All of a sudden, she didn’t know. It’s possible her husband had children spread everywhere. You don’t know, Ava. That young man could’ve been telling the truth. And that was what made her angry. The fact that Joseph’s mistake was showing up at her front door, trying to disrupt her life. If Joseph had wanted Dominic acknowledged as his son he’d had a chance to do so while he lived or in his will. He hadn’t done that, she wasn’t about to either.
Everything belonged to Maia. Ava didn’t know how Joseph made all his money and she didn’t care. The only good things that bastard had ever done was give her their daughter and leave his money behind. And no one was going to take that from her. Not the government and certainly not some ballsy young man showing up at her door claiming to be Joseph Martelli’s son. Tomorrow she was going to get to the bottom of this.
Chapter Four
“What is this place?”
“This is your home. Well actually, it’s one of many houses I own, but you’ll be staying here.”
“Alone?” Ava asked.
“Yeah. You’re almost eighteen. Time for you to be on your own.”
Ava followed Joseph Martelli down the snow-white hallway. Ahead of them it opened up into a large living room. The loveseat, chaise lounge and couch were the same pristine white as the hallway. Two silver end tables, one silver rectangle-shaped coffee table and silver lamps accentuated the all-white ensemble. A large flat-screen TV was mounted on the wall.
“This is nice.”
“Glad you approve,” Joseph grinned. His black eyes roved over her.
She felt her cheeks trembling as she tried to return his smile.
“You’re going to have to stop being so nervous around me. You and I are going to be spending quite a bit of time together. I don’t want you acting skittish every time I’m around you.”
“I don’t know you. Of course I’m a little skittish, especially with…the situation.”
Joseph turned black eyes on her.
“You made the offer, girlie. You wanna back out now? I have no problems dealing with your old man.”
“No. No. I’m fine.”
“Good. Besides you have a little time. I’ll leave you alone until you turn eighteen. Gentleman’s honor.”
Joseph made the sign of the cross on his chest and smiled at her. Ava felt like a fish being stared down by a shark. But she couldn’t back out. Not now. Her father was alive but badly beaten. Busted ribs, a broken collarbone, broken nose, and a face that had swollen to the size of a cantaloupe. Roger Hill would not survive another round with Joseph Martelli’s goons. She had to go through with their arrangement, no matter how uncomfortable she felt.
“Okay.”
“Why don’t you take a look around? I’ll wait right here in the living room.”
“Alright.”
Joseph plopped down on the couch and Ava was left to explore her new “home.” Walking down another hallway she came upon the kitchen. It was fairly large. Also white, with a large island in the middle and stainless steel appliances. She kept looking and found the utility room with a stackable washer and dryer. Further down the hallway was a large master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. She wasn’t surprised that the furniture inside the bedroom was also white. The large white sleigh bed stood on a dais. The fact that it was the centerpiece of the room made a small sheen of sweat break across her forehead.
“Beautiful.”
Ava jumped when she heard Joseph’s voice by her ear. Slowly she turned around. His dark eyes bored into hers. The silence stretched between them. She couldn’t help the shudder that rolled through her body as his hand reached up to caress her face. Ava stood as still as she could as his knuckles brushed up and down her cheek. When he leaned close and kissed her, she closed her eyes, ready to will her mind to another place. The shock on her face must have been evident as her eyes opened. Joseph stepped away with a smile on his face.
“Very beautiful indeed.”
“Mommy. Mommy. Are you listening to me?”
Ava jerked back to reality. She looked at the rearview mirror. Her daughter Maia was sitting in her car seat with arms folded. With her long, silky dark hair, pale skin and dark eyes, she was the spitting image of her father. Even the scowl on her face was like her husband’s.
“I’m sorry, baby. Mommy was daydreaming. What did you say?”
“I said I don’t want to go to school. I don’t want that boy, Simon, to say mean things.”
“I don’t want you to worry about Simon, okay. I’m having a talk with your teacher just like I promised.”
“Okay, Mommy.” Her daughter sat back then, seemingly confident that Ava would handle the situation. The situation being one of many her daughter had to deal with, being the daughter of a crime boss.
Ava pulled her Mercedes into the parking lot of Preston Academy. With Maia quiet in the back seat, Ava finally had a moment to reflect. She hadn’t slept well last night. The unexpected arrival of Joseph’s “son” still had her mind reeling. In the big scheme of things it really didn’t matter if Dominic was Joseph’s son or not, but she’d feel better once she knew one way or another.
Killing the ignition, Ava exited the car and unbuckled Maia from her seatbelt. Her daughter climbed out, clutching her Disney Princess backpack. Grabbing her daughter’s hand she locked her Mercedes and walked up the steps to the front door of Preston Academy. Opening the door, Ava kept her face impassive. She knew that some of the parents of the children that went here weren’t exactly thrilled that the daughter of notorious kingpin Joseph Martelli was at the same school as their children, but Ava didn’t care.
She paid the ridiculously expensive tuition for Maia to attend the academy just as they did for their children. Ava tried to erase the scowl on her face when she saw Mrs. Kelly, Maia’s teacher standing outside her classroom greeting the parents as they dropped off their children. Already the knot in her neck was tightening up. Deep breath, Ava. Deep breath. It’s too early in the morning to be getting worked up.
“Good morning, Maia. Feeling better today?” the petite blonde asked, bending down to her daughter’s level.
“Yes, Mrs. Kelly.”
“Maia, why don’t you go on inside and give me a chance to talk to Mrs. Kelly?” Ava said.
“Okay, Mommy. I love you.”
“Love you too, baby.”
Maia came close and hugged her before she skipped to her classroom.
“What can I do for you, Mrs. Martelli?”
“First of all, it’s Ms. Hill. I would expect you’d know that considering all of the forms I’ve signed and returned.”
“I’m sorry. I just know you were married and I forgot you were no longer using your late husband’s name. I meant no disrespect.”
“Then perhaps you could tell me why you told my daughter that you called me yesterday and were unable to get a hold of me when we both know that didn’t happen.”
The blonde-haired teacher’s blue eyes stretched wide. Ava watched her swallow nervously. Look at her coming up with some lie.