A Dangerous Game

by Sienna Grant

  Logan and I haven’t said much to each other on the way over here, he knows when I’m focused and right now. I’m more than in the zone, I feel like my head is about to explode. Until I get answers, then I can deal with O’Connor - he’s where all this bullshit ends.

  Logan pulls up in front of my childhood home. I look over at the two front gardens, ours, and Angelo’s... before I can get lost in a sea of memories, I step out of the car. I can’t afford to be weakened. After adjusting the gun at the back of my trousers, I walk up the long path until I reach the front door. Logan stands beside me, I briefly glance across at him and take a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Before giving him his orders to wait there and cover the front of the house. With a quick nod, he agrees as I enter.

  Walking through the long hallway, Mum is passing through towards the living room and stops dead in her tracks when she sees me.

  “Stefano, sweetheart. This is a nice surprise.” She calls out as she walks towards me with open arms. As she gets closer, she’s sees the patches of blood on my clothes and frowns…

  “Stefano?”

  Softly taking her shoulders in my hands, I bend to kiss both of her cheeks. Holding her off at arm’s length, I tell her we need to talk. I demand of her, my voice quiet, lethal, even to my own ears.

  “Okay. Would you like tea?” She asks with a slight shake in her voice.

  “No thanks, a brandy would go down a treat though…?” Tea? What the fuck? Why do mums think tea is a problem solver?

  She looks at me suspiciously, “Is everything alright, son. Do you need me to fetch your father?”

  Inhaling a lung full of air, I slowly let it out. “I want to talk to you both.”

  “Okay, go through I’ll fetch you that drink,”

  “Mum…” My voice raises, even though I don’t mean it. I stop myself and take in a deep breath. Yes, I’m angry, but this is the woman that gave birth to me. She’s my mum and I can’t show her my anger - frustration yes, not anger.

  “I won’t be long…” She hurries from the room, glancing back as she leaves.

  Pacing the front room, I wait impatiently. I want to get this over with, my blood is boiling more and more as time passes. After a minute or so, I feel someone approach, I snap my head up to see him. My father. Lorenzo Di Marco, standing in the doorway, as large as life.

  “Dad.” He walks further in and takes his place in his armchair. When me and Chrissie were younger, he’d sit there like he was a king. The Christmases he’s spent in his office. He’d never make the effort to spend the time with us as a family - I refuse to do that. Roberto spent more time with us than he did. When I have a family, I’ll cherish them.

  “So, what can I do for you son?”

  “I’ve come to see you both…”

  Dad’s eyes narrow as he tries to read my mind, until they start roving over my suit.

  “What the hell has been going on?”

  “I have a story for you.”

  Just as I finish my sentence, mum comes back with a brandy for me and a tea for her. I knock back the dark liquid in one go, welcoming the burn as it trickles down my throat. I let out a small gasp, as it takes my breath away. With a quick shake of my head, I put the glass down on the table, in the middle of the room. Sitting on the edge of the chair, I rest my elbows on my knees. Hanging my joined hands between them, as I look from my mother and father, before launching my attack.

  “When were you going to tell me about Chrissie?”

  “About what?” Mum answer shakily… I study her composure as she looks everywhere, but at me.

  “I know about Chrissie, mum. I know she’s not dads. The question is did she know?”

  Mum covers a shocked gasp with her hand, as ragged breaths speed up, making her heart jump.

  “The other question is, why? I’m going to give you five minutes to explain to me what the fuck is going on.” My voice booms.

  “It’s not what you think, I didn’t cheat Stefano. I swear I didn’t…not intentionally anyway.”

  Dad fidgets around, obviously feeling uncomfortable. It doesn’t take me long to come to the conclusion that he caused this.

  “No, she didn’t know anything.”

  “What did you do?” I direct at my question at the man that’s supposed to look after his family. To protect them from the monsters lurking in the dark… turns out he is the monster.

  “I had no choice, Stefano.” He sneers, “You don’t understand boy, I didn’t have an option.

