Chapter 22: Danil

"Papa. Sorry, I have a friend over. Can you come over another day?" I state.

"Who?"

"Just a friend," I reply, hoping that he doesn't pressure me to find out who, because I don't think that he would understand.

"Danil, tell me. Is it a boyfriend or someone special?" Papa demands, and I have a feeling that he is not going to drop the subject, but I hope to God he understands.

"No, not a boyfriend. It's Rory," I say.

"Danil. I need you to get him out of there now," Papa says, and there is an edge to his voice that wasn't there before.

"Papa, I needed to talk to him. It's fine. Look, sorry, but I have to go," And I hang up before my Papa can say anything else.

"Everything okay?" Rory asks, as I make my way back over to him with the beers I was getting for us when my Papa called.

"Yeah, my Papa wanted to come over to see me, thats all," I tell him.

"Oh, I can go," Rory replies, moving to the edge of his seat.

"No, I told him that you were here. It was probably wedding related, and I definitely dont want to talk about that at the moment."

"You still havent spoken to Dom, then?" Rory asks.

"No. I have thought about it, but no. We are going to have to at some point, especially with Papas wedding in a few months, but I think we are both too raw at the moment."

"So, you don't think you are going to get back together?" Rory asks, his voice suddenly sounding a little too eager. There might even be a hint of a smile trying to appear.

"No, we aren't getting back together, and I have learned my lesson," I state and look over to him. I need to see if his expression changes.

"What lesson is that?" Rory asks, quickly followed by a sip of beer. He had to have done this on purpose to hide his mouth.

"Well," I start before taking a sip of my own beer so I can wait for Rory to lower his. "I am off dating and relationships. They just aren't for me. Losing Dom hurt too damn much and there is no way I am going to put myself through that again."

As I thought, Rorys expression changes. It's the smallest of movements and if I hadn't been paying close attention, I would have missed it. But he's not happy with that statement at all.

"Yeah. One-night stands and having a good time works for me just fine," I add.

"So, you're never going to date again? Never have another boyfriend?" Rory asks, and I see that he is trying to be friendly but there is an edge to his voice. One that is telling me he isn't happy.

"Yep," I tell him, and take another sip of my beer.

"Danil, never, is a long time. You never know who you might meet," Rory says.

"The only people I plan on meeting are going to be in clubs, and most of the time the guys there only want to have a good time. And I will only be too happy to oblige."

"Oh," Rory finally replies, and there is a definite note of defeat in his voice.

I am starting to have my suspicions that Rory isn't as sweet as he is making out, and that he might be behind me and Dom splitting up, in the hope that I will see him in a new light and he and I will start dating. But, that was never going to happen with us, especially as I am starting to think that he is more involved in the accident than he is letting on. Even if there is a part of me that says Rory's my friend and could never do that. I know that I am going to need to go to the cops with evidence.

"Anyway, enough about me and Dom, have you heard anything more from the police?" I ask him.

"No. They said they will be in contact and that they are still investigating the accident, but would pass on my details regarding my truck being stolen."

"Well, at least they are passing on the details regarding your truck. That has to mean that they no longer suspect you," I say.

"Yeah, I think your confirmation that I was with you helped," Rory states.

The words ‘but you weren't with me the whole time' are on the tip of my tongue, but that is not going to help me get information that will help the cops. Even though I have asked Papa for help, I don't want to think too much about where that information is coming from. From conversations I have witnessed, I am not sure his work with Alfredo was exactly legal.

"I only told them what I knew." I'm trying to work on my answer so that it's as diplomatic as ever.

"I will be glad when this is all over," Rory states.

"I will only be happy when they find Alessias killer. Whoever did that deserves to rot in prison for the rest of their lives," I tell him.

"What happens if it was just a simple accident?" Rory replies.

"If that was the case, why did the truck drive off? If the person was innocent, they would have stopped. No, this person, as far as I am concerned, ran Alessia off the road on purpose and they deserve to suffer," I tell him, and I put as much conviction behind my words as I can, to make sure he understands that I mean every one of them. "Actually," I add, "did the cops tell you where the truck was found?"

"I think they said it was about twenty blocks away from the accident. It had been hidden down an alley. Not visible from the main street," Rory tells me, which seems like too much information to be telling someone. There is some real specific information there.

"Yes, that is always something that confused me," I say pensively.

"What?" Rory replies, looking interested.

"Why didnt the person drive further away from the scene? Why hide the vehicle? Why didn't they take it somewhere and set it on fire?"

Rory's eyebrows rise in the tiniest of movements, and again, if I hadn't been sitting next to him, I might not have seen it. At the moment, I am so pleased that my Papa taught me how to read people. I am nowhere as good as him. He can tell if people are lying from across the room, but I need to be closer and have to be concentrating. I don't always get it right, but Rory is definitely hiding something.

"No idea," he replies. "Maybe the driver never even thought of that. Maybe the sick motherfucker wanted to go look at the carnage they had caused. The cops told me the truck was clean. No prints were found."

"But surely your prints would have been in there?" I ask, trying to sound surprised.

