"If a man is honest and sincere, no matter how they treat him, he will stay the same because he was born as he is." - Mrs. Giudici

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Athena Guidici's POV

      "Enna, honey. I didn't know you're coming. You should have called us." Mom was smiling as she approached me and gave me a hug. 

"I'm sorry, mom. I just got bored at work and I thought I'd come have dinner with you guys. Is Andrew here?" I asked as I return her hug. 

"No, he's in Los Angeles," mom responded shortly.

"Where's dad?" I said as I followed her inside. She turns to face me. 

"He's in his office, on the phone with someone. He didn't go to work today actually. He's been on the phone since he was up this morning," mom resumed pacing towards the living room and I just trailed behind her. "I'm glad you came to see us tonight. I'm starting to get bored here. Your dad is not in the mood and I don't want to deal with him when he's cranky and agitated."

"So am I!" I blurted out and again, that irritation rises again. "So is Andrew dating someone?" I asked to occupy my thoughts. 

"That's why he's in Los Angeles. I think he met a veterinarian when he went to Italy and that girl lives in Los Angeles. I don't know if I'm right. I could be wrong," mom rambles. 

"Ah, I see." I bob my head. It would be interesting to see my brother with another girl. We never heard him dating anyone though he was linked to a few.

"Want something to drink?" mom offered, and I nodded. "Red wine, please mom." I plopped down lazily on their couch and reach out for the remote control and turn the TV on while mom head to the mini bar and poured us some red wine. 

My eyes were trained on the screen, but my head was wandering. I'm wondering if Gio is already at my condo, or he's still working. 

Oh, that dick! I shut my eyes off and gritted my teeth, my frustrations is getting the best of me.

"Are you okay, figlia?" I heard mom's worried voice and my eyes snapped open. She was hovering over me with wine on her hands. She handed me one. 

"I'm fine, mom. I'm just tired." I answered shortly. "Thanks, mom." As I took the wine and made a sip. 

"So how's Giovanni?" Mom's eyes sparkled as the name of Gio rolled out of her tongue. I almost rolled my eyes. I bit my inside cheek trying to stop myself from telling her what's going on exactly between us. Mom looks highly on him and I don't want to stain that. I guess I'm just over dramatic.

"He's doing fine, mom." I responded and my eyes trained on my wine and swirled the liquid as I watch the liquid sparkles. I made a tentative sip on my wine and averted my gaze to the television albeit my whole attention is somewhere.

"I like him," mom suddenly said that made me snap my head to her direction. She wasn't' looking at me. Her eyes were on the TV and I stared at her without a surprise. She also said that to Zander. I'm not surprised at all if she will like Gio, too. Mom has the kindest bone in all mankind. She will like anyone. "I didn't like Zander, to be honest." My eyebrows cocked. Her words contradict her actions. As far as I remember she adores that ass. 

"Mom, you adore him. Remember? You always make his favorite." I reminded her and she looks at me  in nonchalance. 

"I just want to make sure that he's not going to ever think of cheating on you because every Giudici loves him, but I was wrong. If a man is honest and sincere, no matter how they treat him, he will stay the same because he was born as he is." Mom retorted deeply and I looked at her shocked.

I can't believe she was faking it all those time. "Well, you should, at least, have told me, mom?" I know I sounded whiny, but I thought, if she had voice his disapproval, probably I wouldn't have prolonged that relationship. I do believe int the saying goes, "mother's knows best". 

"Well because I saw how happy you are with him, and I thought I was wrong in judging him. I gave him a chance to prove he was the right guy for you, but I guess, I was right. I regretted not voicing my disapproval, but it's too late honey. The damage has been done. And I'm sorry," mom looks at me apologetically and I sighed. 

I made a few successive sips and trained my eyes back on the screen. 

"Dinner is ready." I heard dad's voice and my head snapped to his direction. "Oh, figlia. What a surprise?" dad approached me and pulled me for a brief hug. 

"Are you alone?" he looks around us. 

"Yes, dad. He's working," I said to fill his curiosity.

"Oh, great. Then, it's nice to have you alone tonight. We have some things to talk about," dad said and he led us and mom to the dining room. 

Mom sat on dad's right side and I sat on his left. We started eating while dad and mom conversing. I pitch in once in a while.

"So how's Giovanni's business doing, Enna?" dad asked and trained his eyes on me even when he slice his pork chop.

"Honestly, I don't know dad." I shrugged.

