by Cora Reilly
Daniele nodded, but he kept his eyes on Simona.
Simona stroked Giulia’s belly as if it was a magic lamp and would grant her a wish before she returned to her place. Daniele stuck his food-covered tongue out at her. She hit him. I gave Giulia a look. You really want another one of these?
“I can’t wait for another one,” she said.
I was in my eighth month when Mansueto had another heart attack. The doctors weren’t sure if he’d ever leave the hospital again. When he asked me to visit him alone, dread filled me.
He was pale and thin in the hospital bed. His eyes were even duller than usual, and he could barely lift his head in greeting when I walked in.
“How are you?” I asked gently as I sank down in the chair beside the bed.
“I don’t have long.”
I touched his wrinkly hand. “You don’t know that.”
He smiled weakly. “I’m going to die, Giulia, and there’s only one thing I need to do before I leave this earth.”
“And what is that?”
“I want my blood to live on, to rule.” He nodded at my belly. “You carry the true heir to the name Moretti in your womb. Daniele shouldn’t be allowed to become Underboss. It’s just not right.”
I leaned back and pulled my hand away. That was exactly why I wished we hadn’t told Mansueto the gender of the baby. If it had been a girl, he wouldn’t have been this obsessed.
“Do a dying man the favor of telling Cassio the truth about those kids. He needs to know.”
I shook my head. “I won’t tell him and you shouldn’t either. Why would you even ask me to do it?”
He smiled tiredly. “I’m an old man. I don’t have long to live. Cassio would never forgive me if I told him. I can’t leave this world with him hating me. But if you tell him…”
“You can’t be serious.”
“He loves you, Giulia. He’d forgive you. How could he not?”
“Even if I told him, it wouldn’t change a thing. He loves Daniele and Simona. He’d still want Daniele to become Underboss.”
“If that were true, then why did he never want to know the truth? It’s ingrained in every man, the need to create a legacy, and his legacy grows in your belly. The only legacy Daniele carries is one of betrayal and incest.”
My eyes grew wide. Fierce protectiveness boiled up inside me. I couldn’t believe he had the audacity to insult my child in front of me. “How can you say that?”
Mansueto struggled into a sitting position. “Because it’s true. Don’t you want your son to become Underboss? Don’t you want him to have the position he deserves?”
I couldn’t speak. I pressed a palm to my stomach, stunned. Mansueto misunderstood the gesture.
“Every mother wants what’s best for her own child, and that baby in your womb is Cassio’s and yours. If you ask Cassio, he’ll disinherit Daniele and make your son the true heir.”
I shook my head slowly. “He’d never do it.”
“He would. For you. He’d do anything for you. Even that. He loves you more than anything else.”
“The person he loves would never ask him to disinherit his child.”
Mansueto’s eyes became imploring. “Then don’t ask him. You could let the truth slip by accident. If people find out about Daniele’s father, they’d never accept him as Underboss in the Famiglia. Incest is something shameful and disgusting.”
“Daniele and Simona can’t help who their parents are.”
“Giulia—”
“No,” I said firmly. “You know I respect you, Mansueto, but that you even consider suggesting something like that…” I took a deep breath. “I won’t do it. I’ll pretend you never even asked me.” I moved closer to him and took his wrinkly pale hand again. “Promise me not to tell it to anyone. Promise.”
Mansueto sighed, his eyes tightening with regret.
My pulse sped up. “Who? Who have you told?”
“Your father.”
How could he have told my father? He might as well have announced it on the news!
I turned around and hurried out of the hospital room, almost colliding with Mia on my way out. She steadied me with a firm grip on my shoulder. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
I forced a smile. “I forgot about an appointment. I’m sorry. I need to leave.”
“Okay.” Hesitation and worry reflected on her face.
Elia, who’d waited in the corridor for me, fell into step beside me, but I motioned for him to give me some privacy as I called Dad.
He picked up after the second ring, his voice cheerful. Of course, he was ecstatic. “Giulia, how’s my grandson?”
