Chapter 11
Adriano Pov~
“Did you find the fucker?”
I leaned back in my chair, my eyes moving between Giovanni and Matteo as they entered my office. I had created this room to be almost identical to the one I had back in New York. Same layout. Same feeling.
A place where I could think, where I could handle business. Except right now, I had nothing.
Both men looked defeated.
“No,” Matteo finally said, running a hand over his face. “It’s like he doesn’t exist.”
My jaw tightened.
“We tried tracing the number from Ales’ phone, but it’s disconnected. The phone company claims that number has never been registered in their system.”
I narrowed my eyes. “How is that possible?” My voice came out sharper than I intended.
Matteo shook his head. “I don’t know. But whoever this guy is, he was smart enough to cover his tracks.”
Giovanni stepped forward, his expression determined. “Don’t worry. We’ll find him.” I held his gaze for a moment before nodding. “Good.” Because we would. There was no other option.
Matteo glanced around the room, his expression becoming suspicious. “Doesn’t the house seem a little too quiet to you?” I looked toward the door before smirking. “Either the kids killed each other, or they’re all gone.”
Giovanni chuckled softly. “The older ones went out, and so did our wives. The younger ones are probably making Ano V pull her hair out.”
I almost smiled at the thought. Almost. “I’m going to check on the kids downstairs,” I said, standing. “You two get back to investigating.”
They both nodded before leaving the office. I looked down at the file sitting in my hands and let out a slow breath.
The council was probably already preparing to challenge my position. They would expect me to step down. To give up my title. But they didn’t know what was inside this envelope. They had no idea what I had prepared.
The information inside would secure my position and, more importantly, keep my family protected. Those bastards had no idea what was coming.
I placed the file back inside the drawer and locked it away before grabbing my jacket. Leaving the office, I walked down the grand staircase and headed toward the kitchen. The sound of my children’s voices echoed through the halls.
For a moment, it almost made me forget everything else. As I entered the kitchen, my eyes immediately landed on Cata. She was standing on top of a stool, reaching for something on the shelf.
And the stool was tipping.
“Cata!”
I moved quickly, catching her just before she fell.
She giggled in my arms, completely unaware of how close she had been to getting hurt.
“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice louder than I intended.
She looked up at me innocently. “I was just trying to get the cup on the shelf.” She pointed behind me.
I sighed and shook my head before placing her safely back on the ground. I grabbed the cup for her and handed it to her.
Then I crouched down so we were eye level. “Next time you want something, you ask somebody to get it for you. Understand?”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, Daddy.” I couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped.
“Where is Ano V?”
“She’s in the field with everyone else,” Cata explained. “I got thirsty, so I came to get something to drink.” I nodded and walked over to the refrigerator, filling her cup with water. “Here you go.”
“Thanks, Daddy!” She leaned up, kissed my cheek, and ran out of the kitchen with her cup in her hand. I laughed quietly, standing back up and shaking my head.
That girl was going to give me gray hair. I sat down on the stool, looking around the kitchen.
Now...where was my wife?
Gianna Pov~
“No, not that one. This one!” Miliana held up a two-piece bathing suit, wiggling her eyebrows at me.
I looked at the tiny pieces of fabric in her hand and immediately felt my cheeks heat. I grabbed it from her. “This covers absolutely nothing,” I argued, giving her an incredulous look. “It’s basically two strings.”
“I’m sure Adriano wouldn’t mind,” she teased.
She laughed at the shocked expression on my face. I shook my head, unable to stop my own laughter.
“Mili, we need to get you a man,” Yana said from beside us as she searched through the racks, clearly having heard our entire conversation.
“I second that!” Leena shouted from down the aisle.
Miliana immediately looked up. “How did you even hear that?”
Leena laughed. “Oh, don’t deny it, Mili. I think it’s way past time for you to have a man.” I raised my eyebrows at her and winked.
She shook her head with a smile before returning to the clothes in front of her.
“Unless…” Yana’s voice caught our attention as she walked toward Miliana.
“Unless what?” Leena asked, joining us with an armful of clothes.
Yes, we were officially shopaholics. But honestly? How could you not be when you were in Italy? It was practically impossible.
“Unless Miliana Basilio already has a man she’s been hiding from all of us,” Yana accused dramatically.
I immediately looked at Miliana. Her eyes dropped to the clothes in front of her as she continued pretending to browse through the rack.
But I noticed the small smile she was trying to hide.
I gasped. “You do!”
I pointed at her. “You absolutely do!”
She looked up quickly. “No.” The answer came too fast. And I knew immediately she was lying.
“Oh my God, Miliana!” Leena exclaimed. “You do have someone, and you didn’t tell us?”
Miliana rolled her eyes. “I don’t have a man in my life, okay? So just drop it.” She waved her hands, trying to dismiss the conversation.