"Apparently the truck had been wiped completely clean, removing all of my prints too. Whoever they are, they knew what they were doing."

"I'm sure the cops will find something. Someone like that always messes up," I tell him before quickly adding, "but hey, you were coming over to keep me company and all we've done is talk about Dom and the accident."

"Its okay," Rory replies, giving me a smile that I am beginning to think isn't as genuine as I thought. "That's what friends are for."

"Anyway, should we watch a movie?" I ask, and Rory nods his head. I am just picking up the controls when there is a knock on my apartment door. "What the…" My neighbors never call on me and my security phone didn't go off, so I have no idea who this could be.

Opening my apartment door, I see Papa and Lorenzo standing there. Lorenzo is smirking, but Papa, well, Papa looks furious.

"Papa," I whisper. "I'm okay. I have no idea why you're here, but you better change that expression."

When I see Papa trying to mask his emotions, I walk away from them, knowing that they will follow me in.

"Rory, so sorry, its my Papa and…" I look over to Lorenzo who just shrugs his shoulders. "Lorenzo. He is a close friend of the family, and Doms cousin." Turning to my Papa, I look at him. "I told you I have a friend over. Surely whatever wedding stuff you needed to discuss it could've waited."

"Actually, no. It couldn't. Both me and Lorenzo need to talk to you tonight," Papa replies and looks around me to Rory. "Sorry Rory, but you understand, right?"

"Yes, of course. Let me grab my coat and I will let you guys talk," Rory replies, getting to his feet.

"Thanks Rory," Papa states.

"So, you're Rory," Lorenzo says, holding out his hand. "Its nice to put a face to the name at last. Danil always tells us what a great friend you have been recently."

A smile appears on Rorys face. "I just do what any good friend would do. But look, I know the way out. You get settled with your Papa."

"Thanks for understanding," I replied, and pull him into a hug.

"Bye," Rory states, giving Papa and Lorenzo a wave.

When I turn to look at them, both faces staring back at me are less than happy, and I have a feeling I am not going to hear the end of this for a while. When Papa goes to speak, I shake my head. I haven't heard the apartment door close fully.

"Let me get us some drinks," I say, and turn towards the kitchen, and only then do I hear the door close.

Going back over to them, I sit on the edge of the coffee table and lean forward.

"What the hell are the pair of you doing here?" I whisper.

"Well," Papa starts.

"Keep your voice down. I bet he is currently standing outside the door. Talk about wedding stuff," I say, keeping my voice low before getting up from the coffee table and walking over to the window. I don't have the best view from up here, but I should be able to spot Rory on the sidewalk.

It takes a lot longer than it should before I spot him on the sidewalk, proving my point that he must have been listening outside my door. When Lorenzo mentioned the hotel, flower arrangements and suits, at a louder volume than needed, he left.

"Hes gone," I say, turning back to them. "Now, I ask again, what the hell are you doing here?"

"Danil, its Rory," Papa starts, but Lorenzo suddenly interrupts us.

"I've seen him before."

"How?" I know that I have only briefly introduced him to Papa.

"It was weeks ago. Before the accident. He came into my shop, but it looked like he was watching someone. Stood by the door looking out on the sidewalk. Jumped a mile when I approached him," Lorenzo explains.

"You're one hundred percent sure that he was watching someone?" Papa demands.

"Completely. When he left, I even stood in the doorway to see what he was doing. In my opinion, he was following someone."

"Yeah, and I bet I know who. Danil," Papa says.

"Papa, I haven't been anywhere near Lorenzo's shop."

"What about the day we met for coffee? The day you told me you were gay," Papa states.

"You're gay?" Lorenzo states, sounding surprised.

"Thanks Papa," I say, giving him a side glance. "Yeah, I'm gay. Like father, like son."

"Wow, but you know, you would be a great match for Dom," Lorenzo says, and Papa spins around quickly to look at him, making Lorenzo smirk. "What?"

"My son going out with my future brother-in-law sounds wrong," Papa states. Hearing that makes me glad that we never told him about Dom and me.

"Why?" Lorenzo suddenly demands. "They aren't blood related, and I think they would have a lot in common. I know Dom loves hiking. Is my cousin not good enough for your son?"

"Lorenzo," I try to interrupt, because he has this look on his face like he is about to tackle Papa to the ground.

"No Danil, I want Frank to explain this."

"Lorenzo, there is nothing wrong with Dom. He is a nice guy. But he comes with some hefty baggage," Papa says, and even I am shocked at that one.

"Hefty baggage. You're kidding, right? Your baggage is so much worse, hell, there aren't enough airport carousels in the world to deal with your baggage, and yet, G never once batted an eyelid. Now grow up," Lorenzo states, and I cannot help but stare at him. The only other person I have heard talk to Papa like that is Mom. Its quite fun to watch, really. "So how about it?" Lorenzo asks, turning his attention to me. "When all this shit is settled how about I organize a date for you and Dom?"

"Thanks Lorenzo. But I don't date," I say.

"Jesus Christ, you really are like your father. You cannot play the field forever," Lorenzo says.

