Running from the Don: Too Late for "Papa"
228 Views · Ongoing · Agatha Christie
In this house, my son isn't allowed to call his father "Papa."
Vincenzo Marchesi is a mafia Don. He doesn't do fatherhood. He didn't even look at Leo the day he was born, simply because he never wanted us. He forces the boy to exclusively call him "Sir."
But tonight, Vincenzo broke his own rules. He stumbled through the door, chuckled, and scooped Leo into the air. "Mama, look!" Leo gasped, his eyes lighting up. "Why is Sir so happy?"
I walked close enough to smell the whiskey. But beneath it was the sickeningly sweet scent of vanilla perfume. Isabella's perfume.
His first love—the woman he actually wanted to marry—was back.
I pulled Leo out of Vincenzo's arms. Vincenzo didn't even try to stop me. He just rubbed his temples and walked past us to his bedroom.
"Sir is happy because a very special woman came back to town today," I said, putting both hands on my son's shoulders. "He finally got what he wanted. We have to pack, Leo."
Leo furiously wiped his tears away with his sleeve. He stood perfectly still before looking up. "Mama, can I give Sir three more chances before we run away?"
"Yes," I answered.
I will let Vincenzo have his three chances. But once my son's heart is completely broken, we will walk out the door.
Vincenzo Marchesi is a mafia Don. He doesn't do fatherhood. He didn't even look at Leo the day he was born, simply because he never wanted us. He forces the boy to exclusively call him "Sir."
But tonight, Vincenzo broke his own rules. He stumbled through the door, chuckled, and scooped Leo into the air. "Mama, look!" Leo gasped, his eyes lighting up. "Why is Sir so happy?"
I walked close enough to smell the whiskey. But beneath it was the sickeningly sweet scent of vanilla perfume. Isabella's perfume.
His first love—the woman he actually wanted to marry—was back.
I pulled Leo out of Vincenzo's arms. Vincenzo didn't even try to stop me. He just rubbed his temples and walked past us to his bedroom.
"Sir is happy because a very special woman came back to town today," I said, putting both hands on my son's shoulders. "He finally got what he wanted. We have to pack, Leo."
Leo furiously wiped his tears away with his sleeve. He stood perfectly still before looking up. "Mama, can I give Sir three more chances before we run away?"
"Yes," I answered.
I will let Vincenzo have his three chances. But once my son's heart is completely broken, we will walk out the door.


















































