Chapter 13
AXEL
"We have a problem."
Viktor's standing in my doorway, phone in hand, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.
Goodness, not again.
I don't look up from the shipment manifests spread across my desk. "What kind of problem?"
"The kind where your son just got into a fight at Velvet and the owner's threatening to call the cops."
Of course he did.
I drop my pen. "How bad?"
"Three guys. One's got a broken nose. Leo's got a split lip and an attitude." Viktor grimaces. "Boss, you need to handle this before it becomes a bigger issue."
I grab my jacket. "Let's go."
I’m going to fucking kill him.
Velvet's one of the high-end clubs in our territory, expensive drinks, beautiful people, the kind of place where mafia sons go to pretend they're legitimate businessmen.
The manager meets us at the door. "Mr. Santego. Thank you for coming. Your son is—"
"Where?"
"VIP section. We've contained the situation, but…"
I'm already walking.
Leo's sprawled on a leather couch, ice pack pressed to his jaw, looking smug despite the blood on his shirt. Three of our soldiers are standing guard—probably the only reason the cops aren't here yet.
"Dad!" He grins when he sees me. "Perfect timing. These assholes were talking shit about—"
"Outside. Now."
"But I was just—"
"NOW."
The grin drops. He sighs and follows me out the back exit into the alley.
The second we're alone, I slam him against the wall.
"What the fuck is wrong with you, Leo?" I'm in his face, fury barely controlled. "You're starting fights in clubs? Making scenes? Drawing attention?"
"They were disrespecting me—"
"I don't care what they were doing!" I growl at him. "You're about to marry into one of the most powerful families in the city. You're representing the Santego name. And you're acting like a fucking child."
"Get off me!" He shoves at my arm.
I tighten my grip. "You're done with the clubs. Done with the fights. You're going to clean up your act, start acting like a man instead of a spoiled brat, or I swear to God—"
"Or what?" His eyes flash. "You'll hit me? Disown me? Go ahead. We both know you won't. You can’t.”
"Try me."
"You need me, remember? Need me to marry fucking Aurora so you can keep your alliance with your best friend." He smirks. "So maybe you should think about who has the power here."
I stare at him. At this entitled, reckless boy I've spent years raising. Trying to mold into something worthy of the family name.
I've failed. Fucking hell, I failed.
"You think you have power?" I laugh, release his throat, and step back. "You think because you have the Santego name and marrying Luca’s daughter makes you untouchable?"
"Doesn't it?"
"No, Leo. It makes you fucking replaceable." My words are ice. "You fuck this up, I'll find another way to secure that alliance. But you? You'll have nothing."
His face goes red. "You can't do that."
"Watch me."
"All this is because I’m not your actual son, isn’t it? If I were your son, you wouldn’t do this to me!"
"You're my sister's son." The truth explodes out of me. "My dead sister's mistake that I've been cleaning up after for twelve years. But I’ve raised you as mine, the whole fucking world thinks you’re my son, I’ve done all I can to love you and give you the best life, and what do you do in return?!”
The words hang in the air between us.
Leo's expression crumbles, then hardens. "So that's it? You've never seen me as your son?"
I tried. God, I tried.
"I raised you. Fed you. Gave you everything. Tried to make you into something." I shake my head. "But you're right. You're not my son. My son wouldn't be this reckless. This entitled. This fucking stupid."
"Fuck you." His voice breaks. "You took me in out of guilt, not love. I've always known that."
"Is that what you’re telling yourself now? Guilt for what exactly?! Huh??”
"I can’t believe I thought—" He stops. Laughs bitterly. "I thought maybe if I proved myself, if I married into the right family, made the right deals, you'd finally see me as yours."
Something in my chest twists. Not quite guilt, but close.
"I’ve always seen you as mine. Leo, that is the only fucking reason you still bear my name, but you can’t keep doing this! Leo—"
"Forget it." He pushes past me. "I'll clean up my act. I'll play the perfect son, the perfect fiancé. But don't pretend you care about me. We both know you only care about strengthening your name and territory."
He's gone before I can respond.
Viktor appears from the shadows. "That went well."
"Oh, shut up."
"He's not wrong, you know. About you needing him for strengthening your name and territory."
"I know." I light a cigarette, my hands shaking with residual fury. "But he needs to understand the truth. Needs to stop acting like the world owes him something."
"He's twenty-six. They all act like that."
"I didn't."
"You joined the mafia as a teenager. Had to grow up fast." Viktor leans against the wall. "Leo's been sheltered. Protected. He doesn't know what real consequences look like."
"Maybe it's time he learned."
We head back to the car. I'm still seething, still processing the fight, when my phone rings.
Luca.
"Yeah?"
"Axel. We need to meet tomorrow. Discuss the wedding timeline."
