The Don's Legal Eagle's Baby: An Enemies to Lovers Mafia Romance

14. Griselda

Relief flooded me as Emilio permitted me to make the necessary calls.

My trembling fingers tapped on the screen of my phone as I dialed my mother”s number, my heartbeat echoing in my ears as I waited for her to pick up.

”Hey, Mom,” I greeted when she picked up, attempting to pretend as if nothing was wrong. ”I wanted to let you know that I”ve decided to go on a little holiday to clear my mind. So, I won”t be able to make our usual meetups for a while.”

There was a pregnant pause on the other end, a beat of silence that felt like an eternity. I could almost envision the concern furrowing on her brow, hear it in the slight catch of her breath.

”Is everything alright, sweetie?” she inquired, her worry palpable even through the phone.

”Yes, Mom, I”m okay,” I reassured her, my voice a conscious attempt to sound composed. ”I just need some time for myself to clear my head. You know, the situation at work, maybe considering my next steps.” My excuse came in handy.

My mind raced back to the moment at my mother”s house when I mentioned the name ”Fiore.” She tried to keep her reaction subtle, but it was distinct, a flicker of recognition and unease. Did she somehow know about their mafia affiliations? How could she? It was a question I couldn”t voice, not with Emilio right there.

”Alright, just be careful and take care of yourself,” she implored.

Emilio, during the conversation, remained a silent observer. I could sense his watchful gaze and feel his concern for me, but I didn’t want to see it. It was because of him I was in this situation after all.

Next was Avery. The phone rang a few times before she answered. ”Hey, Griselda. Everything okay?”

”Yeah, everything”s fine,” I replied, attempting to mask the tremor in my voice. ”I decided to take a break after what happened at work. You know, since I”m already suspended, I might as well enjoy a little downtime.”

Avery”s skepticism was evident. “Are you sure everything is alright?”

“Yeah. I just got back from visiting my mom, and I told her what happened with my boss and Carmella. We spoke for a while, and I decided to clear my head.” I quickly repeated the same excuse.

”Alright, if you say so. Just promise me you”ll have some fun too. Send me tons of pictures!”

”I promise,” I chuckled in an attempt to ease her worry. ”I”ll keep you updated. Take care, Ave.”

”You too, Griselda. Love you.” I echoed the sentiment before ending the call. Tears prick behind my eyes.

After ending the calls, I looked up to see Emilio”s steady gaze on me. I wanted to be angry at him, to let frustration consume me, but there was something in his eyes that kept my emotions in check. Was it empathy? Regret? I couldn’t tell.

“So, where will I be staying?” I asked, blinking hard. “And what about my things?”

”We”ll pick up your things tomorrow,” he assured me, leading me through his luxurious penthouse.

The sleek modern design and the expansive views of the city left me momentarily breathless. It was a testament to Emilio”s wealth and status, a fact that stirred a mix of awe and resentment within me.

My mind couldn”t help but make a bitter remark, wondering if this affluence was predominantly built on the foundation of his illegal business dealings.

Emilio caught the flicker of skepticism in my eyes, the doubt woven into my expression. A subtle pang of sadness flickered across his features before he concealed it behind a neutral mask. I felt an unexpected wave of guilt, unsure why I was feeling bad for upsetting him.

Still, I couldn”t help but voice my lingering suspicion.

”So, is all this... Royalty Rentals, a front for your other activities?” The words held a sharp edge, reflecting my internal conflict.

Emilio paused, glancing at me with deep emotion in his eyes.

”Whether you believe me or not, and I understand why you would doubt me, Royalty Rentals is a legitimate venture, and I genuinely am the CEO. Everything I”ve told you is the truth,” he responded earnestly.

His words seemed sincere, and for a fleeting moment, I wanted to believe him.

Emilio stopped in front of a lavish door and turned the handle, revealing the space where I would be staying during my unplanned ”holiday”. As the door swung open, I stood there in stunned silence, captivated by the opulence before me.

The room was spacious and elegantly designed. Large windows revealed a breathtaking view of the city below. A king-sized bed with pristine white sheets was placed at the center, and adjacent to the bed was a luxurious en-suite bathroom equipped with modern fixtures and a shower enclosure.

As if this wasn”t already impressive enough, my eyes widened as I ventured further. A walk-in closet awaited me, stocked with an array of clothes in various sizes. I glanced back at Emilio with confusion.

He explained, ”I prepared some clothes here for you. I wasn’t sure of your size or preference so I got a variety of clothes in different sizes just to be sure.”

Despite my efforts to be neutral toward him, my heart couldn”t help but flutter at his considerate gesture.

”Thank you,” I managed, my voice sounding slightly awkward.

”You can freshen up if you”d like. I”ll be around if you need anything,” he offered, stepping out of the room to give me space, and leaving me to process everything that had happened and that I had listened to.

Heaving a sigh, I allowed myself to fall back onto the plush bed, reveling in its softness. My thoughts, however, were far from relaxed. Emilio”s revelations were still fresh in my mind.

