CHAPTER 6
Opening his eyes, Gio looked around to find himself alone. Tears filled his eyes as he realized Cobra wasn’t there. He knew it was stupid, but he had kind of hoped that Cobra and Taco would be there with him when he woke up. Gio couldn’t blame them for leaving him though. After he had admitted who he really was, Gio had figured they wouldn’t want anything to do with him.
Wiping at a tear that escaped from the corner of his right eye, Gio thought about what he would do now. There was no way he would be allowed to stay in Drago. Pit and the others wouldn’t want the son of Marceli Pasteli in their territory. It only meant that the other residents of Drago would be in danger with him here. That meant he would need to relocate again, but that also meant it would be more likely than not, his father would find him. Would that be so bad though? Gio was tired of living a lie. He was tired of everyone calling him Calvin. He had hated that name since the day Clem came up with it. It was part of the reason he even told D.O.A. who he really was.
Thinking about what needed to be done, Gio sighed. He would have to gather his finances together. Through the years he had done pretty well and saved a bunch of money. He would need a new ID, and with that, it would mean another new name.More living a lie. Will my life always be a lie?
The thought of going outside the Drago border lines always scared Gio, and he had done his best not to have to do it. However, owning a grocery store had meant that there were times he had to make a trip to the Boulevard to obtain things that others in Drago needed. He was always relieved to get back, but stayed on edge thinking someone that knew his father might have seen him and followed him home. It took a few weeks for Gio to settle after one of those trips, and now he was going to have to live in fear when he left. However, none of that compared to having to leave Cobra and Taco behind. He didn’t want to go. He would never get to see Cobra again, or be able to laugh and enjoy his bond with Taco. There would be no more laughter and joy in his life.
Gods, how stupid had he been to finally ask Cobra to meet him in person. If he had kept his dreams to himself none of this would be happening. He could have just loved Cobra from afar like he had for the past twenty-five years and relished his time with Taco. Now he wouldn’t even have his dreams. He would have nothing.
Closing his eyes to try and escape his heartache, a sob escaped from Gio, and with the one came another and another, until he was crying uncontrollably, so deep in his despair he didn’t notice when Taco lifted from his chest, anxiously asking, “Gio, what’s wrong? Are you hurting?”
Gio didn’t even hear him as he continued to cry. He didn’t see or hear anything. All he could focus on was his internal anguish of losing everything he had ever found happiness in.
“What’s going on? Calvin? What’s wrong with you? Why are you crying? Did one of the D.O.A. guys hurt you?”
The sound of his friend Gordy was so unexpected Gio opened his eyes. Sure enough, his best friend stood there looking concerned and a bit scared. Even though his heart was in tatters, Gio felt the need to calm his friend, “No. Cameron did. The D.O.A. guys helped me.”
“Cameron? Why would Cameron hurt you? He’s your friend.” Gordy asked in confusion.
“He had been biding his time to seek revenge for a brother the D.O.A. had put in prison. He was going to shoot Cobra. I couldn’t let him do that. I ended up getting shot instead. I’m healing and I will be fine in a few days.” Gio answered.
Gordy looked around in the edgy way Gio was so used to seeing, then Gordy said, “Calvin, I’m so sorry. I know Cameron was your friend. Is that why you’re crying?”
Shaking his head, Gio rasped, “No.”
“Are you hurting? Is that why you’re crying?” Gordy asked, even more concerned.
Shaking his head once more, Gio answered, wiping his eyes. He tried to get a bit of control over himself. Taking a deep breath, he let it out, and although it was shaky, he at least had stopped the tears and had some semblance of control. “No, Gordy. It isn’t. I’m sad about Cameron, but honestly, I haven’t given his actions or reasonings for them much thought.”
“Then what is it? Maybe I can help. Let me help, Calvin.” Gordy offered.
“Gordy, my name isn’t Calvin, and honestly I really hate that name. Please call me Gio or Giovani. I am so tired of all the lies.” Sighing heavily, Gio whispered, “I feel like my life has been nothing but lies, and I just want them to stop.”
“Ca-Gio, I don’t know what’s going on here, and honestly I might be curious about the name thing, but considering what Drago is about, it doesn’t matter what I call you because none of that matters. You’re my friend and I want to help, but I really don’t like the sound of your voice, or the fact that I walked in and you were crying. It’s like… it’s like you’re leaving or something.” Gordy rasped, as his voice choked up with his own unshed tears.
Gio couldn’t look at his best friend, as he whispered, “I’m not who you think I am, Gordy. I’ve done some really bad fucked-up things. It doesn’t matter how badly I didn’t want to, the point is I did them. I’m not proud of who I was. I forced people to sign over their entire life’s work just so they could stay alive. I ruined marriages, just to get back at them for some indiscretion they did to my father. I forced people to hand over their hard-earned money because my father felt it was owed to him for one reason or another.”
Gordy cleared his throat, reluctantly asking, “Di… Did you ki… kill anyone.”
“No.” Gio quickly answered.
“Then the rest of the crap doesn’t matter to me. Like I said, you’re my friend and I’m here for you no matter what. I won’t lie, if you had killed people that might have had me rethink my choice in friends, but the fact that you didn’t strengthens the fact that I consider you my best friend and I want to help.” Gordy stated.
“But the things I did… the people I hurt…”
“From the little bit you just said it was more your father’s doing than yours. Ca… Gio, there are a lot of us here that did things we aren’t proud of. Heck, it’s why we’re here to begin with, but if your past has caught up with you, then you need friends around you to help keep you safe.” Gordy insisted.
Gio shook his head, whispering, “Maybe my father was the reason I did what I did but that doesn’t change how it makes me feel, or the fact that I won’t be able to stay in Drago anymore.”
“What! You are not leaving Drago, Gio, so get that thought out of your mind right now. You are mine and Cobra’s sentience and we are not about to let you go.” Taco yelled, for any and all to hear.
Gio gasped, not having realized that both Cobra and Taco were in the room with him. Both looking seriously pissed off, and then the door flew open as Jude, Rylee, and Casper raced in. Jude saying in a voice telling everyone he was none too happy, “What’s going on? Why is there yelling in this room. How many times do I have to tell you guys that Gio needs rest, not stress? He was shot for fuck’s sake!”
“Sweetie, you’re the one yelling at the moment.” Casper gently pointed out.
Jude pursed his lips as he slapped his hand on his hip, “Yes, well, I’m his doctor and people around here just refuse to listen to my orders. I have a right to be yelling, they do not, and if they don’t knock it off, I’m going to have Smoky take a bite out of their asses.”
