Bellissimo Lotta (Beautiful Struggle): Companion Novel to Bellissimo Fortuna (The Family Trilogy Book 2) (19 page)

“I know why you did it, Dakota. The action you chose punished me directly, and I was in no way involved with what you discovered. If it was my dad, he was wrong. That’s not my offense to compensate for. But, your mom, Dana, she was not innocent bystander. She was a willing participant until the end, so where’s your blame for your family’s part? You didn’t stop and think about that when you took the path you did . . . only yourself, and that’s not a position I want to be in again.” I see his head fall back, and he exhales slowly.

His face falls forward, meeting my eyes. “I’ll fix it, I promise you.”

“Some things can’t be fixed.”

“This isn’t one of them.” His face sets in steely determination. I issued a challenge without meaning to.

Opening the door to Callie and Bronson, seeing her holding my nephew in her arms, I have to believe they can make this work. Angelo isn’t quite a year, and he’s beautiful; the spitting image of his daddy. The tension is rolling off of them, and I know Bronson is punishing her for what he deems as her mistakes.

“You’re a mom?” I can’t believe it. So much was taken from us. We lost so many experiences together. She places Angelo in his baby seat so she can embrace me.

Bronson walks by and jerks the carrier from her carrying him into the living room to meet my mom. He doesn’t bother acknowledging either one of us. I see her eyes follow his steps, and she exhales a deep sigh. She makes an excuse to go back to the car and get more baby gear and I want to throttle my brother.

She comes back through the living room with Dakota trailing carrying baby stuff. I didn’t get much time with her before Bronson stole her from our earlier massage, and I’m bouncing with excitement. “Sit down, catch me up.” I pat the cushion next to me, wanting her close. The strain in the room is evident, and I need to thwart a confrontation.

“I don’t want to say too much. I was in a small town in Mississippi.” She nods her head towards Bronson, and I ignore her.

“Really? How was that?” I couldn’t imagine being alone for over a year. Even though I’ve felt alone, I’ve had other people around me.

“It sucked, I wasn’t myself, and I was all alone.” Bronson snorts, and I jerk my head up to him. He isn’t the only one dealing with this bullshit and he damn sure won’t take his anger out on her. “I have a meeting with the agency tomorrow to give them details, and until I explain to Bronson nobody else will get full details.” She still puts him first. If that doesn’t prove to him how much she loves him, then he doesn’t deserve her.

“Don’t take my feelings into account this time. Please share your experiences with us.” Bronson’s begging me to hurt him. His tone is harsh, and his face is mocking.

My mom hollers at him, she’s going to unleash an Italian tirade on his ass. I’m about to pop some popcorn for this.

Callie comes to his rescue, and I want to put my hand over her mouth. “It’s fine. He’s entitled to his opinion.” She doesn’t disappoint me when she squares her shoulders and turns to him. “What you aren’t entitled to is to act like this in front of Angelo . . . or to act like I wasn’t hurt in all of this. You don’t have to accept or believe my feelings, but you won’t dismiss them. You won’t treat me like this in front of my son.” She didn’t completely lose her backbone, but she could have said plenty more to him. I may help her out with that.

“Take a walk.” Dakota stands up. Bronson doesn’t move.

“I’ll walk outside. If you need me, I’ll be in the backyard,” Callie announces. I can tell it’s taking a lot to leave Angelo with strangers. What’s even more tragic is that we’re the strangers.

I find her staring at the empty boat slip. “Sorry my brother’s a dick.”

“He’s not. He’s just hurt.” Surely she doesn’t believe that load of crap.

“Spoken like a damn loyal girl still in love with said asshole.”

“You know he’s your hero, your best friend.” She doesn’t know how we’ve drifted, and I won’t put that at her feet today.

“Still an asshole. He still loves you. I can
obviously
tell you still care, you still put him above yourself.”

“Love is the last thing he feels.”

“No, love is the last thing he
wants
to feel, and it pisses him off he can’t control it like he does everything else in life. Like I said,
dick
.” Funny, I know someone else who did that. “So, tell me something. What did you do there?”

“Pretty much school and took care of Angelo when he arrived.” She proceeds to tell me she finished school, which I’m insanely jealous of. She skirts over any talk of her dad or what her life was like.

“Are you okay?” I can’t stop myself. I need to know what to do for her.

“Define okay.” By that response, I know she isn’t.

“Did he hurt you?” It kills me to have to ask that question, and the bile is rising in my throat with images of what she could have suffered.

“Not physically. He broke my fucking heart. My own dad did this to me with no regard for the repercussions I would deal with. As long as he was going to end up top-dog, it didn’t matter who he stepped over. In one moment, one act of greed, he ruined my life. He changed everything as I knew it, and I have no clue how to begin to pick up the pieces. I have a beautiful son, one created from love, but he will be robbed of a loving two-parent home. I’m not naïve. I knew when I left I was sealing my own fate, but I guess I didn’t know how it would feel. I’m back here, and it’s all so real, so in my face, and I’m clueless how to get past the feelings I have, deal with the hatred directed at me and all the blame placed solely on me. I struggled when Angelo was born, and I don’t want to go back to that place.” I watch the tears fill her eyes, and mine are running unchecked down my face.

