Page 116 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Prince

I punch the wall again, fuming in anger. The file falls from my hand, down to the ground, spilling out the pictures. I’m holding the phone tightly in my other hand.

“Luca!” Bianca yells, startled, running to me. “You’ll hurt yourself.”

“It was never the Mancinis, Bianca. They were saying the fucking truth all along.”

“What? What are you talking about?” Bianca’s eyes settle on the pictures. “What are these?”

“Mateo murdered our parents. That son of a bitch did it,” I yell.

Bianca gasps as she bends to pick up the file. Vito grunts a curse.

“No... no... no,” Bianca says repeatedly as she flips through the pictures.

“I fucking made a deal with the man that killed Mother and Father. Fuck!” Bianca screams, with tears on her face. I’m going to fucking kill Mateo and make him pay.

I unlock the phone, wanting nothing more than to hear the recordings already. Three voice recordings appear on the screen as I unlock it.

Bianca covers her mouth to stifle her sobs as I begin to play the first.

We all listen to a conversation between Mateo and his father, planning how to take both families out. Mateo suggesting the murder of my parents and framing the Mancinis for it.

I want to rip his head off his body. I’m fucking losing my mind. My entire plan was focused on getting revenge on Gianna’s family. For three fucking years!

I hit play on the second recording.

Bianca places her other palm over her mouth as she drops to her knees the moment we hear Mateo reporting back to his father about the murder.

Fanculo!

Vito is beside my sister as he holds her in his arms. She is crying hard.

I’ve been made to believe a fucking lie that cost me everything. The woman that I love, precious years without my child, my family.

Fuck, my best friend.

Mateo has to pay. I’ll make sure he does so in the most painful way.

***

I take a long drag of my cigar as I patiently wait for Giovanni’s arrival. He should be here any minute. It’s a few minutes to 4 p.m.—the time we had set to meet.

A cloud of smoke escapes my lips as I puff out.

We are meeting at what used to be our favorite bar before our falling out. I spot him walking toward me the moment my wristwatch makes a sound. It is 4 p.m. already. I’ve always known Giovanni to be on time. He has black shades on as he makes his way to where I’m sitting. His fingers in the pocket of his black leather jacket.

I turn to stare at the empty space, the Elsie’s bar opposite us. Giovanni plops on the seat, taking the space beside me and leaving a gap between us.

“You haven’t changed,” I say, taking another drag.

“I can’t say the same about you, Luca.”

I puff out some smoke and then squash the cigar into the ashtray, killing the light.

“Giovanni−”

“I’m only here for my sister. How do we plan to get her out of there the fastest?” he cuts in before I speak completely.

I had told him earlier about Pietro’s confession and the evidence he gave to me, hoping we would be able to smooth things out when we met. Not that I thought he would, if I’m being honest. I know I wouldn’t if I were in his shoes.

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