Talk

[Next day]

"Hey Alex, are you set for school?" Declan asked Alex who was about to leave the dining table immediately after breakfast. Pausing in his steps and turning back,

"Yeah, I just need to grab my bag before leaving. Any problem?" He asked with a raised brow and questioning look.

"Since I'll be going through that route, why don't you join me." He suggested as he also stood up from the seat.

"Okay then, I'll just grab my bag and a few things." Xander said as he hurried up the stairs.

"Meet me at the gate." Declan said receiving an 'okay' sign from Xander before going to the garage.

Stepping out of the house, Xander jogged towards the car at the gate side.

"Seat belt." Declan said as he looked at Xander from the side.

"I know, I know." He said with a smile as he proceeded to securing the belt around him.

"You are going to visit Uncle Dan today right?" He asked as he fixed the belt.

"Hmm, I'll go there before heading to the office." Declan answered.

"Okay, I'll let Luka know about it." Xander said as he looked ahead at the road.

The twenty minutes ride to school was filled with father and son taunting each other while speaking of important subjects once in a while.

"You remember how much you hated school then? I had to drive away after you alighted to avoid you entering again and throwing tantrums." Declan said as he laughed hard making his stomach hurt. "You were such a baby." He said as he laughed harder.

"Haha, funny." Xander said rolling his eyes while trying to be less embarrassed.

On getting to the school, Xander alighted the car and headed towards the main building after saying his goodbye.

"Well I hope this goes well." Declan said to himself as he drove away from the school gate.

After getting through the gate of the Rossi mansion, Declan walked up to the huge doors which served as an entrance. Taking a deep breathe, he pressed the door bell as he stood waiting for the door to be answered.

"Declan! What brings you here so early?" The woman asked in surprise at the unexpected visitor the moment she answered the door.

"Hey Rissa, how have you been?" He asked with a smile plastered across his face.

"I've been good, you? Oh! forgive my manners, come in." She said as she moved to the side to allowing him passage.

Entering into the house, the huge living room in sight, they both walked into the space with Larissa making a detour to the kitchen while he took his seat on the loveseat.

"I've been pretty good myself." He said as she handed him the juice which she brought from the kitchen before she moved towards the single seater sofa still with a hint of surprise.

"How is Vi doing, I haven't seen her in a while now." She said with a fond smile.

"She's doing fine, just a little busy at the company. She intended visiting but I had to come first." He said with a smile as he looked around before turning to face the smiling Rissa.

"Where is Dante, is he around?" He asked as he looked at Rissa whose smile disappeared at the mention of the name.

"Dan? Do you have something to talk about?" She asked with a serious face as she adjusted her sitting position.

"Yeah sor..."

"Riss, who was at the door?" The drunk voice of a man was heard making them both turn their head towards the source. Releasing a sigh, Rissa turned towards Declan who brought his sight back to her.

"I'm guessing you already know something about that." She said with a tired smile.

"He's at the bar adjacent to the wine cellar. I'll be in the Kitchen, just call if you need anything." She said with a smile as she stood up to walk towards the kitchen.

Releasing a deep sigh, Declan stood up and turned moving in the direction of the wine cellar. Hearing the approaching footsteps, Dante didn't bother looking as he assumed it was Rissa approaching.

"Don't even think of trying to stop me from drinking again." He said in a nonchalant tone which held a tinge of annoyance to it as he poured himself another drink.

Walking towards the drunk Dante, he snatched the beer mug before it could touch his lips.

"Woman are you out of your mind?" Dante asked furiously as he raised his hands, turning to slap the supposed Rissa.

"Dex?" Dante called with his hands halfway in the air as he stared at Declan in surprise.

Ignoring the man before him, he moved towards a bar stool as he dropped the beer mug on the table.

"Drinking this early in the morning, is that what you've come to?" Declan asked as he moved the mug away while looking round the cellar. Being a little bit sober, Dante dropped his hands as he moved to where he previously sat.

"So if it were Rissa who stopped you just now, you would have raised your hands to her?" Declan asked as he returned his gaze to the haggard looking Dante.

"Dex you won't understand." He said as he ruffled his already scattered hair in frustration.

"Then make me, make me understand how you turned out like this and how you would have raised your hands to the woman you spent half of your life chasing." He asked as his voice rose a bit in anger. Not letting the man speak,

"When do you plan on returning to the company?" He asked looking intently at his friend.

"Why should I? Zayn is already filling the spot, I'm not needed there." Dante said nonchalantly looking back at Declan.

"Why should you? Zayn is filling the spot? Oh! so you know about that?" Declan asked with a sarcastic look.

"The fact that I don't go the company or that I spend my time here drinking doesn't mean I don't pay attention to the business news." Dante replied as he tried reaching out to the beer mug.

Slapping his outstretched hand away,

"Can you hear yourself right now? So what do you want me to do, applaud you for being so attentive? Wow, Dan you're the best." Declan said in mockery as he clapped.

"Okay what is this really about, can you at least return my drink?" He asked as he stretched his hands frustrated.

"What is this about? You are here drinking all day while your son is busy working his arse off, you hit your wife and son now, is that the new deal?" Declan asked frustratedly as he looked at his best friend.

"Oh! So that's what this is about, they reported me to you? Wow, just wow." Dante said nodding his head while clicking his tongue with a light chuckle.

"Dan I thought we were over this stage? What happened was a mistake and is past, no one blames you so move on already." Declan said as he frustratedly massaged his temple.

"Move on Dex? You are really saying this." Dante shouted all trace of drunkenness gone.

"Tell me, move on from what huh? Building a company and bringing it down with that same hand? Causing your kids to get kidnapped at a tender age? Having your first son experience living like a deranged folk? No, go on tell me." He shouted brows raised in question as he pushed Declan, hitting him on the chest.

"Do you know how that feels huh? Having a brother who betrays you for his own benefit?"

With a short pause he looked at the silent Declan, releasing a scoff,

"Of course you don't." He said with a self depreciating smile as he returned to the bar stool dragging the beer mug along taking a sip from it.

Moving towards the seat, Declan sat not saying anything as he poured himself a shot of liquor. Downing it, he felt the burning sensation in his throat.

"If I hadn't listened to Angelo then, I wouldn't have gotten into that mess." Dante said as he rubbed his face in frustration.

"Dan, you know I'll always be there for you and won't let you go on the wrong path. We all make mistakes and we are expected to learn from them. We all want the old Dan, the company, your wife and children needs you. How you are treating them isn't how you should." Declan said placing his hands on Dante's shoulder.

"You know what, how I treat my family is none of your business okay? You need not tell me what and how to do that, how I treat them is my business." Dante said as he rubbed face with his palm.

"Dan...."

"If you are done with your speech of life, the door is over there." Dante said cutting Declan off while pointing in the direction of the entrance as he continued drinking.

"You are really asking me out?" Declan asked looking at him in surprise with a light chuckle.

"I'll leave but just know I'll still be here and I hope when you get yourself, it won't be too late to repent." Declan said as he got up to leave.

"See you later Dan." He said as he turned walking towards the direction where he came from.