“Don’t tell anyone, Dad. Don’t. Swear it.”
Silence on the other end. “What are you talking about?”
“You know what I’m talking about. Daniele and Simona. Don’t tell anyone what Mansueto told you.”
“Giulia,” Dad began as if he was still talking to my naïve seven-year-old self.
“Dad, I mean it. I don’t want the news to get out. You are the only one who could spread it.” My steps became faster, but the additional weight of my belly made me slow, and I had to wait for the elevator because taking the staircase was out of the question.
“You can’t expect me to sit on information that can lead to my grandson, my own flesh and blood, to becoming Underboss. You should want that too. Do you want your son to be only a Captain and serve under the result of incestuous adultery?”
I gritted my teeth against the insult. Elia watched me worriedly as we took the elevator down to the underground garage. “I’m coming to Baltimore. Don’t talk to anyone. I’ll be there in two hours. Swear it.”
Dad sighed. “I swear it. I’m going to tell your mother to have the cooks prepare a nice dinner for us.”
I hung up. “We need to drive to Baltimore.”
Elia frowned. “To your parents’ home?”
“Yes. We have to leave right away.”
Elia led me toward the car and opened the door for me.
“You need to tell Cassio first.”
I sank down on the passenger seat as Elia slipped behind the steering wheel. I dialed Cassio’s number but got the busy signal. Luca was in town to talk to Cassio and Mansueto. Everyone knew that Mansueto didn’t have long. Maybe Cassio was in a conference call with other Underbosses and his Capo. “We can’t wait until I can reach him. It’s urgent.”
Elia gave a terse nod and pulled out of the parking garage. Traffic was horrendous, and my worry increased with every passing second. Eventually, Cassio called me back.
“Are you all right?” The worry in his voice warmed my insides.
“I’m fine. The baby’s fine too. Don’t worry. I’m on my way to my parents.”
“What’s the matter?”
I hated lying to Cassio, but I didn’t know what else to do. “My mother broke down today. I just want to make sure she’s fine, and they’ve been asking me to visit for a while.”
“Isn’t it too strenuous in your state?”
I huffed. “I’m pregnant, not sick.”
“Be careful. Elia is with you, I assume?”
“Of course. And my parents have their own bodyguards, not to mention Christian will be there as well.”
“That’s good. Unlike your father, he’s a capable man.”
Usually I defended my father, but today I couldn’t find the words. “I’ll be back tomorrow morning. I’ll have dinner with them and spend the night.”
“Okay,” Cassio said. In the background, I could hear male voices. “I love you,” he said quietly so no one but me could hear.
“And I love you.”
I hung up, more resolved than before. Elia regarded me closely. “Is there anything I should know?”
“No.” I softened the word with a smile. It was bad enough that Mansueto had told my father. Knowing him, he’d probably already passed the news on to Mom and Christian. It was only a matter of time before it spread like wildfire. I didn’t even want to imagine what
it would do to Daniele and Simona.
I fell asleep after a while. Elia woke me when we pulled up in front of my old home. Elia got out and held the door open for me.
Mom and Dad waited on the porch, both of them beaming like a kid on Christmas morning. I wished it wasn’t because of something that could destroy the people I loved most in the world.
I headed toward them and hugged them briefly. Christian waited behind them for his turn. “You’re growing bigger every day.”
“That’s not something you should tell a woman,” I told Christian. “Are you alone?”
“The flu has taken hold of our house. I’m the last man standing.”
I smiled but it fell when I met Dad’s gaze.
“You must be hungry,” Mom said eagerly, motioning for me to follow her into the dining room. I gave Elia a small nod so he knew it was okay to leave. He went into our guard room.
We all settled at the table. Once the maid had served dinner and disappeared, I bridged the subject. “I assume Dad told you already?”
Christian nodded grimly. His tight expression made it clear he disapproved of it.
Mom pursed her lips. “You should be ecstatic, Giulia. This is your chance.”