  “Don’t call me boy. Now tell me what did you do?” I demand. I don’t want to hear his piss arse excuses and listen to him blame my mother for this. “You’ve got two minutes to tell me…

  “We had a deal…” Dad growls. I wait for him to go on, but I know I’m not going to like this… “It was arranged.”

  He focuses on the carpet, unable to look me in the eye.

  “What do you mean, it was arranged? You need to start talking, because I was told by Shea O’Connor that my sister wasn’t my actual flesh and blood. Do you get how much it hurt to be told by someone, other than my parents? From someone I hate? I don’t think you realise…”

  “It was a business arrangement.” He cuts me off.

  “What? What the hell do you mean by that?” I bellow at him. He’s going around the Wrekin with half arsed comments, instead of just telling me and I’m losing it more and more.

  “Get your head out of your arse Stefano.” Dad grunts as Mum whimpers from the side of me. I take a look at the woman that gave birth to me, raised me. Wondering how such a strong woman, that I’ve admired my whole life, could really be so weak. I refuse to put her through this anymore. Pulling a tissue from the box, I pass it to her. Giving me a shaky smile, she takes it from me and lifts it to her eyes, dabbing them softly.

  “Mum?” She takes my held-out hand and I help her from the chair. “Why don’t you give me ten minutes? Go and clean yourself up.”

  She nods frantically. “I’m sorry Stefano.”

  I nod, but I’m not sure what she’s apologising for. Instead, I kiss her cheek and let her go. She disappears out of the door and I turn back to Dad.

  “Come on then, explain. Mum’s not here now - I want the truth and I want to hear everything.”

  He lets out a heavy sigh, before launching into full disclosure.

  “Shea always had a thing for your mum. It was worse when his wife left him. He went after her, tried to seduce her. Your mum though, she never gave into his advances. She was loyal, she always has been. Although, I knew on your mothers part there wasn’t anything sexual between them. For Shea, there was definitely something and he was trying his hardest to get what he wanted. I knew they were friends, I seemed to be handling everything for the business. Shea was doing nothing... or so I thought. Stupid me, found out later that he was doing something - he was planning a takeover. He got closer to your mum, made a friend - an ally out of her. Eventually, he wanted me out, but he wanted your mother with him. I told him no and that if he wanted to end everything we’d built; he’d have to pay me off.”

  “What the fuck does this have to do with Chrissie?”

  “You never were patient with a story when you were little. You always wanted to know the ending, before we reached the end of the book.”

  “Just get on with it…” I grind out.

  “He wouldn’t let me pay him off - he said there was only one way. We had a shipment of guns delivered, the good shit from the States. They weren’t allowed on the streets, as you know in this country, guns were scarce back then. I told him he could take the shipment and we’d call it quits. He was adamant, he said he’d take the guns off my hands, but there was still one thing he wanted.”

  My stomach bottoms out as I realise what he means…

  “You used her as payment? You used my mum as payment to get out of a partnership. Who the fuck are you? You’re my dad - that’s your wife, what kind of sick fuck does that?” I bellow. My hands shake as they into balls fists and not
stopping the urge to strike, my fist connects with his face. His hands cover his nose but blood seeps through his fingers. Grabbing the box of tissues, I throw them on his lap.

  “It wasn’t the only time…” he admits as he holds his head forward, while blood still pours from his nose. My teeth grind together, a sick feeling forming in the pit of my stomach. “So, you made her sleep with him to get what you want? You sick bastard.”

  “Once it had happened, Shea called for her again and again. He threatened to kill her if I refused.

  “You put my mum through that for your own selfish reasons. I should fucking kill you. You make me sick.”

  Closing my eyes, I turn away from him, not being able to stomach looking at him anymore. Striding angrily from the room, I go on the hunt for my mother.

  “Mum?” I get no answer but I do hear her whimpering. I knock the door of the back lounge and open the double doors. Seeing her lying down on the couch crying, guts me. Crouching down at the side of her, I move her hair from her face.

