Chapter 91 Dangerous affairs
Melissa’s POV
I’d been having the most fun today, but something was off with Gavin.
I didn’t know what exactly…he’d been attentive, sweet even, taking me everywhere I wanted to go. But there was something in his eyes. A heaviness. A shadow that hadn’t been there this morning. Or maybe it had always been there, and I was just now seeing it clearly.
“Where else do you want to go?” he asked as we drove through the city, the sun was starting to dip below the skyline.
I smiled at him. “I think we can call it a day today. I’m excited about the tournament coming up soon and I have some work to take care of.”
“I’m sad about it,” Gavin said, his voice dropping to a much more sad and quiet tone.
I turned to look at him fully. “Why?”
“After the tournament, it’s around the same time you’ll be done with your internship, right?”
“Yes,” I said slowly, not understanding where this was going.
“And then you’ll graduate. And move on to whatever comes next.”
“But we’re in the same house, aren’t we?” I frowned. “Gavin, what are you…”
“Yes, but…”
“Oh, stop being a big baby,” I interrupted, laughing softly. “You’re such a panda. My mafia panda.”
“Mafia panda.” He murmured, “ I like it.”
He pulled up in front of the penthouse and we both got out. The elevator ride up was quiet, comfortable. His hand found mine and held it tight.
When we walked into the penthouse, Jason was in the kitchen…shirtless as usual, eating an apple like he didn’t have a care in the world.
“Hey,” I waved at him casually, heading toward my room. “I’m going to shower and change.”
I disappeared down the hallway, already pulling my phone out to text Aria about how perfect the day had been.
……-
Gavin’s POV
The moment Melissa’s door closed, Jason set down his apple.
His expression was serious.
“Dad, don’t do it.”
I turned to look at him. My son. The one person who could read me better than anyone except maybe Melissa.
“Jason,” I said quietly, my voice carrying a warning. “I won’t warn you again.”
His jaw tightened. He held my gaze for a long moment, then looked away.
“Fine,” he muttered. “But don’t say I didn’t try to stop you. Destroying them will tip the balance of the world.”
I walked past him without another word, heading to my office.
The door closed behind me with a soft click. I went straight to my desk and pulled open the bottom drawer… I always kept this drawer locked, I hoped I'd never have to open it again but I have been forced to..
The box was small and black with intricate gold patterns.I opened it.
Inside was a compact Glock 43…small enough to conceal, and deadly enough to end a threat. I’d kept it maintained, even after all these years.
I picked it up, checking the magazine automatically. The familiar weight settled in my palm like an old friend. Then I slipped it into the holster at the small of my back, hidden beneath my shirt. When I was ready, I took the elevator down to the garage, got in my car, and drove.
The restaurant was in Midtown. It was one of the most expensive and exclusive places.
I pulled up to the valet, handed over my keys, and walked inside.
The maître d’ recognized me immediately.
“Mr. Cross. Your party is already seated. This way.”
He led me through the dimly. We reached a private room in the back. He opened the door.
I immediately locked eyes with Sophia. She sat at a round table, with a glass of red wine in her hand. But she wasn’t alone.
A man sat across from her…devastatingly handsome in a way that was almost aggressive. His dark hair was perfectly styled.
He looked up when I entered, and his eyes were cold. Giovanni Moretti.
Son of Dante Moretti, head of the Italian family. The family that controlled every port from Miami to New York. The family that had been part of the Five Families alliance for three generations.
“Gavin!” Sophia stood, her smile bright and dangerous. “I thought you would never come.”
Giovanni leaned back in his chair, his rings catching the dim light as he swirled his brandy. He didn’t stand, or offer a hand.
Just watched me with those cold eyes.
“Sit,” Sophia said, gesturing to the empty chair beside her. “We have so much to discuss.”
“I saw what you did to your brother,” Giovanni said, his voice smooth and cultured. The Italian accent was barely there, refined by years of American education. “Very impressive. Very… hot.”
Sophia laughed and licked her red lips slowly, deliberately. “Wasn’t it? I told you he hadn’t gone completely soft.”
“Sophia,” I said, her name coming out flat. A warning.
She laughed again.
“Oh, Gavin. Still so serious.” She walked around the table toward me. “
“I love him that way,” Giovanni said calmly. “Gavin, my offer to warm your bed still stands. A very handsome beautiful man indeed, I wonder what your insides look like” he said moaning slightly
“We can discuss that later.” Sophia’s grip on my hand tightened. “Come. Sit. Let’s talk like civilized people.”
She tugged me toward the table. Giovanni watched me with those cold eyes, still swirling his brandy.
Sophia pulled out the chair beside her. I sat.
She kept hold of my hand, her thumb stroking across my knuckles.
“There,” she said softly. “Isn’t this nice? The three of us. Together. Like old times.”
“We were never together,” I said.
“No?” She leaned closer, “Then why do I remember differently? Why do I remember nights in Colombia when you couldn’t keep your hands off me?”
“That was a lifetime ago.”
Giovanni set down his brandy glass. “Father Zeus sends his regards. And his orders.”
I finally looked at him directly. “I don’t take orders from Zeus anymore.”
“Everyone takes orders from Zeus.” Giovanni’s smile was cold. “Even me. Even Sophia. Even you, whether you want to admit it or not.”
Sophia leaned in closer, her lips nearly brushing my ear.
“Come home, Gavin,” she whispered. “Come home to me. To us. To where you belong.”