CHAPTER 13
Adriano
“He what?” I gape at Chiara.
We’ve moved to a safe house in the middle of my territory, and my men are carefully watching everyone. Even if Matteo and Gennaro figure out where I am, there’s no way they’re getting to me easily again. Not without a fight.
And here I have all the security measures. Keypads. Eye scanners. Matteo isn’t getting in here or anywhere near my wife no matter what he tries. I’ll rip his head off with my bare hands.
But what Chiara just told me makes my blood boil even more.
“He offered me to divorce you and marry him instead. He said he would take care of the twins as if they were his. I guess that’s why he was trying to convince you that he and I were together,” she says.
“That’s insane.”
She nods. “That’s exactly what I thought. Do you think he was playing a game with me too or was he serious about it?”
“I don’t know.” And I honestly don’t. “It’s been too long. We were just kids when we lived together. But I didn’t expect something like this from him. Going after you and me, yes. But trying to take over my life?” I shake my head.
“He wants what you have.”
“Yeah, he’s always wanted that, but like this... I didn’t see that coming. I thought he wanted to take my territory and my business. But my wife? What the fuck? Why did he think you’d play along?”
She shrugs. “Because if I didn’t, he would’ve killed me and the twins.”
“But the twins would’ve been a threat to him. Someone would’ve figured out the truth about him not being their real father. Even if I was dead and years passed, someone could’ve used that info to make a move against him. He’s the one who’s pissed off about Gennaro adopting me and me not being a real Gaviani, and yet, he’d take my children... And didn’t he think you’d find a way to do something against him?”
“Unless he planned to kill me once the twins were born and remove all the evidence. I don’t know.” She sighs. “I’m just so glad I managed to escape. My idea was very risky. I wasn’t sure he’d care I was losing the twins. He could’ve lied to me about everything, including his plans.”
I pull her closer to me on the bed, so her head rests on my shoulder. “He probably didn’t even think that far. All he wants is to replace me and take everything that’s mine. Maybe he won’t even admit it to himself, but I’m sure his whole plan is about seeing Gennaro’s reaction. I bet he believes that even if he was in my spot and had everything I do, his father wouldn’t treat him the way he treats me. And he might be right.”
“How do you know?” She furrows her brow.
“Because I met with Gennaro. I thought he kidnapped you, or that he and Matteo were working together and wanted something from me. But instead, he said I was his heir and he gave me the location of Matteo’s safe house. Matteo, of course, expected that, so he set up all those photos and stuff...”
“Doesn’t he understand that his beef is with his father and not with you? You’re not the one making Gennaro do anything.”
“I don’t know if he sees it that way. I’m the one who stole his father’s attention away from him. Even I was trying to prove something to Gennaro with my latest project. I wanted to have all the power and everything so he would see that he shouldn’t have abandoned me. But it’s funny because he thinks he did the right thing.”
She blinks at me, an incredulous look on her face. “He thinks he did the right thing by never contacting you again after you ended up in juvie?”
I nod. “He believes I wouldn’t have grown into the man I am today otherwise. He thinks leaving me on my own and giving me enough money to start something was his way of pushing me toward success. I saw the look in his eyes. He really, truly believes that.”
“Whoa, and we’re wondering why Matteo is weird. Who knows what happened after you were no longer with them? But why is he treating Matteo like that? It’s like he doesn’t even love his own son, but he seems to love you... in his own twisted way.”
“I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because when he found me, I’d already been through a lot and I’d seen a lot. I was willing to do anything to get him to keep me, and I learned how to adapt and recognize how people wanted me to behave around them. I wasn’t always perfect at it, but I was trying. Even when I was sick, I’d find ways to steal meds so Gennaro wouldn’t know because I didn’t want him to think I was a burden or weak.
“I basically cheated when it came to some things because I knew more than Matteo. He grew up in a golden cage, and his father expected him to be like me and know things he couldn’t possibly know. I developed skills that he had nowhere to learn. Our fight for Gennaro’s affection was unfair from the start.”
