The sound of helicopters brought Vincenzo and Tristan out of their thoughts. They looked at each other and wordlessly gestured to each other to leave the rest room as they took their hand guns out. Something was going on. As the two books walked outside the rest room, they noticed the guards in defence mode. They decided to make their way to their grandfathers up the stairs. But as they walked up, they stopped in their tracks watching the sight outside the windows. Men were landing on balconies tied to ropes. They were their father's men so Vincenzo and Tristan decided not to move or react. The place was under attack by the same men they observed sand trained every day. They knew exactly what protocol to follow.
Everything happened so fast. Before they knew it, Tristan and Vincenzo found themselves surrounded. Pablo, Vincenzo's head of security walked to Vincenzo. "Sir, your father's orders are to come with me to the waiting cars outside. You need to be returned home immediately."
Just then Vincenzo watched the O'Neil head of security issue the same instructions to Tristan. The boys again looked at each other in silence. If the men thought these boys were just going to walk away they were mistaken.
But Tristan didn't want to make a scene. He decided to go down and follow the head of security but with thoughts to get back up. He had to see his father.
Vincenzo objected " I need to go up there..."
Pablo shook his head " No sir. Your father is upstairs with Mr O'Neil on the room and our strict orders are not to allow you to reach the top. We have the right to restrain you."
Vincenzo almost choked " What? My father is here?"
Pablo nodded " Yes sir. There was news of sightings of dangerous trespassers in our territories. Your father caught the earlier plane."
Vincenzo ran his hand over his hair and turned to look at Tristan's form who was walking down the steps. It was dead silent down there. He could see the Giovanni men had surrendered. The place was packed with O'Neil and Rosario men. He looked back up at Pablo " I will go. But I need to go to the rest room first." He then turned and walked towards the rest room on that floor. The men didn't follow of course. They never imagined him defying his father's orders. There was a death sentence for anyone else if they disobeyed a direct order from his father but of course he was immune. He didn't mind paying for it. He had to do this. He needed this. He had to be there when his father confronted his grandfather. He had so many questions.
Vincenzo's heart started beating faster as he entered the rest room. Time was running out. There was so much fear inside him even though he didn't show it. What if his father killed his grandfather. He hadn't had time to get to know him well. What if he never got the chance.
Vincenzo used the secret passage that was inside the rest room. He walked quickly up to the roof. He opened the door and as the crispy fresh air hit him, his heart sank. He watched his father holding his grandfather's neck in his hand pinning him to the wall of the small building structure on top of the roof. He shouted " No." He then watched as his father's murderous stare turned to him. His father roared " How dare you defy me Vincenzo? I said you must go to the car."
Vincenzo cringed as he watched his father punch his grandfather in the stomach without his stare leaving Vincenzo making his grandfather bend over in pain clutching his stomach. Vincenzo started to walk towards them but then halted automatically as his father started to walk towards him " You go down the way you came. Now Vincenzo."
Francesco wasn't pleased at his son's lack of response. He hadn't even manage to get started with his father. He certainly didn't want his son there. But it was unlike Vincenzo to act this way. It was out of character for him to not follow his instructions when it came to business.
Francesco reached his son and warned " You chose the wrong day for defiance son. Leave or you will regret it son."
Vincenzo looked past his father at his grandfather. The old man was coughing. He couldn't leave him up hear. He knew there was some kind of feud between them but how bad was it? He could never imagine himself raising his hand on his father if he was in such situation. He loved his father. But how his father manhandled his father and the blood stains on his grandfather's shirt showed his father had no love for grandpa Paulo.
Vincenzo looked into his father's eyes " Please. Don't hurt grandpa..." He regretted his sentence instantly. Vincenzo couldn't speak now. His throat suddenly went dry as his father's penetrating stare was drilling holes inside him. His father's expression turned to the most terrifying he had ever seen. He gulped. His father whispered " What did you just say?"
Vincenzo took a deep breath and tried with all his strength to keep it together " Father. I know he is my grandfather. Please don't hurt him."
Francesco turned around towards the monster as he spoke from behind him " He is a Rosario. We always find a way if we want something badly."
Francesco reached into his pocket and took out his gun and pointed it at him. He shot his father but the bullet hit his hat and throw it off his head. Francesco warned " Don't speak. No one asked you to talk. You don't address my son. You don't have the right. The next word that you speak in my son's presence will be your last. Then, the bullet would land between your eyes rather than your hat." He then put his gun in his pocket as he turned to a shock Vincenzo who was looking past him at his grandfather. Francesco was surprised. Why was son bothered with that worthless excuse for a man leaning on the wall a few metres away from them. More than anything he wanted to shield his son so his father's worthless eyes didn't stare at his son. That monster didn't deserve to look at his flesh and blood.
