Page 66 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Prince

“Marcus, if we may, I’d like to get straight into business.”

“Ah, Luca, always the charmer,” he says with a chuckle. “Definitely!”

With that cue, Lana excuses herself. Just what I needed. I can’t have her as a distraction.

“Let's find a more private place to discuss,” Marcus says as he grabs my arm, pulling me closer. Just before we reach the center of the room, he is hijacked by another business associate I do not know.

“Marcus! I’ve been searching everywhere for you,” the stranger says as he pulls him into a hug. Marcus returns the gesture. “Hey, Viktor! Good to see you, my friend!"

“Give me a moment, Luca. I will be right back.”

Marcus excuses himself and goes into the crowd with his friend.

Still standing alone, sipping fine wine and looking at the party with disinterested, half-opened eyes, Sterling approaches me. He leans in close, his voice barely audible over the music and chatter.

“The shipment was attacked and seized by some unknown men,” he whispers in my ear.

My eyes fly wide open, my grip on the wine glass tightening until the glass shatters as I struggle to process what I’ve just heard. This calls a few people's attention to us but I just ignore them.

I’m filled with anger and confusion, my mind racing with questions. Who dared to attack me?

I turn to Sterling, my voice low. “Follow me,” I growl, already moving towards a quiet hallway, away from the noise and all the prying eyes. I need some answers, and I need them right now.

As we step into the hallway, I round on Sterling. “What do you mean the shipment was attacked? Who did this?”

“We don’t know. This is the third time it’s happened recently and...” he realizes he’s just angered me as his words trail off.

“What the hell do you mean the third time?” I ask, my voice hissing. My eyes narrow on him.

He stammers out a response, taking a step backwards. “I-I didn’t mention I thought we could recover them before you found out. Someone’s messing with us.”

I take a pause. I haven’t been cooped away for three years just to lose my anger and destroy it all, but it’s taking everything in me not to smash his head against something. “You’re telling me thatour shipments have been getting hijacked, and you didn’t think it was worth mentioning?”

Just as I’m about to unleash my anger, pressing harder on his neck, some guests wander into the hallway, ignorant of what is happening.

I force a sly smile. It’s a cold one that sends a shiver down Sterling’s spine as I release my grip on his neck.

He gasps for air, his eyes still wide with fear.

I lean in close, my voice a whisper. “We’re not done here, Sterling. You’d better have some answers for me, or so help me...” I trail off, letting the unspoken threat hang in the air.

As the guests pass by, I keep the smile plastered on my face, pretending everything is fine.

As the guests depart, I turn to Sterling, my eyes drained of their earlier intensity but still simmering with a low-grade irritation. I don’t have the energy to keep up the act, to pretend that everything is fine when it’s not. I turn and walk away, my movements mechanical, my mind already elsewhere.

I make my way through the party, the sea of faces blurring as I leave behind the forced smiles and empty laughter. My men fall in step behind me. We reach the front door, and I push through it, out into the cool night air.

Marcus calls out after me, his voice cautious, “Luca, wait! What's going on?”

One of my men intercepts him, saying a firm but polite, “I’m afraid it’s none of your business, Marcus.”

I raise a finger to stop him from sending Marcus back. We haven’t had the chance to discuss business and Marcus is one of my key players in this game. Unlike most of the gang leaders around, he can be counted on. Not those backstabbing losers. I need to seal a deal with him.

“Let him through.”

Marcus glares at my man before he joins me in my car. My man shuts the door.

“Is everything alright, Luca?” His eyes are full of concern as he stares at me. His fingers settled on his knees.

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