Dark Mafia Heir (Mafia Vows #3)

Chapter 28

28

Antonio

V ivienne jumps up from the dining table when she sees me walk in. She’s beaming with a smile that is so full of love and warmth, everything I need after all the bloodshed the last couple of days.

It’s been three days since the party, and I had the beach house guarded while I went out to hunt for Salvatore two nights ago. The old fucker did a good job at hiding from me; I give him that. But he’ll be crawling out of whatever hole he’s hiding in soon enough, and I swear I’ll get him then.

Vivienne runs up to me and wraps herself around me. I hug her back, lifting her up and peppering her with kisses. I’ve missed her so much these last two days.

“How are you, gattina ?” I ask, still holding her firmly against me.

She looks up at me and giggles. “Aside from my morning sickness, I think I’m fine. I was worried about you.”

I pull back and drop down on one knee to touch her belly. I still can’t believe I am going to be a father soon. I’ve not had much time to process all of this, but the thought of it fills me with much more happiness than I can express.

“How are you, little one?” I ask, rubbing her stomach softly. “You’ve been giving your mama trouble, haven’t you?”

Vivienne’s laughter rings in the air, so hearty and bubbly that it is contagious. I should laugh, too, but all I feel is my heart rate quicken and tears well in my eyes—tears of happiness.

So this is what being alive feels like. I’ve been dead for so long…but now, because of Vivienne, I feel alive.

“He’s really troublesome,” Vivienne says. “I wonder who he gets it from?”

I glance up at her—my wife, the woman who somehow pulled me out from the darkest pit of hell and made me feel alive again. I still can’t believe she’s mine. I still can’t believe that any of this is happening.

“He?”

“I’m just using that since we don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl yet,” she says, her tone high with excitement. “I think he gets it from you.”

I try to stifle my laughter, but it just erupts through me. “We’re done for if he or she comes out with your smart mouth. Anyway…” I stand to my feet and snake my arms around her waist. “We’re going home today. Ginny and Agatha are waiting.”

She narrows her eyes. “Home? And Salvatore?”

“I’ve invaded his territory and taken down most of his men. He’s gone into hiding,” I explain. “He won’t make any stupid moves for now.”

She nods and cups her belly.

My chest tightens at that. She’s already so protective over our child, and I feel so protective over the both of them. I’ll do anything to keep them safe, including following Salvatore into the depths of hell until he’s no longer a threat to her and our baby.

I’ll give my life to protect them if need be.

“I’ll get my things ready then.” She turns around to leave but pauses and scrutinizes me. “You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

I shake my head, despite the painful throbbing in my right shoulder. One of Salvatore’s men managed to land two blows on me with his gun.

She smiles. “Thank goodness. I’ll grab my things.”

It’s evening by the time we get to the mansion. I can hear Ginny’s voice all the way from the foyer as she orders Agatha around on what she thinks Vivienne will like to eat.

Vivienne’s eyes light up at the sound of her voice. “Looks like someone really did miss me.”

“Aye, someone did,” a deep voice says.

We turn around to find Dario descending the stairs.

“She threatened to chop my dick off if I didn’t bring her here and convince Antonio to bring you home,” Dario continues with a shake of his head as he approaches us. “I heard from Antonio that you’re both going to be parents. Congratulations.”

Vivienne glances at me, then flashes a wide smile at Dario. “Thank you, Dario.”

Ginny raises her voice to get the attention of one of the maids in the kitchen. “Alright, I have to join them now,” Vivienne says with a playful grin. “See you boys at dinner.”

I nod in response, and she saunters off to the kitchen.

Turning to Dario, Lorenzo, and Luca behind me, I say, “We need to talk.”

They follow me to my study upstairs and wait for me to settle down. Dario sits on the chair across from mine, watching me as if he’s trying to see through my thoughts.

“You’re worried about her, aren’t you?” he asks.

“Shit! Is it that obvious?” I ask, leaning back in my seat and steepling my fingers in front of me.

“As obvious as the color of the sky,” he replies. “With Salvatore still in hiding, we don’t know what the bastard will come up with. We need to find him before he allies himself with one of our enemies.”

“How do we find him?” Lorenzo asks, from where he’s standing by the door.

“We scout the city,” I suggest. “If he’s gone into hiding, then I presume someone is helping him. We need to keep an eye on his allies. It has to be one of them.”

Luca sighs. “Do you think there’s a chance Peter Cole is helping him?”

I tub my jaw as I think. Peter is a tricky character in the midst of all this chaos. He definitely knows more than he lets on or shares. But there’s one thing I’m certain of, he would never ally himself with someone who tried to kill his daughter. “The chance is never zero, but no. I don’t think he’s in on it.”

Dario and Lorenzo nod in agreement.

