness.

“I do know Dad, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean it that way” I slurred as I paced quickly towards his side of the room, locking in on an embrace, the mixture of my tears and makeup doing well to make a smudge on the texture of his White T-shirt.

“ I love you to—”

The bang on the door cut me off from finishing my statement. The urgency was so alarming as though someone was intentionally trying to break in. Then there was another, this time it was evident that someone was trying to forcefully enter the house. 

“Alexa, listen to me, you have to go” Dad said, unable to hide the frail in his voice. It was as though he understood perfectly what was going on.

“No Dad, I'm not leaving you here” I replied taking the hint that some people were after Dad. I couldn't just leave him and make a run for it.

“Alex—”

“Well, since you aren't willing to leave voluntarily, then you wouldn't mind coming along with us” A young Man with a firm voice cut in, appearing in front of the door that had its lock battered. He was a huge man with quite the body build up, and apparently he didn't come alone because another man his size stood behind him.

Dad had shoved me towards his back. 

“Conti, what do you want?” Dad asked, strengthening his grip at my hands from behind as if to assure me that he wasn't letting me go.

“Dad, you know this Man?” I whispered into his ears, but he didn't pay attention to it.

“Not what I want, but what Don wants,” The young Man replied sharply.

Immediately, he signalled his acquaintance towards our direction and taking initiative, he leaped towards where I stood behind Dad and the next thing I knew was that I was being dragged out of the house. Dad tried to put up a Fuss, but the young Man, Conti, warned him against doing so.

“Dad!!!!” I yelled as we made our way out of the Door, me and the acquaintance. Leaving Dad and Conti back in the room.

I yelled out again just before everything went blank.