Chapter 72: 72 ~ Jace
To say I was surprised by Ricardo and Enzo’s schemes would be a lie. They were very open about me not deserving the Don position.
Enzo had always believed he was the better match. I don’t know how a person would be so delusional. But that was his problem. What he did not realize was that I was always a step ahead.
I picked up my phone to call someone.
"Don Romano,"
"You said you have info for me." I said, getting straight to the point. No time for pleasantries.
"Yes. You sure have more enemies and than allies."
"Not my fault that I want nothing to do with human trafficking."’ I muttered.
He chuckled. "A good man. Just like your good father."
"My father was not a perfect man. Neither am I." I said with a clenched fist.
"No one said anything about you being perfect." He retorted.
"Just needed to put it out there." I replied.
"The Russian Mafia has cut off alliances with the Castillos." He announced.
"That’s news."
It wasn’t. I predicted it correctly. No one would want to continue being allies with a family that caused the death of the leader.
"They blame the Castillos for the death of Kazimir. If they hadn’t sent him to infiltrate your party to wreak some havoc. He would definitely still be alive."
My thoughts exactly.
"Too bad." I shrugged.
"Smart move."
"Hmm," I hummed. There was no need to thank him. I did not need his approval.
"You have to be careful though. They may be laying low now but they’re trying to get you. Especially through your heart."
"My heart?" My brows arched in confusion.
"You know what I mean Romano."
"Believe me, I don’t." I insisted.
"Your wife."
I groaned. Why couldn’t they just let Mira be? Why did they have to bring her into everything?
That was my fault though but I just wished she would not be a target. I just wanted her to be my prized possession. My trophy wife, the one plain and untainted thing I had, nothing more.
"What do you suggest I do?" I asked after a sigh of resignation.
"You’ve been keeping her protected. Continue to do that. And if she’s pregnant, you have to keep her hidden."
"She’s not."
"When she does-"
My jaw ticked as I cut him off. "She’s not getting pregnant anytime soon. I’ve made sure of that."
"You can never be too sure. A child is a good thing."
"I don’t want to have one anytime soon. It’s way too risky and too predictable. I need her to be out of harm’s way."
He sighed. "If you say so then."
I exhaled as well, feeling the exhaustion hit me.
"I need to go back to bed."
"Take care, Romano."
"You too."
I went back into the room and found her deep in sleep.
She looked peaceful and almost ethereal as she slept. One look at her and you would not believe the feisty, sharp mouthed, stubborn, naughty and crazily sexy woman that she was. She looked so innocent.
But when I saw her the first time, I knew there was more to her and I was absolutely right.
For a second, I pondered on the thought of us having kids together. Like my mother said, we would make beautiful babies.
I stared at her flat belly, hoping I had not gone ahead and impregnated her tonight despite not wanting kids anytime soon.
Those kids had to wait until I had secured my throne entirely. I was in the middle of too much chaos right now.
~
I was in the gym at 5am after barely three hours of sleep. I had only just slept before Mira barged into my room last night and with all the action we had, my sleep time had inevitably been cut short. I liked those kind of interruptions.
I lifted the weights without any music playing in the background. The noise would not let me think. I didn’t need to be distracted from the pain, I wanted to feel it.
I almost rolled my eyes as I saw Enzo walk in an hour into my workouts.
"Good morning to you cousin." He said, a little too enthusiastic for my liking.
"Enzo." I said with a curt nod.
There was nothing good about my morning now that he was smiling in my face like a sly fox.
"It’s going to be a fine day." He commented.
"Hmm,"
I picked up my Airpods. Maybe I needed the music after all.
Thankfully he faced his workouts after seeing that I was not in the mood for small talk.
A bright idea soon got into my head. I needed to mess with him a little.
I faked a phone call.
"Yeah I want the shipment rerouted to the Brooklyn docks. midnight tomorrow. No guards. No cameras. If the Castillos try something, we’ll be ready." I said while he pretended to be too focused on his workout.
I left the gym shortly afterwards, standing by the wall. I peeped him looking around as he picked up the phone to make a suspicious phone call.
"Gotcha." I mumbled and walked off.
I had not confirmed it fully but it was beginning to look like he was working with the enemy, if it was not an internal sabotage.
~
I went upstairs and took a shower. Mira had left the room. I figured she would be making breakfast for me already.
I had never admitted it to her hearing but I absolutely enjoy every meal she makes and the sweet treat she always gave me to accompany my lunch. These were the kind of perks I looked forward to when marrying a woman like her asides the original reason for making her marry me in the first place.
Maybe if circumstances were different, I would fully embrace the much simpler, domesticated way of living. No illegal businesses and leading a simple life as a man with a wife and kids.
But obviously, the circumstances had to be different and absolutely out of my control. Being the don of the Italian Mafia was my destiny and there was no way I could run from it. Ever.