Page 16 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Prince

I button the sleeve of my shirt as I prepare to attend a business meeting with Father. He has started including me more in thebusiness, attending meetings and business trips to get familiar with the game. The pressure of having to handle everything he has built as his heir is a fucking lot.

We have a gathering with the other mafia gangs in the city. Giovanni and his father, Salvatore, will be present. It would only take some kind of miracle to keep our hands off each other. They’ve caused a lot of trouble in our business lately. I don’t want to sit in the same room with atraditore(traitor).

“Your father’s ready, Luca,” Mother calls with a knock on my door.

“I’ll be out in a minute,Madre.”

My childhood room is just the same as I knew it to be growing up. Mother has only stacked more of her things here and changed the curtains and sheets.

I leave the room as I slide my suit on. I’ve never been really comfortable in formal suits but I have no choice in formal meetings like these. Every month, the heads of the mafia gangs in the city meet to discuss several issues, putting their feuds aside for only the number of hours it lasts. It has never really ended peacefully for as long as I can remember.

Mother is seated in the living room when I walk in, her face wrinkled in a frown. I can tell she is troubled.

“What are you worrying about,Madre? I hate seeing you like this.”

She lets out a heavy sigh and stares at me. “Your sister’s troubles disturb me. Your father and I are already contemplating sending her back to avoid her harming our image here.”

A part of me knew exactly what the problem was. Bianca’s sudden arrival was a surprise to us all. She had not informed any of us before jumping on a plane back to New York. It’s very unusual of her. She always used to inform me, at least, before coming back home.

“I’ll handle it,Madre. You have nothing to worry about.”

She stands on her feet with a faint smile on her face. “I worry about you, too,mio figlio. You take on too many responsibilities.”

“It is my job, Mother. I’m not complaining.”

Mother closes the distance between us and helps me adjust the collar of my shirt.

“No, it’s not,amore(love). You owe yourself a break.” She cups one of my cheeks. “I know I raised a gooddonwho always puts other people’s worries before his own, but I want you to be happy. Be selfish for once and put yourself first, Luca.”

Her eyes are locked on mine. “I’ve been watching you lately and you don’t seem happy.”

I hear the car horn from outside. Father is waiting.

“Be safe,amore.” She kisses both my cheeks and lets me go.

The words she said aren’t entirely a lie. I’ve only tried to hold myself together for the past few days. The current situation is quite difficult; my best friend is now my enemy and our families are at war. Bianca’s addiction to drinking forces the need to constantly save her, unless the truth about her going overseas comes out soon.

A guard opens the door to the Bentley Bentayga as I join my father in the back seat.

He is in a dark blue suit with creases formed on his forehead. “You are going to make us late,” he says as the driver puts the car in drive.

I look at myself through the rearview mirror to adjust my tie. I’m about to meet my former best friend and his double-crossing dad.

The warehouse is brightly lit. Father and I walk into the meeting spot.

Giovanni is seated beside his father and our eyes meet as I walk to my seat. He keeps our gaze locked in for seconds before he turns to look at his father. Salvatore has a grim expression on his face, staring at Father and me.

There are three other men seated opposite us. A long wooden table divides us. Two guards, each belonging to one of us, are standing behind our seats.

Giovanni leans closer to his father and whispers something in his ear. I don’t take my eyes off of them. If he has something to fucking say, he should spill it out loud like a fucking man. I’m clenching my fists while watching them closely.

Giovanni has a look on his face—a wash of sadness or maybe guilt. His dark brown hair in a crew cut fade and a beard connected with his mustache make him look manlier. If he had stopped his father from trying to take over the entire east of the city like I had told him, neither of us would be in this war. There can be only one Capo and my father’s the rightful owner of the title.

“It has come to my notice the incessant killings happening in East Harlem,” Father speaks, rising to his feet. As the head of the mafia gangs in the city, he leads the meetings.

“Some of which have been from your men,” Salvatore retorts in a dismissive tone.

The two exchange furious glances at each other. I knew this wasn’t going to last long.

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