“Hey.” Chiara places her hand on my cheek. “It’s not your fault, and you didn’t cheat. You were just a kid too, and you didn’t have a choice, because what was the alternative?”
“Ending up hungry and alone on the street. Probably dead.”
“Exactly. It’s Gennaro’s fault. He’s not the nice man who saved a kid off the streets. He wanted to use you all along. I bet he’s not just making you his official heir without wanting something in return either.”
“He must be thinking about his retirement. Now that he’s older, he probably plans to enjoy his life and focus less on business. In his mind, I won and I’m capable of running everything on my own and ensuring his safety too. I suppose he wants to take credit for my success and show up in public like a proud father who gave me everything. He wants to be a hero, and not just in the eyes of the public, but in the mafia circles too. And he’d get all that if I agree, because he can spin a nice story.”
“But you won’t agree to that, right?”
“I don’t know what has to happen for me to agree. I definitely don’t want to.” I already told Gennaro I didn’t want anything from him.
“What happens now, though?” she asks. “Matteo is out there. Gennaro wants you to be his heir. So if you refuse, is he going to choose Matteo instead? Will they both come for us?”
I hate seeing the worried look in her eyes. She should be calm and relaxed, especially now that she’s pregnant. But even if she wasn’t carrying my twins, I still wouldn’t want her to be stressed out.
“I don’t know. Gennaro is still hoping I’ll change my mind. But we’re safe here and everything’s going to be fine.” I take her hand and place a soft kiss on her knuckles. “No one will get to us, and I’ll take care of Matteo and Gennaro.”
“We still have to do the paternity test, and I’ll have to go to a doctor to make sure everything’s okay with our babies.”
“There’s no need for the test.” I believe her.
I have no reason not to. She could’ve already killed me or invited Matteo here or whatever. If the twins were really his, Matteo would’ve never let her come back to me. It would be completely insane, even for him.
This isn’t some part of their twisted plan. The game Matteo was playing is over because Chiara managed to escape his clutches. I wish she hadn’t had to go through all of it, and I wish I could’ve done something, but there had been no time. Now that Chiara is with me, I’m never letting anyone near her.
But Matteo has to be dealt with and fast. I don’t want him running around and coming up with more crazy plans.
“I still want to do it,” Chiara says. “I don’t want there to be any doubts or confusion. We don’t know what Matteo might pull next, and I don’t want him to be able to get to you or play mind games with you.”
“Okay.” I press my lips against her forehead. “And I’ll set up everything with the doctors. There’s a clinic close by.”
I caress her hair. How did I get so lucky to have a woman like her with me? I always thought she’d be running away from me and not coming back to me.
Unless she’s doing it because she doesn’t have a choice. She’s been dragged into the mafia world and there’s danger out there. Her pregnancy only makes things more difficult.
What if she only returned because she knew I’d protect her? I would do it anyway, whether she loves me or not, but she can’t know that.
Loves me.
It’s so strange to think about it. But my life has changed, and I’m in love with her. I want to have a family. I want her to be my family, without forcing anything.
But if I want to be sure she really wishes to stay with me, I have to remove the danger from our lives. Matteo’s plan failed, and he has to pay for everything he’s done and tried to do.
How could I lure him out? Catch him into a trap?
“I have an idea,” I say softly. “But you’re not going to like it.”
“Huh?” Chiara pushes herself up and furrows her brow. “What idea? Why won’t I like it?”
“Because it would require me to burn your house down.”
“What?” Her jaw goes slack.
“Matteo doesn’t know what happened. I doubt he could’ve found out you and I are together. Maybe we can make him think his plan is still working. If I burn down your house, he’ll think I’m furious with you. Your parents would have to go somewhere safe and the restaurant would be spared, but it would have to stay closed for a while.”
Her eyes bulge.
My plan probably sounds crazy to her, but we’re dealing with Matteo, so it might work.