34. Dante
Chapter 34
Dante
I’m still aching when we arrive at Antonio’s home, but I want this over with so we can fly off and have some time together before the babies are born.
The Syndicate needs a new direction, and Lia and I will front it. Romeo knows he is about to take over from his father, but he is still holed up with his brother somewhere, along with Enzo and Milly.
Lia wasn’t happy when she found out her sister was still in hiding until Fredrico decides on his next move.
Mateo was instructed to not tell Milly.
The car door opens, taking me out of my thoughts.
“Are you nervous?” Lia whispers.
“I am, are you?”
“No.”
I chuckle. I’m not surprised. My wife is a fucking legend.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself as I exit the car and turn back to her. “Let’s do this,” I say, pressing my hand on Lia’s head as she exits behind me.
Once again, we’re standing outside Antonio’s house.
As we approach the front door, it swings open, and my father stands there. His face is a mask of calm, but I can see the tension in his eyes. I get it. The last time we tried to do this, Lucia nearly killed me.
I can’t help but wonder how they dealt with her body.
I have to think about that. How will I deal with bodies? Especially Syndicate family members who try to harm mine.
We took Ricardo out to the depths of the ocean, not expecting him to wash up on the shore.
Maybe I need to buy a pig farm.
“Follow me.”
We reach Antonio’s study. The air in the room is thick with cigar smoke. An early celebration?
“Welcome,” Antonio says, ushering us inside.
At the back of the room, I spot Fredrico, eyes darting to Lia, waiting.
She smiles as she walks to him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. “Thank you for being here, and I want to start again, Dad. I should never have outed you. I’m really sorry about that.”
He shakes his head. “Never apologize to me. Do what you feel is right here.” He taps where her heart is. “I was trying to guide you. And I admit, I never wanted this for you. But now you’ve chosen it, as the Rossi head, I’ll give you my blessing to provide the balance of Syndicate power with Antonio and Dominic.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t—“ he starts, “When I told you I never wanted this life. I meant it. My position as head of the Rossi family is for this purpose only. After this, I’m going to disappear from here and your life for some time.”
“Why?” she gasps.
He shakes his head. “It’s time for me to move on.”
She slowly nods her head, understanding, sniffing she says, “I’ll give you enough money to retire somewhere nice.”
“I don’t need your money, Lia.”
Surprise coats her face.
“I inherited my father’s fortune. I’ll pass most of it to Milly. She’ll need it more than me.”
“His family thinks you’re dead,” she says, not understanding.
“I could only do this today by admitting my existence.”
“Oh, Dad, you shouldn’t have done that.” Her voice scratches in her throat. She stares at the floor in silence.
She now knows Milly Bailey has no choice but to become her birthright, Amelie Rossi, and head her family. Two females in the Syndicate—oh, how times have changed.
“Please sit. We have much to discuss.” Antonio’s voice cuts through the silence.
As we take our seats, I catch Lia’s eye. She gives me a subtle nod, and I’m reminded why I fell in love with her. Even in this den of wolves, she’s the most dangerous predator in the room.
Dominic clears his throat. “Now, let’s talk about the future of our organization.”
“Yes.” Antonio nods solemnly, his eyes flickering between Lia and me. “It’s time,” he says, reaching into his desk drawer.
The room falls into a hushed silence as Antonio produces two rings. Mine is hefty, a thick band of gold with intricate engravings. The one my father has worn for decades. Lia’s is more delicate, six thin ropes of platinum entwined with each other. The sixth rope entirely consists of tiny red diamonds. Representing the six families, but her being the most valuable of all.
Apparently, the ring is worth a small fortune.
I stand in the center of the room, my heart pounding beneath my calm exterior. My father approaches, flanked by Antonio and Fredrico. Their presence lending gravity to the moment, three pillars of the old guard ushering in the new.
My father’s eyes meet mine, a lifetime of expectations culminating in this moment.
“Dante de Luca.” His voice is calm and, as always, full of authority. “My son and heir. With this ring, you are vested to take your role in the Syndicate as head of the de Luca family.”
As he slides the ring onto my finger, I feel its weight - not just physical, but metaphorical. It’s the weight of responsibility, of legacy, and of the lives that will be in my hands. The cool metal, a reminder of the power I’m inheriting and the challenges it means.
I meet my father’s gaze, silently acknowledging the torch he is passing.
Dominic and Antonio swap places and I take Lia’s hand as she walks to where I’d stood.
“Aurelia Moretti,” Antonio intones, his eyes flickering over her face, “as the current head of all heads of the Syndicate, and as your father, I am at liberty to re-anoint the Moretti line into the Syndicate.”
Lia nods.
He continues. “With this ring, you accept you are the ring that binds and will take your place as a head of the Syndicate.”
Antonio places the ring on Lia’s finger. It’s beautiful—just like her.
She stares at the ring for a moment before Fredrico steps forward, his face full of resignation. “As the Rossi family head. I accept you are the future of our organization.”
Antonio walks to his desk and produces a sheaf of papers. “The ultimate step,” he says. One by one, the outgoing heads sign the documents, officially transferring power to us.
As the last signature is scrawled, Antonio stands. He looks at us both, his eyes shining with a mixture of emotions I can’t quite decipher. Then, in a voice filled with reverence and finality, he looks at Lia and speaks in Italian:
“Aurelia Moretti, adesso sei il capo di tutti i capi.”
Lia replies without faltering. “And I accept. I am the Boss of all bosses.”
I look at Lia, seeing the determination in her face, and despite the awe I feel for her, fear still kindles my gut. She’s at the top now, and with that, real danger lies ahead.
Antonio pulls Lia to one side. “I never doubted you could do this. I’m not sure I wanted you to, but that is something else.”
“You trained me for it. You sent me away to London for this.”
He smiles. “I sent you away to protect yourself because I knew you were on the radar.” He holds her biceps in both of his large palms. “Jove, Atty, and Beau always gave me updates on your progress. Telling me how resilient you are. How you focus, unless you have to run in the rain. Apparently then, you’re a pain in the ass.”
Lia laughs. “Do you know how cold it is in England?”
He lets go of her biceps and stares into her eyes. “I hear you’re going to Switzerland.”
She blinks hard and nods. “I need closure. And I want to know where I lived when I was a child. I…” Her words stick in her throat. “I want to see the place she was buried. Hopefully, I’ll feel her there.”
Antonio swallows. “I’ll give you all the details of where we took her. Tell her I love her,” Antonio says before he looks away with watery eyes.
Lia pulls him in for a hug, surprise coating Antonio’s face.
She steps back, but without warning, he pulls Lia to his chest and wraps his arms around her tightly. “I love you. I’ve always loved you.”