The truth about Emilio”s involvement with the mafia was like a jolt to my senses. It made me dizzy, and the implications were overwhelming. I couldn”t help but think about the scars I had glimpsed on his body during our intimate encounter.

Images flashed through my mind - a world of crime, danger, and a life tainted with bloodshed. How many lives had he destroyed, or worse, taken?

My breath hitched at the thought. Could he have...? The idea was unsettling. The very notion that he was capable of such acts shook me to the core. The truth was that the criminal world came with inevitable casualties, and lives were extinguished for power, control, or even as a means to an end.

I sincerely hoped, deep in my heart, that Emilio”s hands were clean. Despite the shock and anger, there was still a part of me that cared for him deeply.

If it turned out that he had taken lives, my decision was firm - regardless of the safety he wanted for me, I would sever all ties with him. No amount of danger could justify being with a murderer.

After making up my mind, I freshened up and changed into a set of the clothes provided. As I made my way back to the main area, I found Emilio engrossed in his phone at the island counter. He looked up as he heard my footsteps approaching, setting his phone aside.

”Hungry?” he offered, gesturing towards the kitchen.

I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts.

”I have a lot of questions,” I replied calmly.

Emilio nodded, accepting my request. ”Of course. Feel free to ask anything, and I”ll answer truthfully.”

As we sat down, I couldn”t help but bring up the tiramisu my mother had packed for me. ”My mother packed tiramisu,” I mentioned, pointing to the dessert on the counter. ”We could enjoy this while we talk.”

Emilio”s eyes lit up at the suggestion.

”That sounds wonderful,” he replied, a genuine smile touching his lips.

I swiftly prepared the dessert, slicing it into portions and serving it on plates. We settled back in our seats, each with a plate of tiramisu in front of us.

Emilio”s face transformed with pleasure as he took the first bite, savoring the tiramisu. The expression of delight made me proud, glad that my mother”s culinary talents were appreciated.

”This is amazing,” he exclaimed. ”Your mom”s cooking is truly something else.”

I smiled back, appreciating his compliment. ”She”s always had a knack for making desserts. Tiramisu is one of her specialties.”

However, I knew we couldn”t delay the difficult questions that needed answering so swiftly. I got to the point and asked him the question that had been lingering at the front of my mind.

”Have you ever killed anyone?”

My directness made him choke on the dessert.

He coughed, clearing his throat before replying, ”No.”

I looked at him skeptically. I had hoped for that answer, but given the environment he was involved in, it was hard to believe. Could someone keep their hands clean in such a dark world, especially as the son of the mafia”s leader?

My disbelief was evident, and Emilio sighed, sensing my doubt. He assured me, ”I know it”s hard to believe, but I”m telling the truth. I”ve never killed anyone.”

I pressed on, asking how that was possible.

”I”ve never been interested in the mafia world, despite my family ties,” Emilio explained.

His response caught me by surprise and left me stunned. I never imagined he wasn”t interested in the world of the mafia, especially given his family ties. The contrast between his appearance and the reality was disconcerting.

He chuckled bitterly at my bewildered expression.

”Is it that hard to believe?” he asked, the bitterness still lingering in his tone.

I cleared my throat, attempting to process his words.

”I just... I didn”t expect this. With your family... it just seemed inevitable. Why don”t you leave, then?” I blurted out, despite knowing that it wasn’t as simple as that.

Emilio let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. ”It”s not that simple. Leaving the mafia is a lot more complicated than you think.”

”But as the son of the leader, shouldn”t it be easier for you? Won’t your father understand?” I pressed, not fully understanding the intricacies of his situation.

Emilio”s laughter lost its bitterness and became almost incredulous. ”You have no idea,” he said. ”My father is precisely the one who won’t let me go so easily.”

I could feel the tension as he spoke about his father. It hinted that their relationship was strained and complicated. Despite not being the heir to the mafia family, it seemed his father was adamant about keeping him involved.

It made me wonder why his father was pushing him into the mafia world when clearly he didn”t want to be a part of it.

”That”s why I built Royalty Rentals,” Emilio explained, his voice carrying a mix of determination and exhaustion. ”It”s a legitimate business, entirely separate from the mafia, a way to claim something just for myself, apart from my family”s dark heritage.”

He let out a heavy sigh, the weight of his words palpable in the air.

”But leaving the mafia isn”t a straightforward choice. Even if I were to walk away, peace wouldn”t come. The Mancini family would keep coming after me. They see me as a means to hurt my father. I”m worn out by the relentless attacks, and before I can confront my father and break free from the family, I have to deal with the Mancinis. It”s the only path to achieve any semblance of peace.”

As I listened to Emilio, I felt a surge of empathy for him.

“What caused the feud between your family and the Mancini family?” The words stumbled out of my mouth.

Emilio”s eyes clouded with a complex mix of emotions, memories perhaps that he was forced to revisit.

”It was a betrayal perpetrated by my family. The Mancinis have been seeking retribution ever since,” he said.

My heart sank at his words, already dreading the answer to the question that I was about to ask. I hesitated, the words catching in my throat, ”Who betrayed the Mancini family?”

Emilio met my gaze. ”It was my father.”