A teenage version of Irena dealt him another blow to his chest. He recognized the karate move, but his neglected training kicked in too late to block the punch.
“Oy,” she shrieked, slicing the air with her rigid hands and gripping his neck in a vice.
“I’m a friend.” He managed to say before his windpipes constricted and he wheezed.
Irena ran out of the door adjacent to the bedroom, thin spaghetti straps of her yoga top crossed her shoulders. “No, Ella. It’s Dario.”
The girl’s hard face mellowed and she released her iron clutch. He gulped air, but his chest still ached from the blow.
Ella turned to Irena. “Mom, why didn’t you tell me Da…Dario was coming here?” She pivoted to him, wrapped her hands around his arm and helped him get on his feet. “I’m so sorry. This is not how I imagined we’d meet. How embarrassing. It’s my mom’s fault. She should’ve told me. I’ll get you an ice pack.”
Mom? He would ask had his voice recovered from the blow. Irena was a mom. The same color almond shaped eyes, pointy chin and petite nose, there was no mistaking the girl was Irena’s daughter. But, hadn’t she said she stayed celibate all these years?
“I’m all right.” He groaned, cringing at the pain in his knees.
The room door flung open and Ante barged inside, his fists in front of him, rage on his face.
“Mother fucker, let go of my brother,” he roared but lowered his arms at the sight of Irena.
“Ante!” She threw her arms around his neck.
“Irena, my girl, am I ever glad to see you. Sorry for bursting in like that.” He wrapped her in his arms and spun her around, then lowered her to the floor. “I almost didn’t believe that miserable bastard of a brother that you were back. Only you can pull him from his brooding.” Ante glanced over at Dario and frowned. “Bro, you’re looking a bit pale. What happened?”
Ella helped Dario to the recliner next to the couch occupying the middle of the floor. She settled on the armrest, taking his hand in his and making him squirm in discomfort. “Are you sure you’re fine?”
“Quite sure.” Scooting away, he increased the distance as much as the sofa allowed. The girl seemed a tad too affectionate. Okay, she kicked his butt and was regretful now. The strange attention she gave him, along with glee in her pale blue eyes, made him question if he didn’t, in fact, suffer a hard blow to his head.
Ante approached. “And who’s this beauty? Don’t tell me. It’s like I’m back in high school. You look just like your mom. Except for the cropped hair. For a second there I mistook you for a boy.”
“That’s the idea. Mom says you’re so funny, un—” “Ella,” Irena snapped before her daughter could finish. Her tone mellowed as she continued. “This is Dario’s brother, Ante.”
“I’m so glad to finally meet you both.” Ella stood up and shook her hand with Ante. “Mom told me so many stories about you.” Irena’s citrusy scent engulfed Dario. Ella sat back on the armrest of his chair and wrapped her arm around his shoulders. The girl wore the same perfume or maybe stole her mom’s, since he assumed Irena wouldn’t let her teenage daughter use makeup or attractive scents.
“Wish we could say the same about you.” Ante settled on the settee facing them. “But I hope we’ll get to know each other.”
“Well, I see your neighbor found the taxi company card I dropped. It took you longer than I expected to find me. You’re losing your touch.” A warning flashed in Irena’s eyes as she turned to her daughter and the girl eased away from Dario. His mind still struggling to wrap around the fact Irena had a teenage daughter.
“So you’re a mom now, Irena? Wow, and to such a beautiful girl. You’ll have to fight the boys with a stick before they knock your door down.” Ante winked at Ella, making her blush.
“Boys don’t interest me, Un…Ante.” Ella flashed a sheepish smile. “Is it okay if I call you Ante? Or would Mr. Vitez be too formal? Mom says your last name means a knight.”
Dario chuckled at Ante’s frown. The teasing they’d endured in the schoolyard because of their last name still stung. The two brothers from the gutter with a noble family name, in people’s mind just didn’t compute. Seeing Ella’s eyes lit up as she said it out loud as if she wanted that name for herself, almost made all the hurt of lashing tongues go away.
Ante waved his hand. “It does mean a knight, but no one calls us by our last name.” He leaned closer. “We’re not knightly.”
“Ella Vitez.” A dreamy grin lit up her face. “It sounds so romantic. I’d love to have such a last name instead of Novak.” She turned to Irena. “Mom, what do you think?”
“Ella, honey, please curb your enthusiasm.” Irena gave out a sigh of exasperation. “I’m sorry, Dario. She’s been dying to meet you two. She’s impossible.”
“Looks like we got a fan. Our late mother’s name was Elia, but people called her Ella too. You have your mom’s last name, not your dad’s?” At Ante’s bold question Irena and Ella only exchanged smiles. Irena nodded to some unasked query from her daughter.
Ella turned to Ante. “My dad? Oh, you must mean Fred.” She dragged the words out. “He’s not my dad. Mom also told me all about your parents. Ella is my middle name. No one but Fred calls me Dawn, by his late mother.”
Dario flashed a confused glance at Irena. She huffed. “Fred’s mother insisted her first granddaughter be named after her if only she knew.”
A knot in Dario’s chest loosened. Still, if Fred wasn’t Ella’s dad, who then?