  “Mum. I’m so sorry he put you through that.” She sniffs the sobs back and opens her reddened eyes.

  “I’m so sorry son…”

  “I don’t blame you... Did you know Chrissie was Shea’s?”

  “There was always a chance, but she had our colouring, not theirs. As time went on, her eyes changed to a lighter colour and her hair did the same. I pushed it to the back of my mind and refused to think about it. It wasn’t until she died, and we had the full medical report. That we found out her blood group and I found out for sure. Me and your dad are both O positive, she was AB negative - We had a DNA test done and it came up as your dad not being the biological father.”

  She covers her hands with her face. Wrapping my arms around her I let her cry.

  “There was only one other man that I’d ever been with and that was him, it was obvious. After that came out, me and your dad drifted apart. We stayed together for you; we knew you were struggling with losing Chrissie.” She looks up at me again, water pooling in the well of her eyes, “I’m so sorry Stefano. I should never have let him make me do it, but I didn’t think I had a choice. Shea threatened to kill you if I didn’t say yes. I couldn’t let anything happen to you; you were my whole life... He threatened to burn the house down with you in it. I couldn’t let anything happen Stef, I had to do it.”

  My whole-body shakes with the impending anger, which is about to burst from me. As I push up to stand, mum glances up at me.

  “Stefano?” She questions with caution.

  “Pack a bag, I want you to leave for a bit. Go stay with a friend - I want you away from here for a while.”

  “What will you do?”

  I focus on her red eyes, the darkness that are circling them and realise it’s this life. The life with my dad that has brought her to this - it’s up to me to sort it out. Bending down, I kiss her hair.

  “Go upstairs and do as I ask, please.” She stands with a nod, wipes under her eyes, and makes her up to the bedroom.

  Opening the front door, I call Logan over.

  “Where is he?”

  “He’s in an unused barn about five miles from here.” Logan informs me.

  “Is he awake?

  “Kurt says he’s still unconscious, but I’m not sure for how long.”

  “Okay. Get Ethan over here, I want him to pick up my mother and take her wherever she wants to go.”

  “Boss.” Logan pulls out his phone and makes a call for me.

  With a pat to his shoulder, I leave him to it and go back in.

  Dad raises his gaze up at me as I reach him, his blood smeared all over his face. I crouch down in front of him.

  “Why I was ever scared of you I have no idea, but you’ll do good to remember dad, you made me this way. What you did to mum, there’s no excuse for. You’re a fucking coward. I will handle this shit; I warn you now. Once I’ve handled Shea, I’ll be back for you.” I growl.

  Mum comes down the stairs with a suitcase, I take it from her and look out the window to see a black Mercedes.

  A quiet knock to the door sounds and it opens, I look up, but I know it’s only Logan.

  “The car’s here, boss.”

  “Thanks.”

  I turn back to mum, “Is there anything you want to say to dad before you leave?”

  “No.” She answers, straight to the point.

  I walk down to the car and open the door for her.

  “Take her to a hotel way out of town and ring me when you’ve got her settled and only me. Do I make myself clear?” I take my credit card from my wallet and hand it to Ethan, telling him my pin number.

  “Boss...”

  Kissing Mum’s cheek, I feel the softness of her palm, as she cups my cheek, holding my face close to hers.

  “I love you son.”

  “Love you too. Ring me later, as soon as all this is over, I’ll send Ethan back to fetch you.” She nods and with a gentle smile I close the door.

  Once mum has left, Logan and I make our way to the barn, where the mighty Shea O’Connor is being held.

  Once we’ve found the place, we find a corrugated steel door at the back. Pulling it open enough for me to squeeze through, I head inside. Over in the corner I notice O’Connor, tied to a pillar. Kurt is standing before him, his feet astride with his arms folded across his chest. Taking one last look at the Irish bastard that ruined my family and destroyed my world, Kurt turns to us. I nod and walk towards O’Connor. Squatting down on the ground, I grip his cheeks roughly in my hand to keep him still. Then pull my fist back and hitting him for the second time today. My fist connects with his nose, just like I did with my dad. His head is forced backwards from my hand.

