Secret Baby for the Mafia Prince (Savage Mafia Empire)

5. Luca

Chapter five

Luca

Trouble is never far away from Bianca when she is around, it’s almost like a curse. I always have to fucking take care of her problems.

I’ve missed Gianna. It’s been a week since we last saw each other. I’m a little worried about her. She hasn’t replied to my texts the last three days, which is very unusual of her.

Something is definitely wrong. Blackwell also informed me that she never showed up the next day. I want to reach out to her to at least find out if she is alright, but now’s not the best time. Our families are at war. I’ll be risking everything if I do something that stupid.

I button the sleeve of my shirt as I prepare to attend a business meeting with Father. He has started including me more in the business, attending meetings and business trips to get familiar with the game. The pressure of having to handle everything he has built as his heir is a fucking lot.

We have a gathering with the other mafia gangs in the city. Giovanni and his father, Salvatore, will be present. It would only take some kind of miracle to keep our hands off each other. They’ve caused a lot of trouble in our business lately. I don’t want to sit in the same room with a traditore (traitor).

“Your father’s ready, Luca,” Mother calls with a knock on my door.

“I’ll be out in a minute, Madre .”

My childhood room is just the same as I knew it to be growing up. Mother has only stacked more of her things here and changed the curtains and sheets.

I leave the room as I slide my suit on. I’ve never been really comfortable in formal suits but I have no choice in formal meetings like these. Every month, the heads of the mafia gangs in the city meet to discuss several issues, putting their feuds aside for only the number of hours it lasts. It has never really ended peacefully for as long as I can remember.

Mother is seated in the living room when I walk in, her face wrinkled in a frown. I can tell she is troubled.

“What are you worrying about, Madre ? I hate seeing you like this.”

She lets out a heavy sigh and stares at me. “Your sister’s troubles disturb me. Your father and I are already contemplating sending her back to avoid her harming our image here.”

A part of me knew exactly what the problem was. Bianca’s sudden arrival was a surprise to us all. She had not informed any of us before jumping on a plane back to New York. It’s very unusual of her. She always used to inform me, at least, before coming back home.

“I’ll handle it, Madre . You have nothing to worry about.”

She stands on her feet with a faint smile on her face. “I worry about you, too, mio figlio . You take on too many responsibilities.”

“It is my job, Mother. I’m not complaining.”

Mother closes the distance between us and helps me adjust the collar of my shirt.

“No, it’s not, amore (love). You owe yourself a break.” She cups one of my cheeks. “I know I raised a good don who always puts other people’s worries before his own, but I want you to be happy. Be selfish for once and put yourself first, Luca.”

Her eyes are locked on mine. “I’ve been watching you lately and you don’t seem happy.”

I hear the car horn from outside. Father is waiting.

“Be safe, amore .” She kisses both my cheeks and lets me go.

The words she said aren’t entirely a lie. I’ve only tried to hold myself together for the past few days. The current situation is quite difficult; my best friend is now my enemy and our families are at war. Bianca’s addiction to drinking forces the need to constantly save her, unless the truth about her going overseas comes out soon.

A guard opens the door to the Bentley Bentayga as I join my father in the back seat.

He is in a dark blue suit with creases formed on his forehead. “You are going to make us late,” he says as the driver puts the car in drive.

I look at myself through the rearview mirror to adjust my tie. I’m about to meet my former best friend and his double-crossing dad.

The warehouse is brightly lit. Father and I walk into the meeting spot.

Giovanni is seated beside his father and our eyes meet as I walk to my seat. He keeps our gaze locked in for seconds before he turns to look at his father. Salvatore has a grim expression on his face, staring at Father and me.

There are three other men seated opposite us. A long wooden table divides us. Two guards, each belonging to one of us, are standing behind our seats.

Giovanni leans closer to his father and whispers something in his ear. I don’t take my eyes off of them. If he has something to fucking say, he should spill it out loud like a fucking man. I’m clenching my fists while watching them closely.

Giovanni has a look on his face—a wash of sadness or maybe guilt. His dark brown hair in a crew cut fade and a beard connected with his mustache make him look manlier. If he had stopped his father from trying to take over the entire east of the city like I had told him, neither of us would be in this war. There can be only one Capo and my father’s the rightful owner of the title.

“It has come to my notice the incessant killings happening in East Harlem,” Father speaks, rising to his feet. As the head of the mafia gangs in the city, he leads the meetings.

“Some of which have been from your men,” Salvatore retorts in a dismissive tone.

The two exchange furious glances at each other. I knew this wasn’t going to last long.

“Why can’t you two hold your horses till we end this?” Martino blurts. The light above him settling on his bald head, he adjusts his glasses as he stares at both Salvatore and my father. Martino runs a restaurant in the city. A ruse for his illegal arms business.

“I’ve had enough of them,” Moretti adds.

“Let’s focus now, men. We have a lot to discuss,” Russo says.

He and Moretti both run a nightclub. The perfect cover to sell meth and marijuana.

“So let’s get to it already,” I reply, adjusting to sit upright in my seat.

“The authorities have been ruining my business lately. Two of my trucks were seized last week,” Salvatore starts.

“Serves you right, bastardo del doppio gioco (double-crossing bastard),” Father responds to him.

“ Figlio di puttana (Son of a bitch)!” Salvatore retorts, standing to his feet.