"Oh .." dad bob his head as he grabs his wine and made a sip, but his eyes never left me. He's acting strange, but I shook the thoughts off. Sometimes, I'm over thinking things. Just like why Giovanni was sending securities to watch me. 

I averted my attention to my pork chop and slice a piece and pop it in my mouth. The pork chop is very tasty, but I have no appetite and I know why. I'm so used to eat with Gio. I missed him. 

"Are you okay, figlia?" mom asks. My head snapped in her direction and forced a smile. 

"I am, mom. The pork chop is so tasty," I commented feigning a happy tone. When I look at dad, he stared at me deeply. My eyebrows involuntarily furrowed. Definitely, something's wrong with my dad.

"Is something wrong, dad?" I asked. 

Dad shook his head and made a successive sip of his wine. "Nothing, figlia." I shook off that crazy thoughts nagging me and resumed my dinner.

Moments later, only the clanking of forks, knives, and plates filled the room. 

            AFTER DINNER, dad invited me to his office and we talk. I heard my phone incessantly vibrating, but I ignored it. I was listening intently with my dad. 

"Enna, I have something important thing to tell you and I want you to listen carefully, figlia. I don't know how long am I going to live, and I need someone to pass this information. Someone whom I can trust," dad started and that's all it was to get my full attention. 

I ignored the incessant vibrating of my phone in my hand as I gave my attention to my dad. I didn't even bother checking who was calling. Dad's voice is very serious and I was so curious what it is. It seems too important. 

"In my vault, there's a tape that a few people only knew what's in there and these people are willing to die to have that back. This is a proof of a several crooks businessman, and if this goes to a wrong hand, many lives would be in danger." Dad eyed me with intensity. His eyes held so much seriousness and his tone held sternness. My heart suddenly picks up a pace. I get goosebumps for some reason. 

"What's in the tape dad?" I asked. 

"I don't know. Just don't listen to it, Enna. It's better if you knew nothing." My eyebrows furrowed. Why not? How would I know the tape is really important? Now, that tape piques my interest. 

"Just listen, figlia. If something happened to me, give the tape to the authority," dad's eyes held fear and it really bothered me. He really looks troubled and I could feel the weight of his anxiety.

"Why don't you bring it to the authority dad and they will take care of it? Why do you have to keep it?" I said, frustrations building up in my system. I'm getting pissed to this thing. Seeing my dad looking all but distraught made me really angry.

"Enna, it's not that easy. If I'll do that, everything that I work for, you, your mom, your brother and everything that I have, will be gone. Please, Enna. Listen to me baby, I need you to promise me .." dad's eyes glisten and I knew the intensity of this promises. I don't know if I can do it. And I don't understand why it's me?

"Dad, why me? Don't you have any other confidante whom you can trust?" I asked, and honestly, I'm panicking. 

"Because it's only you that I trust, honey. Andrew? I don't think he would listen to me. You know him, he's the most stubborn one." Dad explained. I know I was the lamb in this family.

I sighed. I look at my phone involuntarily and saw Giovanni's missed calls. 

"Not even Giovanni should know about this." My head snapped back up to my dad. He stood up, hands balled in fists as he shoved it in his pockets.

My heart suddenly races and my eyebrows pressed together tightly. My head races with a lot of questions. Dad slowly turns to me and my head couldn't come up with just one question with all this things running in my head. Why can't Giovanni know about it? Why did it have to be me? Why do we have to suffer for this damn thing? Why can't we just let the authority do their job and why we have to go through difficulties if there's someone who can possibly help us. WHY?

"Do you love that guy?" All the more my  eyebrows presses tightly and I could feel the crease line tripled up above my forehead. What's the relationship of this damn thing with our relationship and Giovanni?

And now, Giovanni has no name to him?

"Dad, that guy has a name and he's my boyfriend!" I spat angrily. I couldn't contain the bitterness and disappointment in my voice. "And I love him," I answered his question, still dumbfounded where this topic would end. He's really acting strange to me.

"His father was the head of the largest group mafia in Lazio and I know Giovanni is still involved in that organization. His dad who was known for "One-Eyed" and I know he's after that tape too-"

My heart feels like bursting. So it's all occur to me, why he is temperamental, he has battalions of securities flanking around him. Then, that day when he shot that innocent security, his eyes held no guilt. I was unconsciously shaking my head. I can't accept the fact that it may be true. Now, all his actions are dawning on me. 

God, no. I did a facepalm while still shaking my head. "Do you think he knows that you have the tape, dad?" I asked. 

