Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Alessio

Good god don’t let this go on for too long.

I closed my eyes, trying not to focus on Dad’s loud voice he lost his shit about Mikael and the deal. As usual, Uncle was hyping it up, nodding like

a bobblehead

As the oldest, I had the unfortunate privilege of being the one to break the news. A bullet Dante and Cian could dodge.

1 knew this would happen. I told you not to cross that family!” Uncle pointed out, going on another rant for himself.

“It wouldn’t have mattered” i muntered under my breath, deciding to speak up, Dad was dad, but who was Uncle?

“It wouldn’t have mattered!” Dad raised his voice as if I had said something terrible. “Then I guess it also wouldn’t matter if I were to give away your position!”

Empty threats.

“To who?” I hid the cackle that was about to leave my mouth. “Dante who has barely left diapers or Gian who nearly got us all killed today!” those words made them close their mouths, and I knew I hit a nerve, perhaps a victory.

We had a big family, more than enough cousins, all with their own qualities–but I would be a liar not to admit that I set the bar quite high. I was well–educated, intelligent, got along with some people, and had a bit of common sense.

“I’ll take care of it. I’ll find someone new to buy the weapons, so you don’t need to worry about that.” I said. It was true that Mikael was an important buyer in our weapon business, but we had other businesses keeping the Fanucci brand afloat. Our drug empire, clubs, casinos, restaurants, liquor brands

“One week.” Dad’s voice became hoarse from all the yelling. 11l give you one week to fix this mess, or I’ll have to step in.”

The thought of having him clean up what he saw as my mess was a hit to my pride. No matter what, I couldn’t let it come out like that. I couldn’t let our business partners, my brothers, family, and our men view me like that.

“One week,” I repeated to myself.

“If the maid wasn’t here, I would’ve dragged you by your ear and made you marry the Baldini girl by today” Uncle interfered again. “Even if this was indeed their plan all along, I would’ve made you marry someone else. Someone capable of walking down the stairs”

“What! Capable of walking down the stairs-“I sighed, telling myself not to get into it with him again. “Never mind.”

The worst of it all was knowing he was speaking the truth. If Jimena was not by my side, he would’ve pushed for another engagement, and that’s why I needed her.

Thoughts of Jimena crept into my mind. I hadn’t even seen her since I got back because I had been so busy with the Mikael situation. Then there’s the picture Levi sent me about some guy from her past terrorizing her which was perhaps even more important than Mikael at the moment. I had to deal with that situation, and soon, before it’d blew up in my face.

“What the hell are you thinking about? Dad wondered.

I glanced at the two curious faces. I’m thinking that if I have to fix this mess, I better get going”

“Dismissed,” Dad grunted, waving me off like he didn’t give a damn. “Alessio, one week!” He called out as I closed the door.

I had a lot on my plate, but first, I had to see Jimena and figure out what she was on to

I entered my room, expecting to find Jimena, but instead, I found her tiny offspring sitting on the floor with a drawing and markers spread. I had to give it to her, she made herself really comfortable.

The second our eyes met, I felt a bit of discomfort. It wasn’t that I disliked kids, but I didn’t have any business with Jimena’s daughter.

“Sir, you’re back!” She said, breaking the ice. She looked up at me with a creepy smile that was probably meant to be welcoming but only added to my unease.

I closed the door. “Alessio is fine,” I told her, “And I have a chair and a table so you don’t have to sit on the floor, kid.”

12:03 PM

Chapter 18

“I know, I have eyes. and a name, by the way,” she replied seriously, and I couldn’t help but be taken aback by her sass. “It’s Natalie, but you can call me Naty.”

In the time I had been away, she seemed to have picked up all of Melody’s bad traits. It was like dealing with a mini version of my little sister.

“So what are you drawing!” I joined her on the floor, trying to start a conversation. I glanced down at her art and was genuinely surprised. The landscape she had drawn was impressively detailed for someone her age. “You’re pretty good at this.” I had to acknowledge the fact

“I know. I hear it often, Naty responded cocky.

I muttered under my breath, “A thank you would’ve been nice.”

Naty giggled, giving me a toothy smile. “Thank you.”

Embarrassed she heard me complain, I nudged her shoulder. “You weren’t supposed to hear that,” I teased.

She squinted her eyes with a serious look, which made her look even more like her mom. Those long locks of hair, those big brown eyes trying to ask me what right I had to be in her personal space. They were alike, but funnily enough, Naty had already said more to me than Jimena ever did in a lifetime.

“Where’s your mommy?” I asked, curious about Jimena’s whereabouts.

“In the shower,” Nary said. I hadn’t even noticed the sound of running water until she mentioned it, but I was relieved I hadn’t bumped into her yet.

While it was my intention in the first place, starting a conversation with “Hey, I put a tracker in your ring and know you’re full of shit wasn’t exactly ideal. It would be for the best to take care of the problem discreetly without her trying to stop me.

“How do you like it here?” I asked, trying to make small talk.

“Good,” Naty spoke. “But you should know that Daddy loves Mommy,” She spoke, defensively.

“Daddy I cleared my throat, repeating myself, hoping I hadn’t heard it clearly. That answer caught me off guard, especially since Jimena told me she hadn’t seen Naty’s dad in ages. “Are you sure?”

“Of course I am,” Naty spoke. “He told me that today”

My frustration only builds upon hearing about yet another lie from Jimena. Naty’s words caught me off guard and made me wonder what the hell i

gotten myself into. Jimena’s confrontation with that guy suddenly hit me, and that’s when I pulled out my phone to look for the picture Levi

had

sent me.

I zoomed in on the man’s face, making sure Jimena wasn’t visible in the frame–and then I pushed the camera in Naty’s face, “Is this man your

Dad!”

“Ye-“Naty nodded confidently at first, then she shook her head, denying it as if it was s

supposed to be some kind of secret.

“Is it yes or no, kid?” I asked, trying to keep my cool.

Naty looked intimidated, and I realized I needed to tone it down. “Come on, you can tell me,” I encouraged gently. “I thought we were friends.”

“That’s daddy, but I’m not allowed to tell,” she whispered. “Mommy told me not to talk about Daddy, and Daddy told me not to tell Mommy he

came to visitTM

Now it was getting interesting.