“Bravo. And the award goes to Callie Locati. Poor girl was
forced
away, leaving ruin in her wake, she returns home wanting the pity train rolled out and to be welcomed back with open arms.” Bronson has gone too far this time. His words cruel, his appearance a surprise. She came out here for peace and he followed to disrupt her.

“Oh my God.” I have no words for him. He has made me speechless which isn’t an easy task.

The arguing ensues, and I tune them out. I rush to get my mom and Dakota to stop this, but when we return Callie is insisting she leave and giving my mom instructions for Angelo. Dakota walks her to the car, and I whirl on Bronson. “I don’t know who you are right now. Dad would be sick seeing what you’ve become. You’ve let your heart harden; shutting out everything you know is true because you’re scared. You’re a coward. What you just did to her puts you on a playing field with her father . . . and you had no problem killing him.” I walk to where my mom is waiting and follow her inside to get to know my adorable nephew.

Betrayal does so many different things to people.

~
Trai Byers

Chapter 18

Dakota

Bronson’s fucking up, heading down a road he isn’t going to be able to come back from. Callie made her mistakes, but until he’s ready to listen to her, he won’t understand her reasons for making them.

A kid. I didn’t see that coming, but I do see her in a new light. She helped us with the case against her dad so Angelo could be with
his
father, no matter the cost to her. She just told him off, and I’ve never seen her stand her ground with him . . . not that strong. Little Callie Locati grew up. Hardened, yet still soft.

“Wow, Callie. I think I just saw a new side of you, and I can say, I dig it.” She’s leaving her welcome home party because Bronson’s being a dick.

“Hey, what’s up with you and Binks?” Her head tilts to the side, studying me.

“Another story, girl. A whole lot of shit I created. We’re stuck in it. I’m not sure what she wants shared, so I’ll let her be the one to tell you.”

“If you’re serious, get a shovel and start hauling manure, lover boy.” She laughs at me, without realizing how much work I still have in front of me.

“I can’t believe it, I
actually
missed you. You and Binks together are a pair of trouble, but I fucking missed the dynamic, and I know she hasn’t been the same without you. She’s missed a key element of herself, you’re the one who fills that void in her.” Bianca has missed having her best friend, and if she can get that piece of her back, maybe one day I’ll get all of her.

“Thanks, I think.” She squints her eyes at me and takes off. I immediately head back to the yard to give Bronson an ass chewing. “What the fuck are you doing?” I’m shouting across the yard.

He holds his hands up and retreats down to the dock. Now isn’t the time to go after him, he wouldn’t listen.

Months. Months have passed, and Bronson is still freezing Callie out, and Bianca has taken her back. We spend the week in Miami working and most weekends at home so he can have his son. I tag along to see his sister and beg for her forgiveness.

Repeatedly.

I’ve fucking apologized more times than
The Maury Show
has run DNA tests, and she still isn’t letting me in. She’s spending the day with Callie, and I wish she’d open up and get advice from her because regardless of what Callie’s dealt with, she believes in love.

She headed back to school after talking to Callie, with no good-bye, but I refuse to give up. I’d give anything to talk to Bronson but he is far too unpredictable these days. I head in town to grab a bite to eat before heading back to Miami. I still can’t call it home; it doesn’t feel like my home without Bianca and things so unsettled with all of our lives. Ironic, just a few short years ago we all thought we’d still be together at this point in our lives, and we couldn’t be further apart. I see Callie is working, so I make a spur of the moment decision and pull into the restaurant. Making sure I get seated at her table, I smile as she walks up. I know she’s struggling and won’t allow any of us to give her money so I will just leave her a big tip.

“Hey, Callie. You doing okay?”

“Can I get you anything to drink?” I’m assuming Bianca told her all the sordid details.

“A beer. Whatever’s on tap.” She rolls her eyes. “Did I do something to piss you off?”

“Yes, you stuck your tiny dick in someone else after begging my best friend for another chance. I don’t know the details; I just know that was strike two for you. And I pray she doesn’t give you another one.”

I sigh, “I pray she does so I can prove to her and
everyone
else, I’m the man for her. I screwed up, I wasn’t thinking about consequences. You of all people should understand that.”

“Don’t compare what I did and what you did . . . they are two completely opposite things. I was thinking clearly, and chose the only option I had to keep those I love safe. Like I said, she didn’t share everything but how could she . . . it rips her open when she thinks of it.”

“We both hurt the people we love.”

“Yes, and like you I may never get another chance, so we get to live with those consequences. I still hate you.”

“That’s good because I hate me too.” She nods and gets my beer. All isn’t forgiven on her part, but she knows I love Bianca, and just because I fucked up, nothing changes the way I feel about her. It can’t change what we once had, and when we get it back; I’ll make it better.