The table went silent all of a sudden, like a bunch of gossipers who stopped when the subject of their gossip walked into the room. While Adrian took out his phone and began sending a text to someone, Annika ducked her head and paid full attention to the arrangement of the cutleries on the table, and the others in the room also found other things to keep themselves busy with.
From the maids filling their glasses with juice, to the ones placing the dishes on the table, everyone halted in their actions, since they all had an inkling where this was going or rather, they had an idea of the reason why the don's daughter had threatened to kill herself.
Annika Visconti only ever pulled such stunts when her father did something she didn't approve of, and since it was forbidden for anyone—except Adrian who rarely bowed to authority—to challenge the Don, she would always call her older brother and cry into his voicemail every time. In this case, everyone could tell the only decision the Don had taken that must have triggered his daughter was the new mistress he took in the previous night.
''I just asked a question, didn't I?'' Roberto repeated, the annoyance in his tone slicing through the tension in the air. ''Someone give me an answer!''
''Lower your voice, Don. You are the only one who has ear defects here; everyone else heard you perfectly well the first time,'' Adrian stated. When his father glared at him, he added, ''What? Isn't this supposed to be a family breakfast where everyone is allowed to voice their thoughts?''
Robert hissed, waving the maids at the table away.
''Two warnings, Son. One, I don't have ear defects. Two, this might be a family dinner, but I am still the one who calls the shot here. I asked a question, and both my daughter and my niece,'' he glared at the girl who had entered the room with Annika and continued, ''completely ignored me. You, as my son, are supposed to back me up but…'' he sucked in a deep breath, trying to relax his anger. ''Anyways, this must not happen again or else—''
''Or else what?'' Adrian tilted his head, assuming a challenging posture. ''Your threats don't faze me, Don Visconti." He shrugged, "Don't act like you're just realizing that. Now, what were we talking about before the Don interrupted us, Annie?''
''Adrian!'' Roberto seethed. ''I repeat, this might be a normal family breakfast, but it won't stop me from…''
''From what, Roberto?'' A voice came from the foot of the stairs, as a noble looking woman stepped into the dining area. Her dark hair and similar colored eyes mirrored Roberto's own, and anyone who saw both of them together at first sight would be able to tell that these two were siblings.
Draped in an expensive silk fabric and adorned with gold jewellery, she waded across the room like the majestic being her physical outlook presented her to be. Easing herself into the chair Annika vacated several seconds earlier, she continued, "Remember the promise you made the day the tradition of eating breakfast together in this family started? This area is supposed to be a free space where there's no authority or orders.''
Roberto glared at his sister, but the woman seemed completely unfazed as she continued to maintain eye contact with him. ''So…'' she continued, ''I don't want to know what Adrian or anyone on this table did, forget it here and now. At least, until we are done with breakfast.''
''Your aunt saved you now, okay? But one last reminder, Adrian, you might be ten times powerful and more influential than I am, but I am still the one with the higher position, so know that you have no choice but to respect me.''
''And what do you think I've been doing for the past 27 years of my life? Respecting you, Don. Don't push it,'' he hissed and pushed himself up from his seat. He spared Annika a glance, ''Next time you are not satisfied with your old father bringing home women, it would be great not to threaten to stab yourself in the stomach, but to do it to the woman instead. That man couldn't care less if you died or not.''
''Adrian!'' Roberto said through gritted teeth. ''That's enough.''
''Father is right, Bratishka. Don't push it,'' Annika whispered, gently pulling him down even though she knew it was a futile attempt. Her brother only came to share breakfast with them once in a year, on her birthday. The fact that he came today meant he had a reason. And even though she was damn sure the reason wasn't her, she still wanted to do all she could to make him stay.
Before Adrian could say anything, Roberto cut in, ''And this should be the last time I hear any semblance of a russian word in this household. You two are fucking italians and not russians.''
Annika whipped her head around from her brother to her father, her brows pulled together in confusion. ''But we have russian roots too. Mother was russian and even if you replace her with another woman overnight, it will never change anything of ours! You can't stop us from—!''
''Oh goodness, will everyone just shut up their mouths for once?!'' Roberto's sister, Reyna, hissed, flinging her arms in the air out of frustration. She glanced at Annika, ''Annika, your mother will never be replaced in your hearts no matter how many women your father brings home, but since he doesn't want you speaking russian, then don't.'' She turned to her own daughter, ''You, Aurora, don't just sit there quietly when your uncle and cousins are arguing. Try to make peace!''
Finally, she turned to Adrian, glared at him for a few seconds without saying anything, before turning to her brother. ''You two, I know I can't and do not have the power to control either of you, but can you let peace exist in the house at least. It's enough that you engage in all kinds of violent activities outside!''
Silence reigned for the next few seconds with Roberto glaring at his son, while the latter merely stared back at him in his signature emotionless manner.
Adrian broke the silence, stepping away from the table. ''Enjoy your breakfast, Aunt. See you…'' He trailed off as a flash of red caught the corner of his eye. And even before he turned, he knew who it was that just stepped in.
His father's new woman.
What he didn't expect were the clothes the woman was wearing. Clothes that spelled death for whoever wore it ever since the original owner had died. Even his aunt who was sitting just few seats away from him right now, had almost gotten herself killed by her brother when she suggested taking some of it for herself.
But this woman had dared to wear it?
''Seems like she won't be lasting that long here," he chuckled.