CHAPTER 9
“What do you mean?” Chadwick let out a short laugh. “That kid is his firstborn, and he’s a boy. Of course, the guy loves him. If he were a girl, things would’ve been completely different, but it’s impossible not to love a son.”
Umberto shook his head, exasperated. “You know, I think Allegra is right; my baby really was changed at birth, and I ended up with…you.” He took a sharp inhale.
“I was lucky my father loved mamma and wanted to keep her and me close, but do you have any idea how many Mafia men reject their illegitimate sons?”
“Well, if that’s the case, let’s see sissy’s bright idea,” Chadwick said, rolling his eyes. “I don’t know why the hell you even bothered to call me here,” he muttered under his breath, casting a sidelong glance at his father.
“I think we should test Ottavio to see whether and how much he loves the boy,” Allegra said, looking at her father and ignoring her brother. “You know what the most beautiful part of my plan is? It doesn’t involve anything illegal or dangerous.”
Umberto nodded, his heart swelling with paternal pride. “I’m glad to hear that; we don’t want problems right from the start. What does your plan involve, if you don’t mind my asking?”
Allegra let out a long sigh. “Actually, if that’s all right with you, Papa, I’d prefer to keep the details to myself for now. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but the fewer people who know about this, the better.”
“I understand and completely agree with you,” Umberto nodded in approval. “Even if it’s legal, if the information falls into the wrong hands, we risk losing this war before it even begins. We can’t afford unnecessary risks.”
His father’s words set Chadwick's blood boiling. The hell with both of you. I didn’t come here to be insulted, he thought, standing and leaving the room without saying goodbye or looking at his father or sister.
I was summoned here just to be laughed at.
I should’ve realized it the second Daddy’s princess walked into the room.
Fuck them both. I’m going to sit back and watch sissy dearest fail miserably, then save the day with my plan, just as it’s supposed to.
I have a feeling little Miss Allegra didn’t do her homework this time, which is why she was so evasive when daddy dearest wanted to learn more about her clever plan.
Fuck, this story about the old man, the son of a hotshot Mafia boss, who wants to grab the biggest piece of a multimillion-dollar cake once again messed with Linc’s and my schedule.
Still, if we do this job right, it’ll bring us way more money than sending sissy to Hades.
And it’s just a delay—we’re not giving up on our dream.
Ah, when the time comes, Linc will be a very sexy widower, Chadwick smiled inwardly.
The thought of ravaging the man’s body on his first night as a widower made him rock-hard.
Fuck. Now I’ll have to take care of this big problem, or I’m going to cream in my shorts.
I’ll make my little toy pay tonight for indirectly putting me through this.
While her brother was lost in thought, Allegra was heading to the media company.
I can’t believe I got myself into this, she thought, tightening her grip on the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white.
She did it only to annoy Chadwick and impress Papa.
The woman shook her head, her lips pressed in a tight line.
I have no information about the kid, his mother, what happened to her, whether he lived with relatives—if he had any—or was placed in foster care after her passing. Her own recklessness drove Allegra into despair, and she had to do breathing exercises to steady herself.
I need to find something quickly before Chadwick realizes I was only bluffing and embarrasses me in front of Papa, she thought, parking her car in the specially reserved spot in the company’s parking lot.
With a heavy sigh, the woman stepped out of the vehicle and headed toward the imposing building, trying to focus only on the presentation she had in a few hours.
Being alone with her thoughts in the VIP elevator’s solitude wasn’t what Allegra needed, so she hurried to the staff elevator, squeezing in just before the doors closed.
With a sigh of relief, she closed her eyes and listened to the chit-chat around her when a very familiar voice made her almost jump with joy.
I can’t believe my luck, Allegra said to herself.
All my problems are solved. A few inches away from her, leaning against the elevator’s wall, was Joshua Michaels, the star dirt digger working for the company’s most popular tabloid.
He is going to help me with anything I need and more, she thought, pulling her phone from her purse and typing a message.
Allegra openly showed her satisfaction at Joshua’s shocked reaction upon reading the text.
No secret was too well hidden or secure once the journalist started asking around and uncovering all the details and life events the investigation subjects believed were long forgotten or erased from the public’s memory.
After offering him the story she heard from Esteban and Richard, Allegra said in the message she sent to Joshua, 'I need as much as possible on this.
' It wasn’t much, but the man worked miracles with less.
The reply came back quickly, assuring her that she would have the information in about half an hour.
This guy deserves a raise, and he’s going to get it.
Allegra gasped in shock at the sight of the promised email, which arrived a few minutes before the sender’s self-imposed deadline.
How Joshua Michaels managed to find out so much with so little to start from was a mystery to her, one she wasn’t interested in solving.
Now I have what I need. Allegra smiled triumphantly after printing the email and reading it for the second time.
It’s time to start moving; the sooner, the better.
Tomorrow is perfect for making the first move, with nothing important on the agenda.
Well, brother dear, it’s time you saw how things are done. Watch and learn.
