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

17. Before School Hours

Michangelo was outside his father's mansion standing next to a car. He was leaning on the car boot and was looking at his watch after he had taken the engine apart and put it back together. This was his idea of killing time. This was a good distraction. Ever since he was young, cars were his passion.

It was pretty early for school and he had done his morning exercise. Now he just had to kill time and wait for breakfast trying to avoid his father at all costs who was somewhere inside the mansion.

Machangelo was reluctant to stay in a house where his father had all but declared him a prisoner. Living under his roof was a prison sentence now. His father was overdoing it. This was all to teach him a lesson. He had taken his mother's side and his father hadn't liked it one bit in the divorce court room. Now it was pay back time. His bedroom had security systems attached that he couldnt get through. He tried once to get out of his room before he was allowed to and there were guards falling from the roof and jumping through window wanting to disarm him. His father was just making a statement that Michangelo was now to do as he was told. He had to earn the right to have control over his routine. He hadn't dared even mention his mother and her whereabouts. She was being treated for her illness in a building behind the woods in front of their mansion but he wasn't allowed to visit unless he was told it was time.

A guard walked upto him "Sir. There is a phone call for you."

Michangelo nodded and walked inside the house. His father was not out of the house so as long as his father was not on the other side of the line, he was going to be fine. He didnt trust himself when it came to confronting his father. He didnt want to make things worse. But he wanted to tell him to stop showing power. His father had already won. Why was he adamant on making his life a prison. His father insisted on the guards being strict with him. He was not allowed to have any flexibility with the exact timetable and routine given to him. If they reported his lack of discipline the worst his father could do was to banish him... He didnt want to end up in boarding school in the middle of no where with no means of communication."

Michangelo went to the phone and picked it up "Hi."

He heard Natalia's voice "Hi."

Michangelo was surprised "Are you sure you called the right house?"

Natalia asked "Yes. Why?"

Michangelo said "Why would you call my house? The phone lines are controlled... by my father."

Natalia said " It's not like I am trying to help you break out of your house or anything. I am just calling to check if you are Alright. Yesterday I was absent because of student council duties off site. I just found out from Nathan about what happened. I am glad you sound alright."

Michangelo said "I am safer here than I will be anywhere else. Why would you think I won't be alright?"

Natalia said "Your Father is pretty angry."

Michangelo said "He is. Pretty angry. I don't blame him. He still insists on making me pay even though he now has what he wanted all along. The annulment of his divorce is all done. My parents are back to married life."

Natalia asked "Nathan told me you are going to be under 24 hour watch for weeks with all your privileges taken away. Is it true you don't even have rights to watch TV?"

Michangelo said "I have no privileges for the same length that I took my mother's side in the divorce. He quoted the exact number of days and hours that I need to atone for."

Natalia asked "What were you meant to do? Just abandon your mother?"

Michangelo said "Yes. So my father could end the divorce faster. Me being on her side made this a family show too. He could end the divorce battle earlier if I didn't take my mother's side. He didn't want to come across as forceful. But he has now annulled the divorce."