Indebted to the Mafia King
Acceptance

Tony

I couldn't stay at home. After I saw the pictures of my mom and realized that Ellie was, in fact, my daughter, my entire world collapsed. I couldn't think straight. I couldn't understand what made Chloe keep this huge secret from me for years. How could she live under the same roof as me now, with our daughter, and not tell me the truth, not tell me Ellie was also mine?

I had missed so much. And the worst part was that it wasn't even my choice. I wasn't given one from the start. She had chosen that for me. No matter how hard I tried to find a reasonable explanation as to why Chloe did this to me, I always ended up hitting a dead end.

There is no excuse, there is no reason...

Why would she allow someone like Mateo to be around her and Ellie when she could have come to me sooner? Why did she think she could keep such a secret from me? What gave her the right?

I felt overwhelmed with emotions-feelings I didn't want to feel. I didn't want to hate Chloe, or question her reasons, but it was hard not to. The entire time I waited for her to wake up, I had to keep Ellie entertained, but I couldn't do it. All I managed to do was stare at her while she played with Seb's toys, trying to make sense of what I had just discovered. My brain was a mess.

When Chloe finally showed up at the backyard and asked if everything was okay, I couldn't pretend I was fine. I couldn't keep my doubts and feelings inside me any longer. I was choking with unsaid words, my emotions boiling over. I had to ask her, to confirm my intuition.

And the truth was obvious to me when she couldn't give me an answer. Her stammering was everything I needed to know.

And that is the same reason why I am now in my usual booth at Aphrodite's Lounge with three empty glasses of whiskey on the table and one half drank in my hand. I couldn't stay at home. I couldn't look at her-or Ellie for that matter-without feeling like I was betrayed.

I still don't know how to handle this whole situation, and it kills me to not be in control of it.

There's a very boring strip show happening on stage, but my focus is on my whiskey, my mind miles away from here.

"Everything all right, Boss?" Armando's voice startles me. I snap my head up just in time to see him sitting across from me unceremoniously. I sip from my drink, raising my brows at him over the rim of the glass, but he doesn't seem to bother. Instead, he points out, "You seem concerned with something."

"Do I?" I hiss through clenched teeth. Armando is such a pain in the ass sometimes. "Have you noticed how nosy you've been lately?" I ask, leaning back on my seat.

But the motherfucker only chuckles, mocking me. "A few times, yes. I still think it is my duty to help you with marital advice. Is it something I can help you with? I thought the date last night had gone well."

It had. But with everything that happened after it, the date seems insignificant now, like it happened ages ago. However, I am not in the mood to talk to Armando about any of it, especially not about the fact I just found out I am a father, so I decide to change the subject of the conversation instead.

"Is there any news from the cartel? Are they sniffing around somewhere? Have we seen anything strange lately?" I ask darkly.

Not hearing from Mateo and his cartel has been fucking with my mind and my sleep the past few days. I have no idea what he is planning, and I must admit it freaks me out a little. Not because of me, but now, more than ever, I have to protect Chloe and Ellie from him. I have always cared for them, but knowing Ellie is a piece of me has changed everything.

"Not yet," Armando answers, his tone apologetic. "But I have ears and eyes on the ground all the way to Jersey, so if they come up here, we'll hear about it, Boss," he assures me.

It's not enough reassurance, but I suppose it's all I can get right now. I nod, chugging down the remnants of my drink and slamming the glass on the table in front of me.

I have to go home. I still haven't decided what to say to Chloe or even if I want to say anything to her at all, but I can't leave things the way I did. She needs to give me an explanation. I am still pissed off, hurt, heartbroken even. I gave her enough time to think about what she did, and I don't think this conversation can be postponed. We live in the same house now, and we still need to pretend to be married. I won't be able to do that if we don't discuss this.

"I'm going home," I tell Armando, who's looking at me with curiosity in his eyes. "Keep me updated," I order before getting to my feet and walking toward the exit door. I ignore the strippers calling me, waving for me to join them in other private booths, and head to my car, my footsteps determined, even though I feel everything but.

I have a fucking massive headache, and during the entire ride home, I can't stop thinking about Chloe's shocked face when I asked her about who was Ellie's father. She didn't have to pronounce a single word to confirm it was me; her eyes were enough of an answer.

I grit my teeth, my knuckles whitening as I tighten my grip on the steering wheel.

"Fuck!" I yell, punching the wheel five times in a row, hoping the pain in my hand will be enough to vent my anger. But it's not.

When I get to my driveway a few minutes later, I lean back on the headrest, closing my eyes and taking long, deep breaths. After I manage to steady myself for the confrontation that is sure to come, I step out of the car and get inside. The house is dark and quiet, except for a beam of light coming from the living room and a murmur of voices from what I assume is the TV. Chloe is probably still awake.

As soon as she sees me passing by the door, she points the remote control to the TV and turns it off, turning to face me. Her legs are crossed beneath her on the couch, the delicate fabric of her flowered dress sweeping over her thighs, soft and inviting. The vulnerability in her pleading, beautiful eyes almost undo me right there. My fists ball at my sides, every muscle in my body taut with frustration.

How the fuck can she look so cute and hot when I'm this mad at her? It's not fair.

"Tony," she calls in a whisper, her soft voice rattling me. I curse myself inwardly for being such an idiot to fall for her charms everytime. "Can we please talk?" she begs.

"It depends," I say bitterly, grasping for my anger not to slip away from me. I won't let her fool me. Not again. "Are you going to give me a stupid excuse for why you hid the fact I had a daughter with you? Because if that's your plan, I won't fall for it, Chloe," I growl under my breath, my eyes narrowing at her.

But Chloe doesn't seem to mind my rage. Instead, she gets to her feet, coming toward me, her footsteps slow but determined. "I am truly sorry, Tony. But I did what I had to do to keep myself safe while I was pregnant," she tells me.

I snort. "Are you fucking kidding me right now?" I snap at her, struggling to keep my voice low. I'm sure Ellie is sleeping in her room upstairs, and the last thing I need right now is to wake her up. "I don't recall you being safe with Mateo. In fact, isn't that the whole fucking point you and I got married in the first place? Was this the only answer you could come up with?"

This is a mistake. I thought I was ready to hear what she had to say, but I am definitely not. I can't stand the fact she is trying to fucking tell me she wouldn't be safe with me while the entire reason we got married was because I was the only one who could protect her from her asshole of an ex.

"I can't do this. This is fucking insane," I add in a hiss, turning on my feet and walking away from her.

But before I can even get to the door, her smooth, tiny, fucking warm hand grabs my wrist, forcing me to stop.

"Wait," she whispers. "Please, Tony. Just let me explain."