SEVENTEEN_A DANGEROUS TARGET
Morning in the DeLuca mansion was quiet.
Too quiet.
Aiden slowly opened his eyes, still feeling a little tired from the nightmare the night before.
For a moment he forgot where he was.
Then he saw the tall windows… the huge room… and the other side of the bed.
Alexander was already gone.
Aiden sat up and stretched.
“Of course the mafia boss wakes up early,” he muttered.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Aiden called.
The door opened slightly, and one of the house staff stepped inside.
“Good morning, sir. Mr. DeLuca asked me to inform you that breakfast is ready.”
Aiden blinked.
Sir?
No one had ever called him that before.
“Oh… okay. Thank you.”
A few minutes later, Aiden followed the staff downstairs into the dining room.
Alexander was already sitting at the table, reading something on his tablet.
His mother sat across from him, sipping tea.
“Good morning, kitten,” Alexander said without looking up.
Aiden groaned and dropped into the chair beside him.
“Good morning… I guess.”
Alexander’s mother smiled warmly.
“Did you sleep well, Aiden?”
Aiden hesitated.
“…Eventually.”
Alexander glanced at him briefly but said nothing.
They began eating quietly.
But the peaceful moment didn’t last long.
Suddenly, one of the guards rushed into the room.
“Boss.”
Alexander immediately looked up.
“What is it?”
“The Romano family made a move last night.”
The atmosphere in the room instantly changed.
Alexander’s mother frowned slightly.
“What happened?”
The guard continued.
“They’ve been asking questions about the wedding.”
Alexander leaned back in his chair.
“That was expected.”
“But…” the guard added carefully, “they’re specifically asking about your husband.”
Aiden froze mid-bite.
“…Me?”
Alexander’s eyes darkened slightly.
“Why?”
“They think the sudden change in the marriage might be a weakness.”
Aiden slowly put his fork down.
“Well that’s rude.”
Alexander ignored the comment and turned to the guard.
“Double the security around the mansion.”
“Yes, boss.”
The guard left quickly.
Silence filled the room.
Aiden looked between Alexander and his mother.
“So let me get this straight,” he said slowly.
“A rival mafia family thinks they can mess with you… because you married me?”
Alexander looked at him.
“Yes.”
Aiden leaned back in his chair.
“Wow.”
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
“That’s your reaction?”
Aiden shrugged.
“I mean… I’ve already survived my stepmother for years.”
Then he looked directly at Alexander.
“How bad can another enemy be?”
Alexander stared at him for a moment.
Then he said calmly,
“You might regret saying that.”
Aiden frowned slightly.
“Why?”
Alexander stood up.
“Because the Romano family is not like your stepmother.”
His voice became colder.
“They don’t just insult people.”
Aiden felt a small chill run down his spine.
Alexander walked toward the door.
“They eliminate problems.”
And suddenly Aiden realized something very important.
By marrying Alexander DeLuca…
He had just become one of the most valuable targets in the mafia world.