Page 20 of Mafia Kingdom

I watch him go, feeling a pang of guilt. I should have asked him if he was okay. Danny is his brother, too. But Lucas hadn’t been around much lately, and Danny was closer to me.

After Lucas leaves, I head to my room, the dog following close behind. I don’t have the heart to make him sleep elsewhere, so I let him settle at the foot of my bed. As I lie down, the comfort of his presence is unexpectedly soothing.

I reach under my pillow, feeling the cold, familiar metal of my gun. It’s not like anyone could break in here, but old habits die hard. Our father made sure of that. He made us sleep with a loaded gun from a young age. Only Danny never did. He was afraid it would go off in the middle of the night and blow hishead off. I used to tease him about that, calling him a scaredy cat. Now, the memory twists my heart.

Exhaustion pulls me under, and I drift into a restless sleep. A sound startles me awake. My eyes snap open, and I see a figure in the room. Instinct takes over, and I extract the gun from under my pillow, pointing it at the shadowy form.

The figure gasps, and in the dim light, I see Sasha’s face, pale and frightened.

CHAPTER TEN

Marco

AFTER NEARLY SHOOTING Sasha last night, she fled, clearly terrified, and the dog followed her. The image of her face, eyes wide with fear, is burned into my memory. I heard the loud bang of her bedroom door as she slammed it shut, and I also noticed she took her phone from my bedside table. That's what she must have been snooping around my room for. I’ve left strict instructions with my men to keep her in my home until I return. I have a meeting with my family.

My father is going to be there.

As I sit in my car, my mind is a storm of conflicting emotions. How can I ever live up to his expectations? The weight of the family legacy presses down on me like a physical burden. He always carries himself with such composure, such authority.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but the knot in my stomach only tightens.

"You're just like your father," they say. But they don’t see the cracks. They don’t feel the doubt that gnaws at me every day. How can I be like him when I’m not even sure who I am?

The driver glances at me in the rearview mirror, his expression carefully neutral. He’s one of the old guards, loyal tomy father long before I was born. I wonder what he thinks of me. Does he see the truth?

I clench my fists, the leather of the seat creaking under my grip. I’ve got to pull it together before the meeting. I can't let them see any weakness.

As we pull up to the house, I take another deep breath, trying to steel myself. The mansion looms ahead, a constant reminder of the legacy I’m supposed to uphold.

Stepping out of the car, I catch my reflection in the window. Do I really look like him? I force a smile, but it doesn’t reach my eyes.

The front door swings open, and I’m greeted by my father.

“Marco, you're late.” His tone is sharp, and it stings more than it should.

“I know, I had some things to take care of,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady.

He just nods, but his eyes are cold.

"We need to talk before Lucas arrives," he says, his voice low and serious.

I nod, feeling the weight of his words settle on my shoulders. "What is it, Father?"

We enter the main meeting room, which is empty right now, but it won’t be for long; this is where everyone will gather in just a short time. I already hear the crunching of wheels on the gravel outside.

My father closes the door and turns to me, assessing me for a moment before he speaks. "Lucas's arrival and the recent shooting of Danny have made me suspicious."

My stomach drops. "No, he would never... Lucas isn't capable of that."

My father's eyes narrow, his gaze boring into mine. "You may believe that, but I have my doubts. Lucas has always been ambitious, and ambition can lead a man down dark paths."

I swallow hard, trying to process his words. "What are you saying?"

"I have a theory," he continues, pacing the room. "Right now, I can't trust Lucas. It feels like he wants everything, and by eliminating each brother, he might just get the throne."

I shake my head, struggling to wrap my mind around the idea. "But we're family..."

"Family can be the greatest threat," he interrupts, his voice harsh. "Never forget that, Marco."

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