Page 40 of The Devil's Heir
"What's the matter, Falcon? Did your breeder turn you down?" My best friend asks jokingly before his father slaps him upside the head.
"You're lucky you’re my friend, Joey. Otherwise, you'd have a bullet in your head." I sit in my chair and sigh. "But to answer your question, no. Liliana was perfect, as always. My receptionist, on the other hand…"
"Oh, the lovely Lucinda. Would you like me to fuck her into submission for you?" Joey teases, earning him a warning look from me.
"Stay the fuck away from my receptionist. She does a great job, and I don't need you fucking with her head and causing her to slack on her work. That's why I only fucked her once."
"Can we please stop this talk about fucking? You two Buffonisound like you're anadolescenti!" Joseph chastises me and my friend.
"Did you just call us buffoons?" I ask with a cocked brow.
"And teenagers?" Joey adds.
"I did because that's what you sound like. Now, can we get to the matter at hand?"
I grin at the older man. Even though he'smyunderboss, I have respect for the guy. He taught me the ways of this life, and I owe him a lot. Besides, he's been like a father to me these past four years—more than my shitty uncle ever was. Technically, he should be the Don until I inherit my uncle's fortune once I knock up Lily, but he doesn't want that power as long as there is a Heir that it rightfully belongs to. I trust Joseph Lonzo with my life, and for that, I allow him some slack.
"What matter are we talking about?" I ask him.
"Our shipment was hijacked. We got it back, but you may want to have a chat with the little Donnola we caught."
"Why isn't he dead already?" I ask, disturbed that orders weren't followed through.
Anybody who steals from us gets an automatic death sentence. I don't accept any kind of excuses, and my men know that.
"I think you may want to talk to them, Capo. This Donnola mentioned something about your parents." Joseph arches his brow, knowing this will capture my attention.
It does, in fact, capture it, and I straighten up in my chair. "What did he say about them?"
"Nothing. He refuses to talk to anybody but you."
Nodding, I lean back in my chair, bringing my hand up to run my thumb across my lips in thought. I have Liliana with me. I can have Jackson take her home or bring her with me and let her see what happens when someone crosses me. The thought of letting her out of my sight for too long has me deciding on the latter.
"Is this why Lucinda felt the need to tell me that she canceled my appointments?" I ask my underboss.
"Sì. I knew you would want to speak to the Donnola, so I told her to do so," Joseph replies.
Again, I nod.
"Alright. I'll collect Liliana and head over there." I stand, buttoning the two buttons on my suit jacket.
"You can't bring that Bellezza with you—she shouldn't witness such a thing." Joseph frowns.
"That may be true, but I don't want her having any notions of me being a good guy. I am not the boy from high school, but the Mafia Don, and Iamthe boss in everything—including her."
"Be sure this is what you want," Joey states. "I remember how infatuated you were—"
"Wereis the key word here," I say, cutting my friend off. "There is no room for such things anymore—it's too dangerous."
My friend raises his hands in a surrendering gesture but doesn't say another word; neither does his father. So, without saying goodbye, I walk out of my office and back down the hall to collect my pauper.
Lily hasn't spoken to me since we got in the car. Only when we're pulling up to one of my warehouses at the wharf does she finally grace me with her words.
"Why are we here, Sir?"
"If I wanted you to know, I would have told you, but since you asked—I've got business to take care of."
"I can stay here then," my pauper replies softly, just as Jackson opens her door.
