He prodded me around like prized cattle, showing off and getting praise for having such a promising son. I wanted to laugh in their faces, protest their comments, do something to shame him, but I was dutiful and kept my mouth shut. John was my money ticket until I received my inheritance, so until then I was his puppet.
Dressed in a black tuxedo, I unbuttoned my jacket as I slid into the seat of John’s town car. He sat next to me and was occupied talking on the phone, so I looked out the side window, trying to block him out as we took off down the road toward Hell. It was what I’d have to do for most of the night, block the whole damn thing out.
“You look great, Mason,” John stated, obviously done with his conversation.
I turned my head to scowl at him before spinning back toward the window. I was in no mood for his pleasantries.
“Come on now, Mason. Aren’t you the least bit curious as to what we’re celebrating tonight?”
I turned to look at him again, that time with my whole body.
“No,” I answered honestly. “I couldn’t care less what he’s celebrating and what you’re helping him celebrate. I’m attending, but I won’t be present. I’ll shake hands with whomever you like, but I will not be pleasant and participate in conversation.”
I wanted to tell him they could both go fuck themselves as well, but I kept that to myself.
"One day, Mason, you'll appreciate the success I'm handing to you. And when you do, you'll realize this was all done for a reason."
I looked back out the window. It was pointless to speak to him. Nothing he could ever say would justify the things they'd done. What I'd done.
The car finally pulled up the circle drive of Donicko's manor, and I gazed up at the massive structure. It was a three-story colonial, half the length of a football field, with four columns and a white balcony on the second level.
I stared at it as we came to a stop and wondered why a man who wasn't married and didn't have children would need such a big house. Some ideas entered my mind, but I quickly swiped them away. I didn't want to know anything else about that man.
My door was opened and I buttoned my jacket as John walked up to stand next to me.
"Come," John beckoned. "I'll introduce you to some people.”
The night dragged on and on with introduction after introduction. I’d encountered a lot of people I'd met before: congressmen, police chief, and governors. Then there were men I'd never seen before, men from different countries who needed translators because they didn't speak a hint of English. What I did notice was the lack of women; the only ones I saw were the servers. I found it odd, but with Donicko, nothing was normal.
The hours went by and the night had been pretty uneventful. I had yet to see Donicko, which was a good thing. I was sure I'd see him eventually, but relished in the time passing without his presence.
Spoke too soon. As soon as everyone's conversations started to die down and heads began to turn, I knew he was near.
I heard the chime of a glass being tapped.
"Good evening, gentleman. I'm sorry it's taken me a while to present myself, but as you can imagine, I've been busy." Donicko smiled and everyone else laughed, except me.
"For those of you who have a ticket, please see George on the second floor. And remember, there are consequences for those who touch what is not theirs. If you have any questions, direct them toward George or myself. Thank you."
He was then surrounded by a few men, but quickly emerged from the crowd of people and smiled once he spotted John and me standing off to a corner.
"Ah, John, so glad you could come." Donicko smiled as he grabbed John's hand to shake. "And Mason, so good to see you again. It's been too long."
The last time I'd seen him was the night I'd lost Sophia.
I stared him in the eyes, hatred seeping out of my pores. "Not long enough," I replied venomously.
The son of a bitch laughed at me, mocking my hatred for him, and John joined in beside him.
"Do you know why you’re here, boy?"
I stared at him, not saying a word.
He lifted his hand and gestured around the room. "This is what you help build."
I looked around with a furrowed brow, not understanding what he meant.
"No matter how hard you try to deny it, this is your life, your family."
Nausea built in my stomach as he talked about family. My family was dead. I wanted to walk away so I didn't have to listen to his nonsense, but I wouldn't show him weakness. He was a piranha to your emotions, and I wouldn't give him anything to feed on.
"Let's show you," he stated as he wrapped his arm around me with a smile.
I took a deep breath as he pulled me along with him, carrying on a conversation with John. I blocked them out and focused on why I hated him to my core. Why I hated both of them.
Sophia.