Right. The wedding. Where Leo marries Aurora, and I have to watch.
"Sure. Your office?"
"Mine works. Bring Leo. Aurora and I will be there."
He hangs up.
I stare at the phone, that dangerous possessiveness rising in my chest again.
Aurora.
I haven't seen her since last night. Since I took her against that wall in the garden, hand over her mouth, both of us desperate and wrong.
This can't happen again.
But I know it will. Know that the next time we're alone, I'll reach for her. And she'll let me.
Because we're both addicted now.
I try to work when we get back to the estate. Review reports, sign contracts, focus on anything except the memory of Aurora's body against mine.
It doesn't work.
Around midnight, I give up. Head to the kitchen for water.
That's when I hear Leo's voice.
He's in the sitting room, phone pressed to his ear, laughing.
"—I know, right? Aurora Luca. Can you believe it?"
I stop. Listen.
"Yeah, she's pregnant. Some other guy's kid, but whatever. Dad says it's fine, it's about the alliance." He pauses. "Oh, I'm definitely going to have fun breaking her in after the wedding."
What?
"She thinks she's so superior. Remember when she had me arrested in college? Fucking bitch." Another laugh. "But she's used goods now. Pregnant. Desperate. She'll do whatever I say once we're married."
My vision goes red.
"I'm going to make her regret ever rejecting me. Make her understand what happens when you cross a Santego." He's bragging now, voice loud and cruel. "She'll learn her place real quick."
I'm moving before I can think.
Burst into the sitting room. Leo looks up, sees my face, and goes pale.
"I'll call you back." He hangs up fast.
"What did you just say?" My voice is deadly quiet.
"Dad, I was just—it was just talk—"
"What did you say about Aurora?"
"Nothing! I was joking with a friend—"
I grab him by the collar, slam him against the wall. "You're going to break her in? Make her regret rejecting you?"
"I didn't mean—"
"YOU TRIED TO FORCE YOURSELF ON HER IN COLLEGE?" The realization hits like a freight train. "That's why she had you arrested. That's why you know her."
Leo's eyes go wide. "How did you—"
"You assaulted her." I'm shaking with rage. "You put your hands on her without consent, and now you think you're going to marry her? Make her pay?"
"She's mine! Dad, you arranged this! You gave her to me!"
"BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW!" I roar. "I didn't know you were a fucking bastard. Didn't know you'd already tried to hurt her."
"I'm not a—it wasn't—" He's stammering now, scared. "It was college. We were dating. She was being a tease, and I just—"
My fist connects with his jaw before he can finish.
He goes down hard.
"You're not marrying her." The words come out cold, final. "The engagement's off."
"You can't do that!" He's on his feet, nose bleeding. "The alliance—Luca—"
"I'll handle Luca."
"How?" He spits blood, eyes narrowing. "Or do you wish it were you marrying her, huh? You want her too?"
The accusation hangs in the air.
I don't answer. Can't answer.
"That's it, isn't it?" Leo's laughing now, wild and bitter. "The way you look at her. The way you defended her at dinner. The necklace. You want Aurora for yourself."
"This is about you being a monster who doesn't deserve to touch her."
"And you do?" He's right in my face now. "You're twice her age. You're her father's best friend. You arranged this marriage in the first place." He grins, cruel. "But don't worry, Dad. Once I'm done with her, I'll give you a piece. Share and share alike, right?"
I see red.
My hands are around his throat before I can think. Slamming him back against the wall, squeezing.
"Say that again," I growl. "Say one more fucking word about her, and I will kill you."
Leo's eyes bulge. He's clawing at my hands, gasping.
"Boss!" Viktor's voice. He's pulling at my arms. "Boss, let go! You're going to kill him!"
I squeeze harder.
"AXEL!"
Viktor's shout breaks through the rage. I release Leo. He collapses, coughing and gasping.
"Get out of my sight," I say quietly.
Leo looks up at me, hand on his throat, and there's genuine fear in his eyes now.
"You're making a mistake."
"The mistake was thinking you were worth saving." I turn my back on him. "Pack your things. You're leaving tomorrow."
"Where am I supposed to go?"
"I don't care. Just get out of this estate. Out of this city. And stay the fuck away from Aurora."
He leaves, slamming the door behind him.
I stand there, breathing hard, knuckles bleeding.
What have I done?
I just ended the engagement. Destroyed the alliance I worked so hard to build. Threw away my relationship with Luca.
For Aurora.
But I can't let Leo have her. Can't watch her marry a man who assaulted her, who plans to hurt her, who sees her as property to share.
I'm in too deep.
That dangerous possessiveness Viktor warned me about? It's fully taken over.
Aurora is mine.
I don't care what it costs. Don't care who I have to fight or what I have to burn down.
She's mine, and I'm keeping her.
Even if it destroys everything.