My eyebrows shot up. How was that my chance? I wasn’t going to become Underboss. “I don’t want the news to get out.”
“You should want what’s best for your child,” Dad said in a reprimanding voice.
I exploded. “Is that so? Was it for my best when you married me off to a man you described as the cruelest Underboss in the Famiglia, a man almost twice my age? Was that for my best or yours, Dad?”
Dad’s face became stone. He glared down at his plate. I almost felt guilty because despite all his faults, I loved him. He’d been a better father than many other men in our world.
“How can you speak in that tone to your father? Show some respect,” Mom hissed.
I took a bite of the beef tenderloin, trying to stay calm. Keeping a level head had become more difficult since pregnancy hormones were in play. “I respect you, but your ambition is going to ruin everything. I don’t care if this baby becomes Underboss. I want only the best for him, but becoming a leader in our world isn’t part of it.”
“You were always a dreamer, Giulia. It’s what I love about you,” Dad said, breaking through my rising anger until his next words. “But as a man, I can’t afford irrational daydreams. I know the realities of our life. And the truth is that all that matters is a position of power. I won’t have the son of a cheating whore as an Underboss. Our grandson will rule over Philadelphia and no one else.”
“Dad,” Christian began with a frown.
“No, I won’t discuss the matter further. Once you’re Underboss next year, you can make the decisions, but now it’s still my word ruling in this home and city. I don’t care if I have to tell the truth to every member of the Famiglia myself as long as it means our blood will rule in Philadelphia.”
I dropped my fork and stood. “If that’s the case, today is the last time you’ll see me.”
Christian touched my arm. “Stay. You shouldn’t drive back again so soon in your state.”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. I won’t stay in this house for another second.”
Dad rose from his chair. “I’m doing this for our family. You’ll realize it once your son is born, and then you’ll thank me.”
I smiled sadly, tears stinging in my eyes. “You’re wrong, but I know you and Mom will never understand. You can’t.”
“You should be grateful,” Mom whispered as if I’d personally broken her heart. I was sick of this game.
“I’m grateful I didn’t inherit your ambition. I won’t ever turn my children into pawns in this horrendous game for power. Not Daniele, not Simona, not Gabriel.” I touched my belly. “Because they all are my children, and I’ll fight everyone like a warrior to protect them of the horrors of this world, even if they come in the shape of my own parents.”
“How dare you after everything we’ve done?” Mom whispered harshly.
“After everything you’ve done?” I shouted. My stomach constricted with a sharp pain, but I ignored it. “You married me off to Cassio so he’d guarantee Dad’s position. You married your own niece off to the monsters from Las Vegas for the same reason, and you want my gratefulness?”
I turned, clutching my belly, my heart pounding in my chest. Elia waited in the lobby, his hand on his gun, his eyes narrowed.
“You better take your hand off your gun or you won’t live to see tomorrow,” Christian growled.
Elia ignored him and stepped up to me, cupping my elbow. “Are you all right, Giulia?”
I gave a terse nod. “Take me home. I’m done here.”
Elia led me outside, grabbing my coat on the way. Christian followed. I sagged down on the passenger seat. Before I closed the door, my brother leaned in. “Text me when you’re home so I know you’re okay.”
I gave him a shaky smile. “I wish you already were Underboss.”
“Even then I wouldn’t be able to stop Dad from spreading the news. You know our parents. This is their chance.”
“I know.”
“I’ll try talking them out of it anyway.”
Cassio and Christian had come to a tentative understanding over the years. They still weren’t friends but they respected each other. Christian would never spread the news, even if it could potentially better his position.
“Don’t waste your time,” I said before I closed the door. There was only one person who could guarantee my parents’ silence at this point. The man my father feared like the devil, and not just because he was his Capo.
“Is Luca still in Philly?”
Elia frowned. “I think so. The meeting is supposed to go late. He won’t return to New York until tomorrow morning.”
“Find out where he is and take me to him.”