************
Let’s see, Allegra made a mental recap while she was slowly driving, looking at each house with great attention.
Robert, or Bob, as he was known in the community he lived in, and Jenna Dixon, married for almost sixteen years, had two children—a boy and a girl, fourteen and six, respectively—and a third on the way.
She’s a housewife, and he owns a small meat-packing factory.
The business was once highly profitable, but the last two owners relied on outdated methods in production, management, and advertising, which made it difficult to keep it running.
Despite that, the Dixons were well respected in the community.
Members of the Evangelical Church, the couple and their children attended religious services every Sunday and did not miss any picnics, charity events, or other activities organized in their parish.
Jenna’s sister Deanna’s death was a fortunate event for the couple; they moved into her much larger house and sold their own for a surprisingly good price.
According to the social worker’s report, they took over all the rooms, pushing Jenna’s late sister’s only son, the legal owner of the house, into the attic.
According to the same report, when Galen was handed over to Social Services, he had nothing but the clothes on his back. The couple cited their tight financial situation and found understanding with the caseworker, who was later removed from the case for mishandling it.
Cold-hearted, bigots, and greedy—just how I like them, Allegra said to herself with a huff as she parked the car at the far end of the Dixons’ driveway.
She left the vehicle, crossed the short distance to the house, and rang the doorbell.
The door was ajar, and a woman in her late thirties peered at the stranger through the crack.
“Hello, my name’s Alina Samuels,” Allegra began, a charming smile on her face. “I’m from Stars in the Spotlight in New York City, and I’d like to have a talk with you and Mister Dixon, if you don’t mind.”
“I’m a Christian woman. I have nothing to discuss with someone like you,” Jenna replied, her hostility evident. “Journalists are tools of Satan; they distort good people’s minds and make them believe all kinds of lies.”
“I see,” Allegra nodded. “Your family was selected for our paid interview program, but if you’re not interested…” She shrugged. “I’m heading to the neighboring town then; I’m sure I’ll find someone who could use the thousand dollars that come with the interview.”
“Who’s there?” The rough, sandpaper-like voice of a man made the woman on the other side of the door flinch. “If there’s one of those bloody salespeople, we don’t buy their shit.”
“No,” Jenna answered hesitantly. “It’s a lady from a magazine; they want to pay us a thousand dollars for an interview.”
“One grand for chatting with her?” the man exclaimed, disbelief and excitement in his voice. “What are you waiting for? Let her in.”
Although the man couldn’t see her, Jenna nodded and opened the door for the unexpected guest. “This way,” she gestured, then led the other woman into a spacious, well-lit living room, though somewhat tastelessly furnished.
“My husband, Robert Dixon,” she said, pointing to the man on the couch. “Darling, this is Miss…”
Allegra offered him a professional smile and said, “Alina Samuels, nice to meet you, Mr. Dixon.” Then she pulled a wad of cash from her purse and set it on the coffee table in front of the couch. “Let’s get straight to business.”
“I like your style,” Bob grinned, pointing to the other end of the couch. “Please, sit down and ask my wife and me anything you want.”
“Actually, I’m here about your nephew, Galen,” Allegra suddenly said. “I urge you to reconsider sending him to live with his father and to take him back. Additionally, I want you to apply for full, permanent custody.”
“Sorry, lady, but this can’t be," Bob said vehemently, shaking his head. “That boy is bad news; he's starting to influence my son, Leonard, negatively.”
“Yes, my husband is right,” Jenna nodded.
“You see, being close to... my deceased sister’s son planted sinful thoughts in my poor child’s mind, and we decided that’s best for everyone.
” She looked down at her swollen belly. “We have a baby on the way, and we can’t raise it properly with that one around. ”
“As a mother of two boys myself, I empathize with you,” Allegra offered the other woman a small smile.
“On the other hand...” She took a deliberate pause.
“I don’t know if you were informed, but Social Services located Galen’s father and placed him with that man, who. .. well... is one of those people.”
“What people?” Bob sensed the so-called reporter was there on a personal mission and saw a chance to get more from her than the roll of banknotes on the coffee table. “If the kid is in danger, we’ll see what we can do. No promises, though.”
“Your poor nephew is in greater danger than you can imagine,” Allegra said with feigned concern. “Can you believe he’s married to a man and has three other infant children, conceived through unnatural means?”
The other woman’s words shocked Jenna, and she covered her mouth with her hand. “Dear God, no, what have we done?” She looked at her husband. “Darling, we can’t leave things like that. There has to be something we can do.”
“Of course we can’t,” Bob nodded. “But these legal matters are costly, and with the baby coming in just a few months, I don’t see how we can…”
“I’m fully aware of the costs of properly raising and educating a child you have no obligation to, which is why the magazine I work for decided to offer you a fifty-thousand-dollar donation.
” Allegra pulled the checkbook from her purse, wrote the check, and signed it with her real name. “Here you go.”
“We’ll file for custody first thing in the morning and bring the boy home where he belongs.” Bob reached out his hand toward Allegra. “Nice doing business with you.”