Chapter 103: Chapter: 103

ALESSANDRO

“Alexa is dead!”

That was the sentence that ruined my perfect day. Casio had called to deliver this terrible news. Alexa's body was found in Paris, where I had sent her to keep an eye on Andrea's friends and find out the hideout of the soldiers Don Marchetti had around them.

Her orders were simple: keep a low profile, find out what she can, and call me before taking any action. Knowing Alexa, she must have tried to tackle the problem on her own; she must have confronted the soldiers, thinking she could handle them without backup.

She's a stubborn woman, strong and unforgiving toward men who abuse their strength.

I clearly remember the first time I met her, unlike Casio and Logan, whom I had saved a decade ago and had sworn their loyalties to me.

Lexi and I had lived in the same apartment complex back when I escaped prison; she was in a bad place. In a bad relationship. Her boyfriend was a gambler who beat the shit out of her daily. Leave her bloody and broken until the night she'd ended his miserable life in self-defense.

Then, I helped her dispose of the body. Wipe any evidence of the bastard, make it look like he'd run away because of the money he owed casinos. When I found out she had no one and no place to go, I offered her a job in the Vault.

I might not have shown it, but I care about her. She reminded me so much of myself, back when I was just a young boy before I became the man I am today.

When beaten and scared, she came out with her claws. Strong and fearless, ready to do damage. She later became one of my trusted confidants, someone whom I would give my life to save, and vice versa. She was under my protection and was in Paris under my order.

My grandfather should never have touched her, much less taken her life.

He might deny it and even pretend not to know what I'm talking about, but I know that he was behind her death. Burying my rage and pretending not to care, laughing with Valentina took every self fucking control I had. I had accepted one bitter truth.

Yes! I had underestimated my grandfather, just like Lorenzo had said. Not having been with him for a few years, I had forgotten his cruelty. I had forgotten the length he would go to get what he wanted. He doesn't care who or how much he hurts anyone who stands in his way.

Killing Alexa has reminded me of what I'm up against. The man who might have killed his own son just because he'd disobeyed him. The man who had given away his daughter(Lorenzo's mother) to a monster who had stripped her of everything until she was a shell of her former self.

On our way back to the villa, I contemplated how to handle Don Marchetti. True, he was a powerful man, but I could kill him. Shoot him right between the eyes, and I wouldn't feel a single thing. But that would not solve all our problems, only bring a shit load of more problems on our already current shit lists.

Namely, the capos would descend on me and anyone close to me to avenge their boss; I would become a traitor in their eyes. I can take care of myself and Andrea, but I can't guarantee the safety of her family and friends. As such, I have to make a few changes before I proceed with my plans. I have little time before I will be forced to execute it.

Rage and hate bubble deep inside me. I can't let this go on, having to follow his orders. Taking care of his enemies and businesses sickens me to no end. I hate it, I hate him. But soon everything would be over. I will bury everything he holds dear to the ground.

I'd just taken my Vixen to my room and had decided to look for my grandfather in his study. I want Andrea to stay close to me for her safety and my sanity. And for the fact that I couldn't seem to function well without her thoughts invading my brain.

My obsession with her is even deeper and more intense than I thought. I hate any distance between us; having her sleep and wake beside me would satisfy something deep inside me. The two days we spent on my yacht were the happiest I've ever been.

Spending time with her, eating, and listening to her lyrical voice. Watching her sleep, her awestruck expression at the smallest things, her entrance, and her captures my attention more than she would ever know. Andrea is my light.

The first person I want to belong to me wholly and completely, and the one person I want to give my everything to.

She makes me want to do ordinary things with her. Things I've only seen others do, things I had never dreamt of doing, things I wish I could do in another life. Things that are now within my grasp if I work hard for it.

I banish all thoughts as I enter the study and find my grandfather together with his Consigliere. My eyes narrowed on the silent exchange between the two men when I walked in. Casio is right, something is going on. I had seen most of our capos in the villa—it's hard not to notice dozens of men clamoring for your attention.

“Alessandro, I'm glad you're back. Come sit, we have something to discuss,” Don Marco said. There were only three of them in his study: him, Beneditto, and Patrizio.

“We were just discussing your marriage with Valentina.” My brow arched upwards in irritation.

It was a hard battle not to knock his old mug into next week, maybe even forever. Of course, I had suspected this was his next move. I really thought I had more time. If Casio hadn't given me a heads up, I would have been surprised after killing one of my people.

This bastard is pretending everything is okay and has already planned a way for him to gain more control over me. Forgive me, Alexa, I will avenge you, I promise you that, but it's going to be a little later. I thought. If it's true that the dead could hear us, I can imagine she's not thrilled I wasn't avenging her already.

“I can't fucking believe you. I've been gone for just two days. How could you make this kind of decision without my knowledge and acceptance?” I said, playing the angry and frustrated role with the old asshole.

Not hard to do, considering how angry I really am. My eyes were cold with barely concealed hatred. Don Marchetti's eyes were equally hard and unrepentant.

“You will do this, Alessandro, because it is your duty, your responsibility. Marriages like this have been happening since time immemorial. It's for the peace and prosperity of our individual famiglias, the Vincenzo's and Mancini's have joined hands, I've already lost two shipments because of them and the rats in our midst,” he replied angrily, his nostrils flaring, his hand hitting the table in front of him.

“I told you I needed those fuckers found before they do more damage. I need to make an example of the traitors and anyone who thinks of betraying our family. That is what you should have been doing, not fucking around with your American!” he continued, spittle literally flying out of his mouth.

