"Thank you," Daniel nearly whispered in response.
"Anytime, Bro."
They said their goodbyes, and Daniel sat quietly, holding me in his arms. I knew he hadn't finished his story. There was still so much for him to say, but I think we had made some real progress.
"I'm not scared, Daniel. I know you think I should be, but I have faith in your family. I have faith in you, too. We're going to be just fine."
He pulled me down in the bed with him, and I knew we were done for the night. He kissed me slow and easy, and I let him lead. He palmed my backside, pulling me tightly against him, as he pushed against me. I thought maybe we would get a little farther, and I think we did, but he still stopped. He rested his head against mine. I was sure he was bracing for my complaints, but I understood now, and he was right, we needed to take our time. There was more to his story, and to mine as well.
When he finally opened his eyes, I smiled widely at him. "Goodnight, husband," I whispered.
He nodded in response, relaxing against me and settling down to sleep. "Goodnight…wife."
It was silly, really, but that one little word was filled with so much promise and joy. I couldn't wait to hear it again.
Chapter 31 – The Rest of the Story
Each night, Daniel would tell me another story of his life. I started to understand better the reasons for hiding him. After he had been taken at the age of twelve, they had continued the lie of his parentage. The men who had kidnapped him were all dead, and even Daniel himself still believed he was the biological son of his Uncle Daniel and Aunt Silvia.
He was sent back home with them, with the belief that no one else knew the truth. The problem was that, like the first men who had figured it out, a second set came to the same conclusion. At the age of fourteen, he was forced into a van and drugged. He was somewhat coherent and could make out that they had planned to hold him hostage. He was being used as leverage once more.
The van was wrecked before it reached its destination, and Daniel was taken to the hospital. The drugs had slowed his heart and thus his bleeding. He had been saved. He learned the van had been forced off the road. The men died, supposedly when the vehicle burst into flames, but Daniel didn't remember any sort of fire. He was sure they had been "taken care of" by his family.
It became clear that they couldn't hide his Valente blood. His unique bright copper eyes were a dead giveaway. The unusual eye color was legendary and feared. There was no hiding it, short of colored contacts, which weren't an option for a young Daniel.
A new story was concocted. One that would keep him once removed from his father and slightly less important, but it would explain the reaction and response to Daniel being taken.
Marcello and Ann Marie were told the truth, and to protect their little brother, biological or not, they took him in and claimed the false shame. They shouldered the scandal of a supposed illegitimate child who had been born before they were married.
Daniel was moved to his half-brother and first cousin's home. He didn't know what to believe after that, but Anthony's interest in him became obvious, and it was finally confessed to him, at the age of fifteen, that he was the son of the big boss himself.
Even still, the truth was hidden from everyone else. It was only his Aunt Silvia, Uncle Daniel, Cousin Ann Marie, and his half-brother, Marcello Valente Senior, who knew the truth about Daniel really being mob boss Anthony Valente's son.
The threat was real, and the extra security was explained away. It made sense that Marcello, a Valente descendant, would have people watching over them. He was safe, and Anthony did his best to find time to visit with Daniel. Like any boy who grew up in lies, he wanted to know the truth. He was finally told the story about his mother, Julia.
Anthony beat the shit out of young Daniel, when he had badmouthed his mother, calling her a whore for sleeping with a married man. He hated himself and his own existence. Marky hated him, too, and did his best to make him miserable. Marky didn't know why everyone took so much interest in his supposed brother, Daniel, and he hated that everyone always fussed over him.
At the age of seventeen, Daniel was visiting with his Aunt Silvia Bartoli, the woman he had known as his mother all his life, when a car full of men attempted to take the house. They shot out the windows, and a bullet grazed his Aunt Silvia.
His brothers, or rather cousins, Dino and Dante Bartoli, were home at the time. They shot back, and when it looked like they weren't going to win, they grabbed Daniel and threw him out a window and told them to take him.
Luke saved Daniel again that day and took two bullets doing it. Dino and Dante Bartoli were punished by the Valente’s. They'd had it out for Daniel ever since. They had figured out that Daniel wasn't Marcello's son, as Ann Marie hadn't met Marcello until six months after Daniel had been born.
Word of Daniel got back to the other two younger Valente sons, Alfonzo and Leonardo, whom Anthony had had with his wife, Sophia. Daniel was seen as a threat. Only one of the four Valente sons could take over the family business. It quickly became obvious that Anthony favored Daniel over his other three boys. Daniel was the youngest and the only child of the woman he had actually loved.
Dino and Dante worked for Leonardo at the time and gave up Daniel's position several times, in hopes of being promoted by Leonardo, when he took over as mob boss. It got to the point that Daniel wasn't allowed to leave Marcello's side, further instigating Marky's dislike for Daniel.
Marky finally learned the truth, when he picked a fight with Daniel while Anthony was visiting. He thought he could prove he was the stronger boy and therefore more deserving of the attention and respect of his grandfather. He only got so far, before Anthony pulled a gun on Marky. Marcello and Ann Marie were barely able to calm him down enough to save their son. Ultimately, it was Daniel refusing to step out of the way that stopped Anthony from killing Marky outright.
