Then again, no one would mistake Vito Zano for dumb.
“I hope you don’t mind me interrupting you,” I said, and he again threw out a hand.
“Not at all. I’ve been wantin’ to hear how your meetin’ went with Father Paolo.”
Hmm.
“I haven’t spoken with him yet Mist… uh, Uncle Vito.”
He ticked a finger back and forth at me. “Don’t delay, cara. Catholic classes last a year.”
They did?
A whole year?
Yikes!
“I’ve been kinda busy,” I told him.
He nodded and watched me closely. “The business at Smithie’s.” He shook his head. “I heard. Very disturbing.”
He had that right, too.
“It’s done now. Time to heal,” I shared.
“I would say that last part would be the part you and your Rock Chicks would be involved in. Not the…” another meaningful pause, “other.”
He knew I was stripping.
“You do what you have to do to get the job done,” I informed him
His eyes narrowed and he leaned toward me, but I got there before him and leaned toward him, putting my hand on his desk.
“Don’t, Uncle Vito. With respect, I’ve worked this out with Ren and my family. I understand and appreciate your concern, but they’ve come around, and although that’s important to me, bottom line, it’s my job, my choice. And, no offense, truth be told, what you need to focus on is not me or what’s happening with Ren and me or Catholic classes. It’s doing everything in your power not to lose your son.”
I heard his swift intake of breath and caught the flash of pain in his eyes he couldn’t quite keep hidden before his expression turned scary.
But I was a Nightingale. This didn’t affect me.
So I kept going.
“You’re hurting him with this. He’s torn between loyalty to you, loyalty to his mother and where he’s at in his soul. You’re the only father he’s ever known. Are you really okay with attempting to bend him to your will? Even understanding his will was forged through your own blood, so you know that won’t ever happen? Thus forcing him to make decisions that will hurt people he loves?”
“This is not your business, Ally,” he clipped, eyes cold.
“Ren is absolutely my business, Uncle Vito,” I returned.
We went into staredown.
I didn’t back down.
He didn’t either.
This meant our tense silence lasted a long time.
Surprisingly, Vito broke it.
“I’ll not discuss this with you,” he stated.
“I’m okay with that,” I replied. “Just as long as I know you heard me.”
He scowled at me and said nothing.
He heard me.
“I’m gonna see if Ren’s free,” I said.
“You do that.”
Meeting done, and by the look on his face, I didn’t make a friend.
God.
Vito.
Stubborn.
I nodded and got up.
