Fidelity (Infidelity #5)(53)
I turned as Silvia eased the other two entrances to the dining room closed.
Safest room.
That’s what I told myself as I exhaled and prepared for the inevitable meeting. Never in all my life had I seen Vincent or his father when he’d been alive, alone. Undoubtedly there was someone else out there with him watching his back. I suspected it was either Jimmy or Luca.
God, let it be Luca.
Stepping forward I reached for Lennox’s arm. “It would be better if you and I discussed this situation with our guest or guests in the office.” My words came clipped. “After you make sure everyone is upstairs.”
Lennox’s eyes narrowed. Within the blue I searched for understanding and too late, realized its absence was my doing. I’d spent most of my life keeping my son away from this part of his heritage. Even though Angelina and I’d shielded him, he was an intelligent man; innately, he had to know that it was serious.
Deloris stood. “Lennox, Isaac is here. I can contact him to come inside.”
My son’s jaw clenched as he gazed from me to her. He looked from Adelaide to Alex and exhaled. “No. The guest…” He emphasized the title. “…will listen to Oren and me. Let’s not complicate this any more than it already is.” Again his eyes narrowed, lengthening his brow and silently admonishing my decision to include family.
At the moment, his approval wasn’t my concern. Protecting Adelaide and concentrating on the impending meeting was. That family reunion sure as hell wasn’t happening in the dining room, and if I didn’t move soon, Vincent would come to find me.
“Give me a minute to escort them to the office before you go upstairs.”
“Sir, I can take them to the office,” the guard offered. I think his name was Paulie. He was part of the crew I’d borrowed from Vincent. It was no wonder he’d bowed to Vincent’s demands. Everyone within the organization did and most people outside of it would too.
“Accompany me,” I said.
It wasn’t that I didn’t trust the guard. I did. I had. He wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. My concern was Vincent. Angelina’s cousin came to see me. He wouldn’t be deterred without accomplishing his goal.
Right before I reached for the dining room door, I turned back to Adelaide. Her expression was the one I described as plastic. I’d seen it many times in pictures and videos. Adelaide Montague had spent too many years perfecting the perfect shell. Her ability to mask her thoughts and feelings was one of her greatest defenses. It had been the times I’d broken through that mask that had melted my heart. Seeing the plastic smile in my home brought an ache to my soul. I didn’t ever want that expression, but right now it wasn’t meant for me. She too was intelligent. She knew something was happening even if she didn’t understand the particulars.
In three strides I was before her; squatting near her chair, I reached out to her knee. “Rest, please. Let Lennox help you upstairs. I know you can make it on your own. You can do anything you set your mind to. There has been a lot happening and discussed today. Now, rest.
“This doesn’t concern you or Alexandria,” I went on. “Let Lennox and I handle this. We can resume this conversation later.” I tilted my head toward the now-closed door, the one that if open would face toward the windows at the back of the house. “Besides, it’s getting dark.”
“Adelaide,” Silvia offered, “let me bring you some fresh soup upstairs.”
Deloris nodded as Lennox whispered something to Alexandria.
“Thank you, Silvia,” I said with a nod and a feigned smile. Had my lips actually curled upward or was it more of a grimace? I wasn’t sure.
Silvia’s gaze met mine. In her brown eyes was the understanding I wanted from everyone. That wasn’t possible. Understanding took a base of knowledge that only Silvia and I shared.
With a squeeze of Adelaide’s hand and a kiss to her cheek, I took a step in front of Paulie and pushed back the door. As soon as we cleared the threshold, he began to explain.
“Sir, I couldn’t—”
With the uplift of my hand, I stopped his words. I didn’t want to hear his apology or reasoning. It wasn’t necessary. Turning from the attached room toward the entry, our footsteps echoing upon the bleached wood floor announced our arrival. Vincent, Luca, and Eva turned our direction.
“Oren,” Vincent’s voice bellowed through the entry.
“Vincent…” I turned toward his son. “…and Luca, welcome.” Luca had matured since I’d seen him last. How long had that been?
“Well, you see,” Vincent said, “we weren’t sure how we’d be greeted. We weren’t invited.”
I reached out my hand and shook each of theirs, firm and solid, the same as they did in return. “You’re always welcome.” I looked to Eva, appreciating her fortitude as well as her medical skills.
Though she’d been in a verbal power match with her cousin, the head of the family, in that moment she reminded me more of my Angelina. There was nothing docile or submissive in her stance. Her arms were crossed over her breasts, neck straight, and lips held tightly together.
There were many things I could say about the Costellos, many issues I’d had, but how they respected and adored women wasn’t one of them. That was why Angelina could argue with Vincent when I couldn’t. She was one of them, as was Eva. Though their voices had been raised, there was no real hostility, simply a desire to be heard.