C22 A Shame Indeed

“You are too modest, Dante. Just like your father.”

“I doubt anyone but you would actually call me that, uncle.”

Matteo Virelli chuckled.

Dante saw the way the elderly man’s nurse inched forward even before the man's chuckling sound turned into a wheezing sound that made Dante wince inwardly.

Matteo waved his nurse away even as he tried to get his breathing back under control.

Dante waited silently for the old man to continue the conversation.

Matteo leaned his head against the high-backed chair for a moment before he finally said; “I think I would die from her coddling long before this damn fibrosis made up his mind about finishing me off.”

Dante smiled as the nurse shook her head without saying anything.

The woman seemed to have learned her lesson though. Formerly, she would be all over Matteo by now, asking if he was breathing all right and giving him all the possible remedies.

Matteo Virelli, also known as Wolf, was a proud man, who had taken the underworld of Acadia by the storm with Dante's dad. He and his family had been part of Dante's life for as long as he could remember.

He was Dante's godfather and had even taken part in his training when his father thought it was time.

As a young boy, Dante had imagined that the two older men would keep taking charge of Acadia till their last moments.

But then, Matteo had gotten diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. Things had not remained the same for the Virelli since then.

Despite how much the family wanted to keep the sickness private so that enemies would not take advantage of the situation.

That had changed when Matteo had collapsed during his political campaign. One way or the other, the underworld got ahold of what was wrong with Wolf. Then everyone started gunning for him.

Not until Dante's father made them all realised what would happen to anyone who dared to mess with his family.

Things had gotten a bit tougher for Virellis, since Matteo's mobility had gotten limited due to sickness.

Being bedridden was the worst thing that could happen to a man like Matteo. He had lashed out terribly at first because of his incapability, then he had finally settled down.

“Poor man. You know, the only thing stopping him from ending it all was because of the promise he made to Alice on her deathbed. He figured he would be rolling over every time in his grave because of Mikhail and his antics.”

Dante could still remember how his father had grown serious suddenly while they were in his study that day and said; “We are a family, you know. And family look out for each other. Always.”

Dante understood what his father meant even without explaining it fully. And he had been doing so since. Just as his father did.

“I still can't believe he left before me, you know.” Matteo's voice pulled Dante out of his thought and he looked over to see that the man’s breathing had evened out. He had a wistful look on his face as he looked past Dante. “I bet even you think I would croak first. But then he had to best me in everything, that greedy bastard.”

Dante knew what he was talking about. Yes, though it wasn't something they actively thought or talked about, most people had believed that the sickness would take Matteo soon enough.

It's been three years now, yet the man was as strong as can be, yet his own dad, who didn't even complain of a headache, suddenly died.

“I bet he is looking down at us right now, having a good laugh at our expense.”

Matteo wrinkled his nose slightly; “You believe in all that heaven nonsense?”

“A man has to believe in something,” Dante said with a shrug.

Not that he dwells on things like that anyway. He had done some things that he was sure the man up there wouldn't agree with.

If there was another hell apart from the ones he had faced many times and given to people, he was sure he would be tossed onto it headfirst.

Matteo's snort brought his attention back to the man. With the look of concern on the nurse’s face, he knew that Matteo was not supposed to make exerting motions like a snort.

But then Wolf would do what Wolf would do anyway.

“If you are looking for what to believe in, then that should be family. Family will never betray you. Loyalty is the most solid thing you get from a real family. What else is there to believe more than that?” He asked with conviction.

“You are right,” Dante agreed automatically, more to reduce the man's talk and spare the anxious nurse more heartache.

Dante's attention was attracted by one of the staff coming from the direction of the kitchen.

“Cook said the food is ready, sir. Should we set the table now, or are we waiting for the young master and miss Antonia?”

Matteo's lips turned down at the corner in annoyance as he opened his antique pocket clock to check the time.

It was past 8:00pm already.

“We are not waiting for anyone. Serve the food now. We won't wait for those two dunderheads,” he said in a miffed tone.

“Young master,” he said with distaste after the staff left. “He must still think he is that young, and I will forever be here to take care of things.”

Matteo absentmindedly patted Dante's hand as he continued talking. “I know everything you are doing, boy. I am sure Mal would be so proud of you. I wish that boy would learn soon before it is too late. I know you look out for him, but he needs to stand up on his feet like a man!”

The cough shook his slightly-diminished frame, and it went on and on this time. The nurse quickly came to him to administer his first aid treatment till he calmed down.

Then she used his prescribed dry powder inhaler for him.

After exhaling for the second time, Wolf croaked out, “I never liked snuff, you know. Who knows I will end up using the damn next at the end of my life? What a shame.”

Dante smiled, “I hear it's the sophisticated thing to do now,” he said.

He could see that the man wanted to laugh, but he kept it in and made him smile.

Dante couldn't remember the last time he had heard Matteo's boisterous laughter that used to fill the halls when he was with family.

What a shame indeed.

Matteo patted his hand until Dante was looking directly at him. “How long has she been gone now?”

Dante's mood dampened as he answered, “It's been over a year, uncle.”

Matteo nodded slightly, then he said in a low tone, “It's high time you started your family. It's what really matters at the end of the day.”

He squeezed Dante's suddenly rigid hands as if to make sure he understood.

Dante nodded just before the staff entered the lounge again to announce that the table had been set.

“Good, let's eat.” Matteo said excitedly.

As Dante wheeled Matteo to the head of the dining table, he had no idea why of all the people; it was that hellcat that popped into his mind when Matteo mentioned starting a family.

His sudden ferocious scowl made the spoon fall from the hand of the girl about to plate their food.

Dante looked away as Matteo sent the ninny girl a disapproving look.

“Where is Antonia anyway?” He wondered as he reached for the bottle of Chianti on the table.

She had never missed any dinner he had at their place before.

Unless she was not in town.