“I’ll meet with Peter, see if we can get him on our side.” Vivienne is carrying his grandchild; I hope we can use that to our advantage.

“And if he still refuses?” Dario asks. “Will we kill him? I bet Vivienne wouldn’t want us hurting her father.”

“I’ll do whatever it will take to keep my family safe.” I crack my knuckles. It’s stiff from holding my gun for hours yesterday. “If that includes killing Peter, then so be it.”

Vivienne will be upset, but I would rather she be angry at me than dead.

“I’ll do my best to find Salvatore’s hiding place,” Lorenzo says. “I’ll scout the city until we find whatever hole the mole is hiding in.”

“Thank you.” I flit my gaze to Luca. “Tighten the security around the house and make sure my wife doesn’t go anywhere unprotected.”

“Yes, boss,” he responds.

“One more thing,” I say just as he’s about to leave. “Make sure Mariana’s house is well-guarded too. She won’t be the top of their priority list, but they know she’s a weakness too.”

He nods, and I dismiss them with a wave of my hand.

When they leave, my shoulders slouch, and I let out a frustrated groan.

Dario peers at me intently. “You’re disturbed about something, aren’t you? What is it?”

“It’s Vivienne.” My stomach churns as the image of her begging me to allow her to see her sister with tears in her eyes flashes in my mind. “I have to let her go when all of this is over.”

“Why?” he tilts his head. “You’re in love with her.”

“I am.” Fuck, I can’t believe how easily I am admitting this. How easily I said it to her the other day. “That’s exactly why I need to let her go. I can’t keep her a prisoner forever. If she stays, then it should be because she wants to.”

And God, I want her to stay. I know I’m a Grade-A asshole, but I want her here with me.

Dario smiles. It’s the first time he’s smiling at me in a while. “That’s the right thing to do.

I imagine Dante saying the same words to me. He used to say things like that a lot—used to tell me how proud he was of me and the decisions I make.

I should feel anger, the urge for vengeance. But all I feel now is the need to protect, to not lose any of the people I care about again. To keep Vivienne and our unborn child safe.

“Do you think Mariana will like this decision?” I ask. As much as I am affected by Dante’s death, I know Mariana is even more.

They’d known each other since they were kids; he was her soulmate. I imagine this will be harder on her than it will be on anyone else, knowing a boy she raised is in love with the daughter of her enemy.

“Mariana is like a mother to you, Antonio. She might not have given birth to you, but she and Dante loved you as if you were theirs. Talk to her, make her see reasons with you and it will not be a problem.” Dario pauses and clears his throat. “She’ll understand you better than anyone else.”

Dario is right. Mariana won’t hold it against me if she knows I am in love with Vivienne, but Mariana is the least of my problems. No one can stop me from loving Vivienne, not even the devil himself.

Vivienne’s feelings for me are all I am concerned about. She’s the only one who can break us, and even then, I won’t stop until I get her back.

“I know,” is all I can bring myself to reply.

His phone buzzes, and taking it out of his pocket, he sighs. “I gotta run, man. Talk later.”

“Are you taking Ginny?” I ask.

Vivienne’s happy to have Ginny around. She’d be disappointed if Ginny leaves now.

“No, I’ll pick her up later.” He pushes up from his seat and smothers his suit jacket. “Give it some more thought, and let me know when you decide.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Anytime.” He leaves, and I drift back to my own thoughts.

There’s only one thing left to do now: negotiate with Peter. I don’t negotiate with anyone, but I have to for Vivienne’s sake.

Pulling my phone out from my pocket, I dial Peter’s number. Fortunately for both of us, he answers on the first ring.

“If it isn’t the devil himself,” Peter drawls in a gravelly voice. “To what do I owe this unexpected call?”

My nostrils flare, but I remind myself to remain calm. “I’ll get right to the point, Cole. I’m inviting you for dinner at my house on Sunday night. You’re to bring Harper with you.”

He horselaughs, his loud voice ringing in my ear like a funeral bell. “Dinner at your house? After you kidnapped my daughter. Do you really think I am stupid enough to dine with my enemy?”

I do think he is stupid; he wouldn’t gamble his daughter’s life away to protect a secret if he wasn’t. But I don’t tell him that. Instead, I say, “Trust me when I say sitting on the same table with you is the last thing I want. Vivienne misses her sister; we need to come to a compromise for her sake.”

“And if I refuse?” Peter asks.

“Then you’ll leave me no choice but to take your daughter.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I am. My wife needs to see her sister and I’ll make that happen whichever way possible. I’ll tow your entire mansion down here if I need to,” I state sternly, and I mean every word I say. “Friday night at seven. Oh, and we have one more matter to discuss when you come.”

I hang up before he has a chance to argue.

Friday night will either end with us being allies, or one of us dead.