"That's what I'm wondering that all of a sudden, he suddenly had an interest in you," dad commented and my head snapped back to him. Tears stinging my eyes. My heart bursting with the realizations slowly dawning on me. 

"He was using me to get that tape, isn't he?" mostly telling myself, but enough for my dad's grasp.

"That's what I'm thinking, honey." Dad nodded his head. His eyes held fury and I felt the tears rolled down my cheeks. 

"He used me! I can't believe he used me!" I burst out and palmed my face as I let the tears streamed down my cheeks. "Oh God, why did I know that? Why did I ever believe him?" 

"I'm sorry honey, I should have told you before. I thought you will never fall for his kind. You know he's a manwhore, right?" dad sounded like blaming me, but I ignored it. I'm too hurt right now to think of anything. My heart is like twinged with vice and left it bleeding. I felt so broken and angry. Furious!

"Why didn't you tell me this earlier, dad? Why just now?" I stared at my dad with frustrations and disappointments. 

"I got scared. I don't know how to tell you about the tape. And, I thought you would not fall for him because I know, you're smarter than falling to a manwhore, but I misjudge him." Dad sighed in regrets.

I was shaking my head in disbelief. I couldn't believe I was played with both my father and Giovanni. "Why me? Did I ever do something to deserve this slap?" I mumbled to myself. I heard dad heaved a harsh breath but he didn't say a word. "I was a nice kid, right dad? I always was," I rambled, tasting the saltiness of my own tears, streaming incessantly like a pouring rain. 

"You were always the nice kid, Enna. You don't deserve this, honey," I felt dad hug me from behind. All the more I felt vulnerable and my heart breaks with all this revelations. I felt ripped apart. My heart torn into pieces. Pain settle in my heart and it digs down deeper. 

"I'm sorry, honey. I'm sorry." Dad hushed and all the more I felt the tears kept pouring. The stinging realization didn't stop slapping me. I was used. He used me to get that tape. He is a mafia leader and he was heartless. People are right. He is ruthless and he'll do anything, used all resources to get what he wants, and I was unfortunate to be his toy to get what he wants. I was naive to believe that he truly love me. Now, I understand why he sent those assholes to watch over me. Probably to get information about the tape. 

DAMN HIM!

I grit my teeth and bit my bottom lip as I tried to stop the tears from rolling. I need to toughen up and face this trials. I overcame the heartaches from my past relationship with Zander. I can do it with him. 

              AFTER FIXING myself and made sure I look fine, I walk out of my father's library and headed to the door. Mom was still sitting in the living room watching her favorite show, Jimmy Fallon. 

"I'm leaving mom," I forced a happy tone and mom smiled sweetly as she stood up. 

"Thanks for coming tonight, honey. Bring Giovanni next time, alright?" Mom pulled me and gave me a hug, then she kiss my cheeks before I left.

I drove off their driveway with a rising anger as I thought of the talk we had and my father. Two important men in my life who played me in their palms.

I arrived at my condo and I saw Giovanni on the couch watching with a Whiskey in his hand. He looks emotionless and I just passed him. My anger suddenly bubbles up in my system. I heard his footstep following me.

"Why are you not answering your damn phone!" That dominance in his tone held so much power and danger and it slowly creeping me out. I stop and face him, holding that unfazed stance. I gave him an impassive look.

"I am busy!"

"BUSY? FUCKING BUSY? OF WHAT?" his thunderous voice filled the room and I flinched. Fear suddenly crawled in my gut. 

No, I'm not scared of him. I'm not afraid of him! I kept telling myself as I braced myself of this confrontation.

"Talking to my dad," I said flatly. "Do you want to tell me something that I don't know?" I asked. His eyes suddenly flickered some unknown emotions and then vanish promptly, leaving me a detach and emotionless eyes. 

"What do you want to know?" he asked. His voice toned down an octave. That deep voice sounded menacing to me, which I always find it sexy before. The confidence I'm trying to build up is slowly withering. 

"Anything. Be honest with me," I coaxed. I stared deeply into his gorgeous eyes that I once fell in love with, well until now and I hate myself for that. 

His eyes soften, then he turns his back and swigged the whole amount of liquid left in his glass. He looks down on his glass with his other hand resting in his pocket. 

"I have nothing to say, Enna. I already told you everything," he said. With that, I turned and walk away.

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A/N: I know this chapter is too sad and I was crying when I was writing this. I don't want to make it sad, but life is not always happy. We always have trials and now, Enna and Gio is now facing the worst in their relationship. Let's see how they will keep on holding on...