My father slams his fist on the table. “Traitor!”

“Hold your father,” Giovanni warns.

Fuck this shit.

“Worry about yours first,” I respond.

Russo joins them in standing. “Stop it. All of you. You embarrass me, acting like bambini (children).”

“I don’t want to be in the same room as this betrayer,” Father says.

The room is getting heated. Just like I expected.

“The only backstabber in this room is you, Antonio,” Salvatore replies.

“Oh, really?” Father coughs a laugh. “Does Moretti know you were behind the raid on his nightclub?”

Salvatore reaches for my father’s suit and pulls him closer, taking a fistful. His eyes are burning with rage, while Father has a wicked grin on.

Giovanni and I stand on our feet at the same time. The guards move closer to us, placing their hands on their guns.

“Salvatore!” Moretti yells, jumping to his feet.

“Let go of him,” I warn through gritted teeth.

“I’ll be the end of you, Antonio; mark my words,” Salvatore threatens.

“I said back off,” I warn again, pulling my gun out this time. Giovanni does the same.

“Does he speak the truth, Salvatore?” Russo questions.

“You can ask him,” Salvatore replies, releasing his grip on Father.

I return my gun back into the pocket of my suit and Giovanni does the same.

Salvatore pushes his chair backward and adjusts his suit. “You should pay more attention to your daughter, Antonio. Or everyone will soon find out the real reason you sent her overseas.”

Fuck.

Father’s demeanor changes quickly.

Salvatore checks his phone and looks back at my father. “I hear she’s in trouble.”

Shit. What has Bianca gotten herself into now?

“Let’s go, son; this is useless anyway.” Salvatore walks out of the room first.

Giovanni walks to me and leans closer.

“Stay away from Anna,” he whispers. He leaves the warehouse and his guards follow behind.

“Arggh!” Father screams, slamming his palm on the table.

“Get the car ready,” I say to the guard behind me. I take out my phone from my pocket and dial Bianca’s number. It rings but she doesn’t pick up. Salvatore might be right, and I fucking hate it.

My father and I leave the warehouse next. He is angered as we enter the car.

“Get your sister on the phone. Now.”

I loosen my tie, dialing her number again. She still doesn’t pick up. She’s probably too drunk already.

The night is getting darker as we ride back home. Bianca hasn’t responded yet and I’m getting fucking worried. None of the guards know where she is. She has always known how to get her way with them, disappearing unnoticed. I liked that about her when we were younger, but not now. She might be in trouble and I have no fucking idea where.

Father looks disappointed as he gets out of the car and walks into the house.

“Francesca! Your child has done it again.” He yells as he enters the living room.

Mother is seated talking to a maid. She quickly dismisses her, turning her attention to Father, who is pacing the space. She stands to her feet and moves to him, confused as she stares at me. “What is wrong, Antonio?”

He hisses harshly and walks to the bar.

“That brat gave Salvatore the opportunity to insult me. He seems to forget I am Antonio De Santis.” He takes a bottle of whiskey off the shelf and pours some into a glass.

“I’ll take care of her, Father,” I say, walking to my room to grab my car keys from the nightstand. The noise in the living room grows fainter as I get closer to my room.

Who would have thought Bianca would return the same even after being away in Italy for three years?

My phone rings just as I unlock the door to my room. It’s Bianca.

I hurriedly answer the call. “Where the fuck are you, Bianca?”

“This is Ivan, Boss.”

One of my men. Thank goodness.

“Where are you?”

“I was at Mirage Nights when I saw Miss Bianca get into a fight at the club.”

Drunk and in trouble. “Is she there with you now?”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Is she alright?” I grab my keys and leave the room.

“Just a busted lip.” He waits for a moment. “And a bump on the head.”

Shit .

“Take her to my house. I’ll meet you there soon.”

Mother is the only one in the living room when I return.

“Have you found her?” she asks, concerned, walking to me.

“Yes, Mother. One of my men did.”

“That girl. Why does she choose to disgrace this family?” She rests her left palm on her face and shakes her head, disappointed.

I hate seeing her like this. “I told you not to worry, Madre . I’ll handle this.”

She lets out a sigh as I lean to kiss her forehead.

“She is safe in my house now. Get some rest, Madre . I’ll see you in the morning.”

I walk out the door to my car, parked with the rest of my father’s cars. Thoughts of Gianna cloud my mind, instead, as I slide into the driver’s seat.

Now that I know Bianca is alright, I want a break for myself. Heaven knows I need it. Gianna is my perfect distraction from all of this, and I need to see her tonight. It’s been far too long and I’m taking the risk, caring less at this moment.

I take out my phone to text her to meet me at our usual place before I start the car’s engine. Her reply comes in almost immediately. She is at Velvet Spirits. She'll only need to take a short walk to get to my place on the next street.

I drive out of my father’s place and head to meet Gianna. I'm eager to see her again, more than I care to admit out loud.

The twenty-minute drive almost feels like fucking forever already. My fingers drum on the rim of the steering wheel as I pull over beside the house.

A knock lands on my door a few minutes after I get settled in the house. It must be Gianna.

I walk to the door impatiently and unlock it.

She runs into my arms the moment she’s inside.

Fuck, I’ve missed her. My lips are hungry for hers already, but I stop myself when I see her teary eyes.

“I hate all of them, Luca.”