"Maybe, but wouldn't you find that dating someone in the family could get awkward? What happens if we go out for a while, and we break up?" I ask him, thinking about my own heartache.

"You act like the adults you are and get over it. You will always be family first and want the other person to be happy, even if it is not with you," Lorenzo says.

"And if one of us is in love and the other isn't, then what? Do you know how painful it would be to see them with someone else?" I explain.

"It would be tough and painful, but you'd cope," Lorenzo says.

"Sorry Lorenzo, I am sure that Dom is lovely. But I am not prepared to date someone in the family."

Looking in Papa's direction, I find him staring at me. His eyebrows are raised in a way that I know I have probably said something to give myself away. He must have figured out that something was going on between us, and I know at some point, he is going to question me about it. Hopefully, dealing with Rory will occupy him enough not to question me too soon.

"Now, about Rory," I say over to them, needing to know why they are there.

"Yeah, lets get this back on track," Papa says. "You know how you came to me asking to look into Rory? Well, I reached out to someone, and was surprised to learn he knew of Rory."

Sitting back down on the coffee table, I listen as Papa explains about Rory stalking someone else, how he sent him gifts that were identical to the ones he sent me, the ones that basically convinced Dom that I was cheating on him. But when Papa explains that Rory stabbed someone, I end up rushing to the bathroom, just making it to the toilet before I'm sick.

Sitting on the floor next to the toilet, I rest up against the wall and close my eyes. I was a complete fool. Rory drew me in, and I fell for it. He acted like the perfect best friend, and all the time he was manipulating me. So much for me reading people. Rory won, again.

Pulling out my cell phone, I need to call Dom. I need to talk to him. Tell him how sorry I am. That I should never have listened to Rory. I hit call and put the phone up to my ear, but it goes straight to voicemail. I end the call and try again. The same thing happens again. I debate leaving a message, but I don't. I don't think Dom would listen to it anyway.

I feel the tears start to roll down my cheeks, and I am not sure whether I am crying over Rory's betrayal or if it's the pain of knowing that I allowed myself to be fooled, and lost one of the best things in my life.

A gentle knock comes on the bathroom door. "Danil," Papas voice sounds.

"You can come in, Papa," I say, composing myself even if there is no way that I am going to be able to hide the fact that I have been crying.

"You okay?" he asks, coming to sit next to me.

"Not really," I tell him honestly. "Rory is my best friend, and I cannot believe he did this to me. He destroyed my life and I stood there and let him."

"Danil, I need to ask you something, and you don't have to tell me, but," Papa starts, and I know he is going to ask me about Dom, and I know that I am not going to lie to him. "Were you seeing someone?"

I nod my head in agreement.

"Was it Dom?" Papa asks.

Hearing Papa ask breaks what little composure I had, and I let the pain take over. Sobs wrack my body and I instantly feel Papa pull me to him. Not pushing me for an answer, just letting me cry, before I finally squeak out, "Yes."

"Oh Danil. I am sorry," Papa says, but doesn't push me to talk about it anymore.

"Papa," I say through sobs. "Please don't tell the family. I can't deal with them knowing."

"This stays between us," Papa states, and pulls me closer.

"Rory's won, again, hasn't he?" I say into his shoulder.

"Like hell he has," Papa says defiantly. "He does not know who he messed with, this time round."

"Are you going to kill him?" I ask suddenly, admitting for the first time ever that I have an idea of what his life was like.

"No," Papa says. "But, God, I want to. We need to make sure that Rory suffers for what he did. Death would be too quick. Plus, Wyatt and Liam would kill me. Now, are you feeling up to going back into the living room?"

"Yeah," I say, and Papa lets me go. "When did you figure it out? About me and Dom."

"I had a suspicion when I came to pick up Dom, but you basically confirmed it with your little speech to Lorenzo."

"He hates me, Papa."

"He doesn't hate you, but I think you both need time to heal," Papa says. "Now, get up and help me up. I am getting old."

"Bullshit, Papa. I know you keep in shape; you have to, G is a lot younger than you," I call him out.

"Fine," Papa replies, getting up easily off the floor. "Before we head out, I am going to need to tell Lorenzo that you were seeing someone. I'm not going to mention any names, it's just that, you not dating anyone was making Rorys actions seem strange."

"Okay," I agree. "Papa, I'm sorry if I disappointed you by going out with Dom." Thinking about what he said earlier.

"I should never have said what I said earlier. In truth, I was just wanting to see if you would react. I should apologize. I probably baited both you and Lorenzo. Did he make you happy?" Papa asks.

"For a while there, he did," I told him.

"All I want is for you to be happy. That is all I want for all my kids. Let's get Rory and then both of us can look into seeing if we can repair the damage," Papa says, giving me a smile.

"Lorenzo," Papa states. "Danil was seeing someone. Rory's MO was the same. Except this time, he broke them up, and I think he killed Alessia. Let's get the fucker. No one messes with our family and gets away with it."

"Too damn right," Lorenzo replies.

I look over to Papa and Lorenzo and realize that when Papa was talking about all his kids, he wasn't just talking about me and Anya, he was talking about all of us. Rory doesn't stand a chance. He messed with the wrong family this time.