Bound by Fire: Burning desire (#2)
Chapter 20

Lisa p.o.v.

“Will we ever have a life that isn’t complicated?” I wasn’t even thinking when that question slipped from my lips.

“I don’t think our life will ever be simple.” I heard him take a deep breath.

“Yeah… I guess you’re right.” Letting out a sigh. “Who else knows about this place?”

“Just us and Vik. And the guards that are stationed outside.” I nod getting up from my seat. “Don’t let anyone else know about it.”

“Hmm.” he replied absentmindedly.

“Do you have to be somewhere?”

“No, why?”

“I have to go somewhere. And I don’t want to take Aiden with me there.”

“Daleyza… ”

“Ace… fix whatever you have done. He’s my son and he knows how to hold grudges. But I also know he is a sweetheart so just talk to him.” Without waiting for an answer I walk into the backyard.

“Monkey…” he tilts his head up, running toward me he engulfed me in a hug as I picked him up. “Mama has to go for a short time. So you’ll be alone with your dad okay?”

“No!” his arms tightened against my neck.

“Monkey…”

“No mama. Take me with you.” He buried his face in my neck.

“I’ll be back before dinner time, okay?” I stroke his back to calm him down.

“That’s what you said last time.” The sadness in his voice made my heart flutter for a moment.

“Don’t worry monkey. I’ll see you in a few hours okay…” I put him down and kneel to his level. “I promise I will be back as soon as possible and then we’ll go for ice-cream… okay?” slowly he agrees and loosens his grip on me. Placing a kiss on his head I walk to the garage and get a car out. I wasn’t looking forward to this at all. Now I’m wondering if I should have left Aiden with Ace. I was so lost in my thoughts I was in front of my father’s mansion before I knew it. Taking a deep breath I walk in. I was greeted by the familiar faces that saw me growing up and yet I felt no sense of belonging in this place. I was a stranger way before I even knew it. I saw my father’s wife sitting in the living room. She didn’t even look up. That’s how much my presence affected her. Asking the butler where my father was I head up to his office.

“Lisa, hija how are you?”

“Cut the crap.” I roll my eyes. I have had it with his bullshit.

“Is that how you talk to your father?” I scoffed hearing that. “Care to share what’s so funny?”

“You calling yourself my father.” He cocked his eyebrow with a questioning look in his eyes. “You haven’t fulfilled any of those obligations so I don’t think you have a right to be called father.”

“What has gotten into you? You insolent child! Isn’t that husband of yours setting you straight?”

“Unlike you he knows when to cross my path and when not to.” He was about to say something, but I didn’t give him a chance. “Why didn’t you ever let me know that your wife isn’t my mother?”

“How…”

“What? You thought you could hide it for the rest of my life from me.” I saw his jaw clench together a few times.

“It doesn’t really matter.” He finally says.

“Yes, it does. You could have let me go. You could have let me live the life I wanted. But instead you trapped me. In this lifestyle. In this mansion. Like a damn puppet when you wanted to use me for you benefit you polished me up and displayed me.”

“So you’d rather live on the streets. Begging for your next meal than living here with all the luxuries life has to offer.” He rolled his eyes.

“Yeah. I would have preferred that.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, hija.”

“All I want to know is why you kept me?” A thick silence enveloped us. You could hear a pin drop. He looked to be struggling to say something. I could see his mouth open and close a few times.

“You were the last reminder I had of hers.” He finally whispered and I had to question if I even heard him correctly. Suddenly the door banged open and Frankie stormed in.

“Where is she?” he charged right to our father and held him by the collar.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He replied calmly.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about and you have 5 seconds to answer.”

“Don’t you see how weak this is making you son? I didn’t groom you your entire life for this.” Our father growled.

“I don’t give a fuck about all that. If she doesn’t return by my side completely safe, I’ll fucking burn everything you worked for to the ground. And leave you to deal with the aftermath.” I’ve never seen Frankie so distraught.

“Frankie…” I put my hand on his shoulder and he pushed our father away. He staggered back.

“Lisa…”

“You really are a moron Francesco. I hand everything to you on a gold platter and you’re willing to throw everything away. And for what… for a girl? I will never let that happen as long as I’m alive.”

“You know for a moment there I thought you were capable of being a human being. Thanks for showing me your real face.” I shake my head.

Without saying a word Frankie took out his gun and shot our father in the leg.

“I’m giving you a last time to come clean.” I’ve never seen Frankie this distraught.

“You shot your father for a whore?” our father screamed in pain. “What does she have that others don’t have?”

“Someone like you would never know.”

“How did I raise such idiotic children?” he shook his head. “One lays with the enemy and the other is willing to throw everything away for a woman.”

“I don’t have time for your nonsense talks, tell me where is she?”

“Even if I do you won’t replace her.” He coughs and laughs manically. By now the guards and other people form the mansion have gathered. His wife rushed to his side and started tending to his wound as I dragged Frankie away from there.

“Come on Frankie…”

“No, Lisa I have to replace her. I’m going out of my mind thinking what may have happened to her.” He paced in the hall as he raked his hands through his hair.