Francesco felt defeated. As much as he wanted to turn around to kill his father, he couldn't. Not when his son knew who he was. He didn't know how his father had dared to show up in broad daylight of New York and arranging to see his son at this hotel, but he didn't care for that. He wanted his son out of there. His paternal instinct was stronger than he ever knew. He didn't want Vincenzo to be breathing the same air as his father. Somehow this defiant son of his had managed to meet up with his grandfather while he had been on holiday. He blamed himself and no one else for this unfortunate situation. He tried to get his son to follow his orders " You turn around son. You follow my instructions. You will wait in the car until I return. It is an order Vincenzo. Are you going to refuse to follow my instructions or are you going to obey me? Which is it son?"
Vincenzo looked past his father at his grandfather. He became determined to help him. He boldly declared "He needs a doctor."
Francesco chucked darkly " But he doesn't need a lawyer. Trust me son." He then asked " Answer my question son."
Vincenzo looked up at his father " I die for you father. If you ask me to jump off this roof I will father but... Please don't kill him."
Francesco was furious. His father had made an impression on his son. He took full responsibility for it. If he had protected his family this wouldn't have happened. He declared without looking behind him " You will answer for this." His words were directed at his father. He then took hold of his son's arm and dragged him out of the roof top area through the door as he pushed him forward " Move it son. Your mother is waiting in the car. Our plane landed hours ago. She needs to sleep. We talk about this tomorrow." He then shouted orders at his men to take prisoners as he let go of his son's arm as they entered the elevator.
Vincenzo looked at his father " What will happen to grandpa?"
Francesco glanced as his son and gave him a warning look " I don't want you to call him your grandpa. He is not worthy of your attention. He lives. Unfortunately. You should be asking me what will happen to you. You will not be speaking about seeing him at this place. You will not tell anyone. In particular your mother can't know. She would be worried. She can't know you have met the man I have tried so hard to protect you from. I will question you tomorrow about the extent of damage he has done to you and I will question him too."
Vincenzo suggested " You can question me tonight..,"
Francesco sighed " No. I can't son. I really can't." Francesco was not going to confront his son in anger. He was going to need to calm down. There were no visible scars on his son right now. He had to find the hidden ones his father might have left on him. He felt sick at the thought. He couldn't stand the thought of his son getting hurt.
As the elevator reached the ground floor, Francesco pressed a few buttons making the doors halt in opening. He took a deep breath and took a step closer to his son. He put his hands on his son's shoulders as he leaned close and planted a kiss on his forehead. He pulled away as he looked into his son's questioning eyes. He whispered " There is a question you must answer. You will not lie to me.... Has he hurt you? Are you in anyway harmed ever since you stepped foot on this property and he met up with you until this moment. I need to know son. I tried to protect you from him. But failed. I need to know if this one time he has managed to get to you, he has hurt you. Tell the truth."
Vincenzo felt guilty. His father thought this was the only time he had met his grandfather. He had no idea yet that he had seen his grandfather in more than one meeting. It explained his father's calmness. He didn't think any damage was done. He whispered "Father. I am not hurt. How can I be? I am safe from my blood. Grandp... I mean he... wasn't going to hurt me."
Francesco declared " If you lie to me, god help you son...."
Vincenzo replied quickly " I am fine...."
Francesco sighed in relief and pressed the buttons. He gestured to Vincenzo to follow him out of the elevator. The place was deserted.
Francesco walked outside and to his car. He entered his car and greeted his wife who was sitting inside the car worriedly looking at Francesco " Francesco. It has been hours of waiting...." She then saw her son enter. She smiled " How was the party son?"
Vincenzo looked at his father. As usual his mother knew nothing. He smiled. "It was ... unlike what I expected. But all is well. It was cut short abit early but..." He then stopped talking as his father gave him a warning look. He had tested his patience. He cleared his throat ".Welcome back mother." He then sat opposite his parents. His father was embracing his mother and planting kisses on her forehead while whispering " Sweetheart. Don't you know our children yet? Teenagers always enjoy themselves."
Adele turned to her husband " You cut short his party and made him come with us early? Why?"
Francesco replied " Sweetheart. We cut our holiday short and came back early. I will question our son about why we had to cut short our holiday for him."
Adele replied quick " I will make it up to you..."
Vincenzo didn't know how his father did it. With his mother, he was a completely different character. He transformed from businessman to husband. He never brought his work home unless he had to. Vincenzo didn't know for how long he could hide the truth from his father. He needed more time with his grandfather to learn everything the old man knew. If his father discovered the truth, it was going to have catastrophic consequences.