In anger, Anthony had yelled at Marky to never touch his son again, and so Marky was brought into the circle of people who knew Daniel's parentage. He was also told of the threats against Daniel's life. Daniel talked to Marky about some of the stuff that had happened to him and how he missed his mom, or his Aunt Silvia, and wished he could just go home to the Bartoli's. He didn't want anything to do with his Valente family, and Marky understood. He went from hating Daniel to pitying him.
Marky also knew the importance of keeping Daniel's identity under wraps. It was no secret to Marky that his Grandma Silvia had been threatened and shot at, and he knew his family could fall under attack just the same.
It was only after Daniel had made it very clear that he wanted nothing to do with the Valente family business that the rest of the family backed off. He'd had the opportunity to become anything. He could've become a crooked lawyer like Victor, a doctor who treated patients off the record like Joey, a businessman who would run a strip joint or club as a front for illegal dealings like Tony, an accountant who could fix the books and hide illegal profits like Dante, or be a bookie like Dino. He could've been a mechanic and dealt with stolen cars like Santino. He could've gone into construction and strong-armed zonings for businesses, provided the means to make people disappear, and built the hiding places for the whole damn mob, like Sergio. He also could've gone into sales with Luke, who dealt in stolen goods and organized robberies, where it was his job to come up with the latest scheme.
Instead, Daniel went into computer programming, with the intent of being useless to the family. He was only asked once if he had hacking abilities, and he made it clear that he didn't. Daniel wanted nothing to do with the family business, and after years of saying it, he was finally able to prove it by his career choice.
At eighteen, Daniel had wanted to know more about his birth mother, Julia, and looked up her records. They were traced back to him, and another attempt was made on him. He was able to hold off his attackers/would-be kidnappers long enough for the guard watching him to call for backup to save him. It was Santino who had saved him that day, with
the help of the two men who had been watching Daniel. One guard didn't make it out, and Santino took a bullet in the shoulder.
The threat from Alfonzo and Leonardo Valente lessened, but Daniel was obviously still a target to others. His parentage was in the open to the wrong people. Anthony told Daniel he had a plan to make him disappear, and he made it happen. Daniel was able to be hidden away from everyone, so he could finally have some peace. He was off the grid, with a different name, in the middle of nowhere. He was finally safe.
Saturday, I was stretched lazily in our bed. I think we had both come to the conclusion that the bed was undeniable ours now, not just his. I flopped across his chest, and neither of us made to move.
Where he spoke at night, I spoke in the morning. I not only needed to get to know him, but he needed to know me. So after our morning routines, we would snuggle up in bed, and I would talk about my life and why it was so easy for me to believe my parent didn't want anything to do with me anymore.
"I was a mistake, most likely a drunken one, if you went by my mother's track record. My parents married, but I remember from a young age that there was always contention between the two of them. They seemed trapped in the roles of what was expected of them, and it made them miserable.
"My mother stayed home to care for me, and she did, for the most part. I never went without. I did learn how to care for myself at a young age. By four, I could make myself a PB&J sandwich with practiced ease. I was able to wash my own cup and get my own drinks. I was as self-sufficient as a young child could be. At the age of six, I was doing my own laundry. The more I did for myself, the happier my mother was. I could tell, because she was always more at ease. She spent time cleaning the house, but she also had a good appreciation for wine.
"My father didn't yell at her at first. They lived in the house, but it was like they didn't see each other. They didn't even treat each other like roommates. They were invisible to each other, and I think by accident, I became invisible, too.
"I didn't realize that wasn't normal, that families didn't go about ignoring each other. The fighting started when I was five. I had hurt myself. It was just a cut, more like a scrape, but it wasn't taken care of. It wasn't cleaned out, and it became infected. I think I developed some sort of staff infection.
“It got bad, and one day after my father got home from work, I showed it to him. He was livid, not with me, but my mother, for letting it go unchecked for so long. I ended up spending a couple of nights in the hospital for it. After that, my parents fought like mad. My mother resented me and drank a whole lot more. It wasn't long after I got home from the hospital that I ran away to get away from the tension in the house. I didn't know it was tension, I just knew my mommy didn't want me anymore, and I wanted to leave, so I did.
"I'd lived across the street from St. Mary's my whole life. I always saw older kids running around it, and so when I ran away, I decided I'd go there, too. I packed up my little backpack and marched my little five-year-old self over to the school. Principal Stewart was a teacher then, and he found me on the front steps. I told him where I lived and that I was moving in with him at the school.
"He said my mommy and daddy would miss me, but my mother proved him wrong. We sat on the front steps of the school waiting. He was so sure she'd come out frantic, looking for me. She came out an hour later and left for the store, not even glancing across the street at me.
"My father came home shortly after that and noticed me sitting with Mr. Stewart. They stepped away from me for a few minutes, and both men talked low, but I could tell my dad was furious.
"He stormed off toward home, and Mr. Stewart had to walk me across the street, because I couldn't keep up with my dad. When he heard my dad shouting for my mom, Mr. Stewart had me wait outside. My mother had come home while the men were talking, and my father was yelling so loudly, you could hear it loud and clear from the sidewalk.