Elia cut his gaze to me. “You can’t just go to the Capo.”
“Said Capo is also my cousin. He can make time for family, right?”
“What is going on, Giulia? You can trust me, or Cassio wouldn’t have chosen me as your bodyguard.”
“I trust you.” I looked out of the window. Elia was a good man, and an even better soldier and bodyguard.
“But you won’t tell me what this is about?”
I leaned my forehead against the glass. “I can’t.” Elia was Cassio’s soldier first. He was loyal to him. He’d tell Cassio the truth the moment he found out.
“Because Cassio isn’t supposed to know.” A hint of suspicion rang in his voice.
“Take me to Luca, Elia. That’s all you need to know.”
Elia’s mouth tightened, but he picked up his phone and called someone to ask where the Capo was. As it turned out, Luca was back in his hotel when we finally returned to Philadelphia.
“Do you have Luca’s number?” I asked as we stepped into the luxurious lobby of the Ritz Carlton.
“No. Not every soldier gets the Capo’s number, Giulia. He rules over thousands of men. I haven’t even talked to him so far.”
I walked up to the reception and smiled at the receptionist. Finding out Luca’s room number proofed tricky. The receptionist refused to give it to me. “Then call his room and tell him his cousin Giulia wants to talk to him.”
The woman did just that, nodding as she spoke into the phone. “All right, Mr. Vitiello.” She hung up and smiled politely at me. “The presidential suite on the thirtieth floor.”
I headed toward the elevators. Elia shook his head as he stalked after me. “He probably thinks it’s a trap and awaits with blazing guns. Luca is the most distrustful man I know, and for good reason.”
“Well, he won’t shoot a pregnant woman. And he knows me, so calm down.”
Elia’s tenseness stirred my own anxiety. The moment we arrived on the thirtieth floor, I touched Elia’s chest. “You stay here. I need to talk to Luca alone.”
Elia’s expression hardened. “I can’t let
you out of sight.”
“Are you going to tell Luca that you don’t trust him with me? I’d like to see that.”
Elia swallowed. “I’m staying right outside the door.”
I rolled my eyes. “So you can react if you hear me screaming? Are you going to kill your Capo to defend me? Don’t be ridiculous. He’d kill you before you could blink.”
Elia didn’t contradict me. I knocked at the door. Nothing happened for a while then finally the door opened, and Luca stood in the gap. He held a gun in his right hand and his expression was the usual harsh mask.
I smiled, trying to mask my nerves. “Good evening, Luca. I’m sorry to disturb you. Can I have a word with you?”
Luca glanced behind me at Elia and the look in his eyes sent a chill down my back. “I didn’t expect you, Giulia.” His wary gaze settled on me. We were cousins, but that didn’t mean we were close or that Luca trusted me the slightest bit. He didn’t trust anyone. After a moment, he nodded and opened the door for me. “Come in.”
I walked past him. “Elia will wait outside. What we have to discuss is private.”
Luca raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment as he closed the door. According to the rules in our world, this was inappropriate. A married woman wasn’t supposed to be alone with another man, but I’d never bothered with these rules and wasn’t going to start now. Luca motioned me toward the seating area of his suite. I sank down on the white sofa. Luca took a seat in an armchair across from me. He returned his gun to the holster around his chest, but the suspicion remained on his face. “Does Cassio know you’re here?”
I pursed my lips. “No, and I’d appreciate it if it would stay that way.” Luca narrowed his eyes. As my husband, Cassio had a right to know if I met with someone, especially a man, especially the Capo.
“What is it you need to discuss with me that you don’t want your husband to find out?”
He looked down at my belly and my eyes grew wide. “It’s not about this baby,” I said quickly. “It’s about Daniele and Simona.”
I hesitated. Cassio respected Luca. He called him the best Capo the Famiglia had ever had, but trust each other? No. Men like them couldn’t afford to trust many. But Luca was the only one who could silence my parents. I had to risk telling him because otherwise the truth would get out without a doubt.