Dominic

"Roxanna, what the hell are you talking about?"

"It's so entertaining watching you being so far in the dark when it comes to someone you trust. Dom, just when you think you can trust those who share your blood, turns out everybody is capable of stabbing those who they claim to love in the back. This really is a cutthroat business filled with greed, ambition, unconscionable people doing unspeakable things." 

"If you're implying that my sister is capable of stabbing me in the back Roxanna, you really have lost your damn mind. I refuse to believe your outrageous lies," I snap. She nearly tumbles over the chairs as she stands up.

"This is absolutely scrumptious. All this time you have been so incredibly blind when it comes to that scandalous sister of yours," she chuckles as she lifts the glass of wine to her lips.

"Do you have any idea at all how much you're pissing me off, Roxanna?  Darlene would never betray my trust. I know she would never stab her own brother in the back," I remind her.

"You sure about that, Dom? I seem to recall nobody thought your despicable father would never betray his own brother, and yet here we are your uncle Salvatore dead as dead can be at the hands of his brother, your father Nicolas."

"I told you never mention my father's name around me, Roxanna." 

"It really wasn't a great loss, was it Dom? After all your father is the one responsible for your poor mother's brutal death and your uncle Salvatore also did some vile things. Do you ever wonder if you share more than just part of your father's name?  Maybe you're also capable of one day snapping and murdering your precious wife just like your father snapped and murdered your mother."

"You bitch, you just crossed a line you cannot uncross," I growl clenching my fist.

"Betrayal seems to run deep in your family against each other, Dom." 

"Your days are officially numbered, Roxanna," I warn her.

"Do you ever wonder why Natalie agreed to meet your sister all alone and felt safe enough taking little Franco?" 

"Darlene told me she took Natalie and Franco out for their birthday," I inform her.

"Did she? I'm assuming your sister never told you anything else about their fatal outing that day."

"Roxanna, if there is something you want to say, just say it and stop playing these damn mind games," I shout.

"Dominic, Roxanna," Darlene glares in Roxanna's direction. 

"Question your sister, if you have the balls. And by the way, your sister isn't the only one who drove a knife deep in your back," Roxanna says before stumbling her way past the chair.

"I see Roxanna decided to hit the alcohol early. Wonder if she will actually make it to the back yard before passing out?" She chuckles before looking back at me glaring at her.

"Darlene, why do you think that insane psycho seems to think you have been less than honest with me?" I question her.

"Dom, what the hell did that drunken lush tell you?" Darlene asks me.

"A lot, actually. And none of it shines you in a good light, Darlene." 

"Dominic, you know you can't trust all the bull shit that Roxanna spews out of her lying mouth. What exactly did she say to you?" 

"She was talking about our evil father. Then she went on to talk about Natalie, Franco, and how I might end up becoming a version of our father. She said that you were with Natalie and Franco the day they both died. Care to explain what the hell she was talking about?" I ask her and notice the fear developing in her eyes.

"Dom, you know me, Natalie, and Franco went out that day for their birthday because I couldn't be here for their birthday party," she says with a trembling voice. Her body tenses as I step in front of her.

" I have been in this horrible business my entire life, so have you. You know I have basically trained myself to smell lies and I have studied the best men who have learned to be able to detect lies. A person's body language, not being able to make eye contact, tripping over their own words is a clear indication of when someone is trying to keep someone from knowing the full truth. At this very moment, I am smelling lies." 

"R-Roxanna's lies, Dom. Y-you know she isn't keen on telling the truth." She stammers her words as she looks down at the ground and fumbles with her fingers unable to make eye contact.

"You're right, Roxanna is one of the biggest liars I know. And so is someone else I know," I softly whisper next to her ear and hear her suck in a deep breath of air.

"Dom, I'm your sister. Please tell me you know in your heart I would never betray you," her voice cracks as she pleads. 

"That's something else, Darlene. The truth has a better ring to it. When someone is lying, they tend to show small hints of their lies and of their deception. And you my darling sister, are showing classic signs of being a liar," I whisper. She places her hands on my chest pushing back. 

"I can't believe you're willing to believe someone who lies on a daily basis over you own sister, Dominic." 

"You know how this is going to play out, right? That seed is now planted, Darlene. My curiosity, my drive for finding the truth, and my determination won't go away. I am going to give you one chance to tell me the complete truth without leaving out even the smallest detail. You know who I am, you know how much I hate being lied to, Darlene. Now is your chance to be honest with me," I say as I feel the veins in my neck popping from anger. 

"Dominic, please, will you listen to yourself? You also know me. I would never betray you," she pleads once again unable to convince me.

"If I find out that Roxanna is the one telling me the truth and you're the one lying, let's just say, I guess I really am our father's son." 

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean, Dom?" She asks and I step even closer to her with rage in my eyes.

"It means, sister dear, it won't bode well for you," I warn her.

"I can believe you're standing here in front of me and threatening me, Dom. I'm your sister."

"And I am not someone you want to betray, Darlene. We both were born to the same evil monster. Neither one of us were born into what is considered a normal and loving family. Both of us are capable of some heinous acts. Both of us have done things that would make anyone's blood run cold. You know my stance on betrayal. You're not oblivious to the fact that is something I will not stand for. It doesn't matter who the person is committing the betrayal. Anyone chooses to betray me, is living on borrowed time." 

"Dom, look at me. We grew up together. I know I haven't always shown you how much I love you, but damn it, I am the one person who has been here with you and for you. Making sure you get what you rightfully deserve. I would never betray you," her words fall flat being able to convince me.

"Dominic?" I hear Addison calling for me. I turn to see her standing by the large oak tree and the few falling fall-colored leaves floating down beside her.

"I'm far from being a stupid man, Darlene.  You know how I become once I have even the smallest suspicion someone is going behind my back, then trying to shove a knife in it. Once the pit bull me latches onto something, it refuses to let go."

I'm not lying to you, Dom."

"For your sake, Darlene, I hope not," I say.