His words were a mix of English and Italian. I've never seen him like this! Don Marchetti is always calm and collected. But right now he sounded almost desperate. The fucker is losing it. I understood why he was going crazy.

This isn't about the people who betrayed him, but rather about his legacy. The Marchetti family was renowned for their ruthlessness.

They were feared and equally respected; they'd ruled this country for centuries alongside the Morettis, Vincenzos, and Mancinis.

These were the original four Cosa Nostra famiglias in Italy. Wars and rivalries had always existed between them, but the Marchettis and Vincenzos were the most powerful and had always hated each other; it was an old enmity that dated back centuries.

Throughout the years, there have been wars between the two major famiglia. During this period, they each had a temporary truce with the minor famiglias.

Sometimes marriages were arranged to bring the two famiglias together against a common enemy.

I know my grandfather would die if the Vincenzos win this war, which isn't a bad thing. I also know he would have an aneurysm in his grave even after his death if the Vincenzo's ever became more powerful than the Marchetti's, which was why he never wanted Lorenzo to become the Don.

“This is the price of your woman friends' lives. You do your duty, eliminate our enemies, and become the Don with Valentina by your side; it means you also have the power of the Moretti's famiglia in your grasp. Keep the American if you want. I don't fucking care, but you know what Valentina is like; she could kill her,” he added when I just stared at him coldly.

I knew he was keeping an eye on me back then. How else had he known about my fling with Valentina Moretti? We'd had a short fling one summer years ago, meeting behind our families for the thrill of it: the forbidden fruit and all.

Lorenzo had known of it back when he followed me around like a lost puppy. I didn't give a fuck that my grandfather knows about it. And I sure as fuck isn't someone who should be forced into anything, but well, Don Marco hasn't realized that just yet, so why ruin the fun.

“I will do my responsibility. I will marry Valentina. But you will let Andrea go after she delivers. Another thing: don't treat me like your puppet, dictating my life. I won't stand for it, Nonno. You don't get to treat me like my opinions don't matter.

If you want me to take over the famiglia business and become the Don, you'll have to treat me with more respect than that. I can't have our men see me as weak.”

“You're right. But this is something you should have thought of and had proposed. I thought you were so wrapped up in your American puttana to care what happened to the famiglia,” he relented, yet insulted Andrea to see my reactions to him calling her a whore to my face.

My face was the picture of perfect indifference. Though I was seething in rage deep inside. Unknown to him, there's almost nothing he could do to make me lose my hard-earned control.

“I always care about the famiglia. I've been busting my balls ever since I came back, getting rid of anything that stands in our way. I might not show it, but this famiglia means everything to me. Taking care of it is my longtime dream,” I said assuringly.

“I'm glad to hear you are finally accepting your place in the family. Go wash up and come down for the engagement celebration dinner. Take this,” his voice sounded proud as he handed me a small box which I knew hid an engagement ring.

“I took the liberty of purchasing a ring for your engagement.”

“That's very thoughtful of you, Nonno,” I replied as I pocketed the ring. His face lit up when he heard me call him grandfather. Well, if he could try to manipulate me, I certainly could do the same.

“You can invite Andrea for dinner. She must be lonely upstairs…”

“No! Keep her out of this. She stays up there. She's not part of this world and doesn't need to attend any of our gatherings. Besides, you just told me Valentina wouldn't like that Andrea is my lover.”

“Ah, yes, of course you are right. I was only trying to make her feel at home.” I completely ignored that blatant lie.

“I will go and wash up, and yes! About the rats you mentioned earlier.”

“Valentina had told me about Giuseppe,” he said darkly, his upper lip curling with rage.

“He's not alone. There are two more.”

“You can take care of them after dinner. Set an example of what awaits any traitor.” I nodded and left, but not before he told me where to find Valentina, who is already in the villa with her brother Matteo Moretti.

I was utterly shocked when I walked into the dining room an hour later, after taking a short walk with Valentina outside the villa, where I had proposed to her as my grandfather had wanted, and found Andrea in the midst of cold-blooded killers. How everything is slipping out of my control is testing the snaps of my tightly leashed control.

Today should have been perfect, earlier this morning it was, Andrea soft giving body beneath me while I bring us both pleasure. We'd languidly lie in each other's arms just enjoying each other's company. We'd taken a bath together, had lunch together. Everything was going great.

It would have been one of the best days of my life, even with everything that happened a few hours ago. It was still special to me. I scrub my hand over my face, recalling how shocked Andrea had been and probably still is. I was forced into killing right in front of her. I didn't want to give my hand away.

Marco, that bastard would burn in hell, I would fucking make sure of it. He'd planned this. Not only had he had Alexa killed, but he'd also now put my Vixen life in danger. He knew I didn't want her down here.

I had specifically told him that. Andrea was not part of this world. She didn't understand what my grandfather had done by inviting and bringing her into the midst of all those capos.

It was a threat.

Don Marco Marchetti was threatening me; showing Andrea's face to these men was a blatant threat. He's cornering me; he wouldn't rest until he had me doing everything he wanted, just like when I was a teenage boy under his thumb years ago, when he would push and push, toying with me and destroying all I hold dear.

I thought of confronting him, but that would negate all the effort I'm putting into making sure Andrea is seen as no threat to either him or Valentina.

Valentina, the deluded woman who got it into her brain that no man would be able to resist her beauty. My indifference towards Andrea would show them how insignificant she is to me, which in turn will make them leave her the fuck alone.

But that is only a temporary solution. I just need a little time, and it would be game over for Don Marchetti. I hate that I couldn't follow Andrea immediately and take ca re of her. I won't be able to see her much with my busy schedule. Managing so many businesses at once takes a lot out of a person.