Nicandro O'Neil (Book 5: A Mob Boss's Son)

13. Family Affairs

Rafaela Rossi was sitting behind her desk watching her nephew write down lines.

There was a knock on the door and the receptionist came in "Ma'am. There is a phone call for Michangelo Rossi. He needs to leave isolation come to take the call."

Rafaela nodded "I will send him shortly."

The receptionist nodded and left.

Michangelo put a cap on his pen.

Rafaela said "May I see how much you have written so far?" She then stood up and walked to his desk.

Rafaela picked up the paper and froze. Her nephew had not written what she had told him to write. It read "You are lucky aunt Rafaela that you are family ..." This was a threat loud and clear to warn her to back off.

Michangelo, stood up and looked at his aunt and held back as much as he could manage " I didn't write what you asked. What is it going to be? Are you going to say that I have to write what you said as my homework for tonight? You are welcome to write down the reminder note in my homework diary for my father to see. Sign and date it. I will make sure to tell Arcangelo and Maria Angela too what you asked me to write. Would you like them to write it too?" The look on his aunts face was priceless who was still looking at the paper thinking hard. It was worth the wait to see it. He was always patient with her and ignored her insults but this time she had gone far. When she went speechless was a pretty sight.

His aunt said "Well...Let me consider it..."

She was thinking hard by the looks of it. She definitely needed to consider it. This was a big mistake on her part. As their blood relative she said what she wanted but as long as she didn't cross the boundaries. His father may have just let it go by giving her a warning or would have intimidated her to not insult his wife in public and his sister, Maria Angela would have told their aunt what she taught of it. However, his brother was a different kind of extreme. He would have destroyed his aunt.  Michangelo could totally see it. Him paying her a visit and torturing the hell out of her for insulting their blood. Arcangelo could not forgive their mother for her role in initialising this divorce and not taking any steps to get back together with their father when her husband had not ever wronged her. Despite how much he spoke bitterly about their mother he would have not stood anyone else beside their own family to express opinions about her.

Rafaela quickly said "Leave... The phone call must be important..."

Michangelo could see she probably was wishing he would not come back so they didn't have to continue their conversation. She normally was careful in not insulting his mother directly and was just making non obvious insulting comments. But this time she had crossed the line by not withholding her extreme hateful words.

Michangelo walked past her knowing how serious it could get. The last person who accidentally called his mother, Tatiana and not Mrs Rossi, was hung upside down and beaten to a pulp by his brother. That was right after the divorce even. His aunt knew what kind of honour they lived by. Michangelo was laid back. His brother was wasn't. She definitely was going to reconsider the task.

His aunt said "I think I will get another teacher to cover next. They will set your next task."

Michangelo left the room knowing his aunt was never learning her lesson either way. Instead of apologising she just went along with it. Why couldn't she admit she was wrong? The hate for his mother ran deep. Prejudice blinded the adults at times. He went to the reception trying to guess who it could be.