I opened my mouth to continue teasing her, but then I stopped. She wasn’t joking anymore. “Fine,” I said softly, turning back toward the clothes.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
We continued shopping as if nothing had happened. And honestly, I was thankful for that. Whatever Miliana was keeping hidden, it was obviously something she wasn’t ready to share.
And I wouldn’t force her.
Over the past fifteen years, Miliana had worked so hard to overcome her fears and anxieties when it came to men. There was a time when she could barely stand being near a man she didn’t know.
But slowly, she got better. She started opening herself up. She even started going on dates.
I still remembered her first one. She had come home and immediately disappeared into her room. Raf couldn’t have been more than five years old at the time.
The girls and I went to check on her, and we found her sitting on the floor, crying. When we asked what happened, she told us she actually had a wonderful time.
The man had been kind. Respectful. A true gentleman. But that was exactly why she was crying. She wasn’t used to it. She wasn’t used to a stranger treating her with kindness.
She wanted to like him. She wanted to let herself feel something.
But her heart and mind wouldn’t allow her to accept something she had never experienced before.
It took many more dates, many more conversations, and a lot of patience before she finally overcame that fear.
So if Miliana really did have someone in her life, I would be nothing but happy for her. After everything she had been through, she deserved that. She deserved someone who loved her. Someone who respected her. Someone who made her feel safe.
I was lucky enough to have that with Adriano. He was my other half. The person who completed me just as I completed him. Everyone deserved that kind of love.
Especially Miliana.
A.J. Pov~
We wandered through the city square of Turin, taking in everything around us. Everything here felt older. More alive.
The people walking by admired the artwork surrounding them, just like we were. We had stopped at a few shops throughout the square, and everything felt authentic.
Organic. Real. I loved every part of Turin.
Artists displayed their paintings. People showed off their talents. Vendors sold handcrafted items they had clearly put their hearts into.
Everyone seemed genuinely happy and content.
“Did you ever think we would actually be here?” Marcio asked quietly beside me as we looked up at the beautifully detailed building in front of us.
I shrugged. “I mean, I had an idea we would eventually come here. We’re half Italian. It was bound to happen someday.”
I smirked at him.
Ales scoffed beside us. “You’re such an ass.”
I looked at her. “I know.”
She rolled her eyes. “Come on, let’s keep moving,” Raf said, already walking ahead. We laughed and followed him, continuing to explore the city. We stopped every now and then to look at different shops and displays.
Eventually, Kalani and Ales stopped in front of a painting display and started talking with the artist.
Leo stood nearby, keeping watch, but discreetly enough that no one would notice. The rest of us moved back under a tree and waited. That was when I noticed him.
A man standing about ten feet away. At first, he seemed normal. He was standing in line at an ice cream stand. But something felt wrong. He wasn’t looking at the menu. He wasn’t paying attention to the people around him.
Instead, every thirty seconds or so, his eyes would move toward us. Then back toward the bench to his left. On that bench sat another man. He was on his phone pretending to be distracted. But he wasn’t.
Something was off.
I discreetly nudged Damien, Marcio, and Raf. Without turning my head, I whispered. “Someone’s watching us.”
I glanced toward my sisters. “Ice cream stand and the bench on the left.”
I checked my phone. Six o’clock. We needed to get back by seven.
Marcio followed my gaze before his expression changed slightly. “Definitely Mafia men,” he whispered.
I nodded. “We need to leave.”
I wrapped an arm around Kaia’s shoulders and lowered my voice. “I need you to get the others. We’re leaving.” She immediately noticed the seriousness in my voice and nodded. No questions. No hesitation.
She walked over to Leo and quietly explained what was happening. While she did that, Marcio, Raf, and I kept our eyes on the men.
Damien stayed focused on our sisters and Leo. “We can’t go straight home,” Damien whispered. “Not if they’re following us.”
I nodded. “I know.”
As soon as everyone started walking back toward us, we moved toward the SUV. And that was when I noticed them. Another man across the street pretending to buy a magazine. One farther down walking a dog. Another sitting on a bench with a book in his hand.
I looked at the guys. They noticed too. I exhaled slowly.
Whoever trained these men needed to be fired. Anyone with a trained eye could see exactly what they were. They weren’t subtle. And they were messing with the wrong family.
We reached the SUV and immediately got inside. Thankfully, the windows were tinted. I started the engine and pulled away from the curb.
“What’s going on?” Ales asked, worry filling her voice. “Who were those men?”
Damien answered before I could. “Who do you think, Ales?” His expression was serious. “Those were Italian Mafia men.”
Her face changed.
“We can’t go home,” Leo said quickly. “They’ll know where we’re staying. Uncle would kill us for that.”
“I know, Leo,” I snapped, turning onto the road. “That’s why we aren’t going home.”
Raf glanced into the side mirror. His expression hardened. “There’s a car following us.” He looked back toward us. “Navy Audi. Two cars behind.”
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. So they wanted to play?
Fine.
I pushed my foot down harder on the gas.
“We’re going on a little field trip.”