"My dad dragged my mother out of the house and threw her into the car. He told Mr. Stewart to keep an eye on me and then just left. I'm pretty sure my dad took my mom to either rehab or a mental hospital, because she didn't come home with him. She was gone for nearly a month. My grandma watched me, while my dad was at work.
"After my mom came home, I took to sneaking out to get away. I was only five, but elementary school got out a half hour after the high school. Instead of going home, I'd go to Mr. Stewart's window. It was at the front of the school by the steps. I'm pretty sure that's how he'd found me the first time.
"I'd wave to him through the window, and he'd have me come in and sit with his detention group. I'd do my homework, and he'd keep an eye on the delinquents.
"He used to tease me, saying I'd spent so much time in detention that I'd never get in trouble if I acted up. I loved Mr. Stewart, so I never did.
"He was principal by the time I reached high school. He's the reason I did so well in my classes. He was always really busy as principal, but I was a student aid and able to see him around school.
"He tried to get the Feds out of the school and away from me. He changed Robert’s schedule and walked me to class more than once. He was so mad when I got burned. I think that's why he didn't send security after Marky, when he went to beat up that psycho. He just called the cops to remove the Feds from campus. I didn't see the agent, but judging by the amount of blood Marky was wearing, knowing none of it was his, I was sure the guy got what he deserved. I know for a fact Principal Stewart didn't reprimand Marky in any way for the fight.
"He's the reason I was so sure I could get back in at St. Mary's. I know he'd let me back in, in a heartbeat. I guess that doesn't matter anymore, though. I hope he doesn't think I'm dead. I know it’d make him feel horrible."
Daniel had been tracing my scars as I spoke. "I can ask what the cover story is. I don't think you can go back to school, though."
He could tell I was upset. I didn't necessarily want to leave him to go back to school, but I would've liked to have said goodbye to Principal Stewart. He had always looked out for me.
Daniel sensed my turmoil and pulled me closer to him. We kissed slowly and languidly, like we had so many times. When things would get tough, we would kiss and snuggle.
It had been getting deeper and more intense the past few times. At this point, I had him straddled and was rubbing against him without any protest from him. My hands gripped and pulled at him, trying to get closer to his body.
He had flipped me over the night before and pinned me to the bed, kissing me intensely. He shifted and did the same today. I wouldn't release him, and I felt rather than heard his compliance. His hand started up my shirt, and he didn't bother asking for permission, because I was just as on edge.
We had yet to have sex, and I knew we wouldn't today, either, but we were getting closer. I could tell. My whole body was visibly engaged and begging. He would slow down, once I was distracted from my bad memory. Today was a little more heated than usual, and I couldn't wait for the day he would completely give in.
Chapter 32 – Holy Hell
The nighttime stories continued, but now they were happy ones. Daniel talked about his family, living with the Bartoli's and how much he loved them. His family was full of jokesters. Even his mom/Aunt Silvia liked to pull fast ones on the kids. That explained his patience, instead of anger, when I had messed with his things. His family took April Fool's Day very seriously. I asked him why he didn't play any on me.
"You were still pretty quiet at that time. I didn't want to upset you or do anything that’d make you want to go home. I already suspected then that you had to stay with me."
The light mood went somber, and I snuggled into his side. "Was that really why you were so patient with me?"
He kissed the top of my head. "No, you honestly didn't try my patience. Now my resolve…" he rolled over on top of me, making me break out into a huge grin.
"I definitely want to break your resolve," I whispered against his lips. We had already spent a month kissing and making out, morning and
night. He had touched my breasts and rubbed against me, but he never touched below the waist and always got out of bed when things got too heated.
He was all over my upper half and had me dying for more. When he went to leave the bed, I grabbed his arm with both of my hands. He could have pulled away easily otherwise.
"Daniel, what's stopping you?"
"I think I want us to get married for real."
"You said the certificate was real."
"I know, but I want you to want to marry me."
I got mischievous and hit the back of his knee, as I yanked him toward the bed. He flopped down with an oomph, and I jumped on him, pinning him to the bed for once. I realized he always did this, so he would have the control over when we stopped. "You're my husband, Daniel. Legally…and there's nothing I want more than to be your wife. You're mine. I've played by your rules, I've told you about my life, and I know all about you. I want you. Now give it up, boy."
He looked up at me wide-eyed and then started laughing. In one smooth move, he had me pinned to the bed. "You, little girl, are definitely trying my resolve."
"We're married, I want to claim my marital rights," I huffed.
"This isn't the 1800's, you can't demand that."
"Then you demand it."
"Gabby, if we consummate our marriage, then we can't get it annulled."
I felt like he had slapped me. I shoved him off me and stormed out of the room. He wanted to get our marriage annulled. Those few words ripped me apart, and I really, really wished I could just up and walk away right now, but I was trapped here by his family. There was no getting out, there was no leaving.
"Gabby…"
I put my hand up, fighting my tears. I didn't want to hear anything he had to say. I went to the study and yanked the hide-a-bed out of the chair.
"Gabby, please…"
"NO, stop…just…please, just leave me alone," I struggled to keep it together.
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