  “Open your eyes, you piece of fucking shit.”

  His head lulls, but he looks up at me.

  “I know everything Shea. I know everything you put my mum through, but you know the worst thing of all this? This is going to kill me to say it out loud, but you killed your own flesh and blood. My fucking sister was innocent in it all, so was my mother. Now you’re going to pay the price for that.”

  I take my gun from my trousers and aim it as his head, slowly drawing it down his body, until it’s aimed at his knees. Without another thought, I pull the trigger, blowing a hole in his one knee.

  “I do have a question though, Mum said she only had an idea about Chrissie. So how the fuck did you know she was your daughter?”

  He shouts out in pain, before looking at me.

  “I had a test. I made your father get me some hair and I had my own DNA test done. Proving to me that I was the father. Happy now?”

  “Fucking dandy, you cunt.”

  Moving the gun across to the other knee, I do the same again. O’Connor squeals like a pig this time, but I’m not about to stop there. I’m going to put this bastard out of his misery. Raising my gun, I stop when I’m in line with his forehead. “Look. At. Me.” I growl through my gritted teeth. “I want to see the fear in your eyes when I pull this trigger. I want to know that you, Shea O’Connor was scared of me when you died. Now, I want you to beg for your life…”

  “Fuck you, Di Marco…”

  A manic laugh bursts from me at his false pretence, as I shake my head at him.

  “You killed my sister… You robbed us, now I’m going to do the same to your family.” I get a handle on the gun. My hand trembling with the pure rage that’s tearing through me. Sucking in a deep breath, I close my eyes for a second. When I open them again, I’m steady. I’m ready to take his life… an eye for an eye. I’m not a religious man, but right now, I am.

  “Where would you prefer to be shot? In the head, in the heart, the stomach, so you bleed out. Nowhere is quite good enough for you, O’Connor.”

  “If you’re going to do it - just do it.” He gasps in pain. Blood is pouring from both of his knees. Instead of aiming between his eyes, I draw the gun down until it’s positioned under his heart and between his rib cage. He looks me in the eye, just like I as
ked him to. Not wasting another second, I pull back the trigger. It’s like a huge red target as I hit the mark I was aiming for. Shea O’Connor, Irish, big boss man gasps for breath, as the bullet embeds itself into his lungs. Probably tearing through his heart, as we speak. The blood seeps from his mouth dribbling down his chin, as he coughs and splutters before his head lulls.

  I’ve never had a deeper satisfaction of killing someone in my life.

  “Burn him, then the building. Ring me when it’s done.” I order Kurt, “Then clean yourself up and get to the hospital.”

  Putting my gun away, Logan and I walk from the building and back into his car. Now to deal with the backstabbing bastard, I call a father.

  Logan makes it back in no time. Exiting the car, I run up the path to the house, barging through the front door. Dad is still slumped in the same position as I left him.

  “Dad, wake up.” I drag him up from the chair. His eyelids flicker open slowly, before finally settling on me.

  “You gave him the DNA. You bastard. Look at me.” He opens his eyes fully. “What did you think he was going to do with it?”

  “He made me, Stefano.”

  “Yeah, you keep saying that… I don’t believe you.”

  “He was a vicious man.” Dad is heavy under my hands as I try to keep him up.

  “He isn’t vicious anymore old man, he’s fucking dead. I had the pleasure of ending his miserable fucked up life.”

  His eyes widen, when I give him the news.

  “You know, you may as well have been driving the car that killed my sister. Well, I’m done. I’m finished with you. After everything I’ve found out recently, I don’t even know how we’re related. You make me sick.”

  Slamming him against the wall once more, I take my hands from him. I don’t need them to be any dirtier than they already are.

  “I don’t want you anywhere near my mother. I want you gone from here before she returns, do you hear me?”

  He doesn’t answer me. I stand back from him and watch him slump to the ground. I stand there disgusted, shaking my head at the man I used to look up to.