131- Searching for Alessandro Messina's Past
**VITTORIO CASSINI'S POV**
It's been an intense week, filled with many investigations and also the fact of being away from Giullia. My desperation knowing that Messina's son is fascinated by her, using it to also strike at me, triggers a possessive and worried side of me. I feel she's hurt, but I can only apologize when I find a way to end Alessandro Messina.
"Boss, one of the witnesses has arrived," Enzo informs.
I gesture for them to bring her in. The woman with gray hair enters the office, she seems frightened and looks at me as if she's staring at the devil. Her hands are trembling as she walks over to the chair Enzo indicated for her to sit.
"You don't need to be frightened, Mrs. Francesca. I won't do any harm, I just need you to clarify some doubts in me. Don't worry, this won't harm you, I give you my word," I lean my elbows on the desk and stare at the woman.
She simply nods in affirmation, still nervous, and I understand perfectly.
"Did you work for Alessio Messina when Alessandro lived with his father?" I ask, trying to gather information.
She takes a deep breath, looks down, and seems to revisit memories from the past. The woman looks at me, and I try to remain calm so as to not scare her.
"Yes, sir. I helped take care of young Alessandro," she replies in a low voice.
"What was his relationship like with his father?" I raise an eyebrow, curious to find out more.
She looks away, thoughtful, and always sighs when she recalls something. I realize that this story is full of interesting things.
"Mr. Messina worked a lot, after Alessandro's mother was murdered, he distanced himself from the boy, who stayed with me most of the time. He requested his father's presence, but he was always rejected," she lowered her gaze again as if saddened by the memory.
This story is getting interesting. I stand up, put my hands in my pockets, and walk around the office, passing behind the woman who shrinks back intimidated.
"Why did Alessio send him away?" I ask the most interesting part.
"I witnessed many conversations where Mr. Messina claimed that his son made him feel weak. That he preferred to be alone, without worries. He sent Alessandro to the United States, and he never came back," I notice a tear sliding down the woman's face, she has feelings for that fool.
I always imagined that Messina had no feelings for his son. Since I've known him, his name was never mentioned, much less did we discover the existence of a son. He was a cold man, devoid of feelings, and if he ever felt any, it was a long time ago.
I can use something to unsettle him. To shake this adoration he always felt for his father.
"After Alessandro left, did you notice any... regret or anguish for leaving his son so far away from him?" I look at the woman, standing beside her.
"Sir, I know I could be killed, but even so, I will say what you want to hear." She stands up, looks at me fixedly, and speaks unabashedly: "Messina sent the boy Alessandro to the United States because he felt resentment. He blamed his son for the death of his mother, who stepped in front of him to save her son's life and got shot. When Alessandro left, he felt free and became more wicked than ever. He asked to come back, and his father denied him. Just before Messina died, they talked on the phone, and I heard conversations where the boy was hopeful to talk to his father. I don't know what that conversation was about. That's all I know!"
I'm bombarded with a series of information. My eyes are wide open to confirm the disdain Messina felt. However, curiosity consumes me, and I need to find out what they talked about to make this rejected son come back, trying to avenge the death of a father who didn't even love him.
I take a deep breath, absorbing all this information, and purse my lips, looking at the ground thoughtfully. Looking at the woman, I realize she's one of the people involved in this wicked world just because she needed a job.
"Don't worry, you won't die. I'll give you a good sum of money so you don't have to live like this, in return for this information. Go live in a place you've always dreamed of and live in peace. Messina is gone, and nothing will affect you," I reassure the woman.
She starts to cry, sobbing, and holding my hand in gratitude. I feel sorry, for observing someone who doesn't deserve any kind of retaliation. I instruct my men to take her back safely and make sure to give her a considerable amount to start a new life. She leaves, thanking me countless times.
Alone again, I reflect that the rejected son needs to understand that his father is not who he imagines. I have an idea and request Enzo to enter the room again.
"Yes, boss!" He looks at me attentively.
"Is there still a living prisoner who worked for Messina?" I ask, formulating ideas.
"Yes, they're working in the warehouse, boss," he informs.
"Okay, after fulfilling my commitment to my son, we will go to the warehouse," I inform him.
He nods and leaves the office. I look at my phone and notice that Giullia has left a text message. I opened it immediately and saw what she sent.
"There's been an unforeseen event, I'll be arriving a bit later."
I carefully observe the words, taking into account what happened; she sounds curt in this message. Still, I decide to investigate by calling the security.
"Yes, boss!"
"Where is Giullia right now?" I ask curiously.
"She's at a bridal shop downtown. She went there after visiting her parents."
He informs, and I hang up the phone, satisfied with the information. My fiancée is preparing everything for our wedding, even though we've lived a married life for a long time, I'm excited about the wedding. Soon, we will leave for as far away as possible.
After Giullia's message, I realized that I must pick up the children from school. She must be very busy choosing the dress, even though she'll look beautiful no matter what.
We agreed that we would never send anyone to pick up Bella and Luca from school; it will always be one of us.
I watch them approaching the car, smiling. Luca runs and hugs me, while Bella also walks towards me. She doesn't like to show affection, but I gently run my hand through her hair.
"Shall we go home, kids?" I ask excitedly.
"Dad, we're not kids. My friends will see this," Luca says, feeling uncomfortable.
I smile at seeing him act like an adult, and then they get into the car. On the way back home, Luca insists we get ice cream, and I accept the suggestion on the condition that he keeps it a secret.
We stop by the ice cream parlor, and when we arrive home, Giullia hasn't returned yet. I look at my wristwatch and realize that two hours have passed, but I think choosing a wedding dress must not be an easy task.
Bella rushes inside the house, and Luca holds onto my shirt. I look at my son, who seems to be deep in thought. I stroke his hair and smile.
"Daddy, did you and mom fight?" he asks.
The words get stuck in my throat, and I can't respond immediately. I didn't realize he had noticed that. I squat down in front of my son, look him in the eye, and smile, trying to turn the situation around.
"Son, adults have different opinions. That's completely normal. Your mother and I just... had a difference of opinion, and it's okay. I love your mother with all my heart, you are the most important person in my life. We may argue about something throughout our lives, but our love will never end," I declare sincerely.
"I'm thrilled," he says with a wide smile and runs towards the door.
As I watch my son walk away, I realize that love resolves everything. I don't want him to grow up witnessing the worst. I didn't have my parents, and since Luca has us, let's be the best we can offer.
"Boss!" Enzo appears and calls me.
I look back, observing him with wide eyes, already sensing that something bad has happened. I take a deep breath, thinking of Giullia, and turn to face him.
"What happened?" My eyes are fixed on him.
"Mrs. Giullia, she... disappeared!"
It would have been better to be stabbed. A gunshot hurts less compared to the fear of knowing this. My mouth is open, my eyes wide, and I feel my whole body trembling.
"What do you mean? Where is my wife? What happened?" My voice trembles, and my eyes scan all the subordinates in front of me, including Giullia's security guards. "What are you doing here? Useless!!!"
I shout to the point where I feel my throat burning, I advance towards one of them, and Enzo holds me back, restraining me from doing the worst.
"Sir, she was in the store choosing the dress. Everything happened inside, and we waited, time passed, and we went in, but she wasn't there," he explains, nervous.
I run towards the car, sit in the driver's seat, and Enzo quickly gets in, sitting beside me. I start the engine and rush out through the gates, all the men accompanying me.
"What are you going to do, sir?" Enzo asks, concerned.
"I'm going to find my wife, and if she doesn't show up or we don't receive any news, I'll bring that store down to rubble!"
My eyes are fixed ahead. I'm ready to move the world if possible!