Chapter 128 Mafia Killed Levi's Father

Chapter 128 Mafia Killed Levi's Father
My smile widened as Angelo jumped off the sofa and ran toward him.

“Uncle Levi!” he exclaimed. Levi caught him effortlessly.

Something in my chest softened at the sight.

Levi truly cared about Angelo. He cared about all the people he loved.

Levi was everything Luca was not. And that was one of the reasons I had chosen him.

“Uncle Levi,” Angelo said after Levi set him back on the floor, “can I show you the techniques Uncle Luca taught me in the car racing video game?”

Levi looked at me. His smile was still there, but it seemed weaker this time.

“Sure, buddy,” he said, sitting beside Angelo.

After watching them for a moment, I cleared my throat.

“Umm... I have an important call. I'll be back.”

“Take your time, hun,” Levi said with a smile. “We'll be here playing.”

I smiled back and turned away, but an ugly feeling settled in my chest.

Every time Levi looked at me with that open, trusting smile, guilt crept in.

I pushed the feeling aside, locked myself inside my room, and opened my laptop.

(I need your help.) I sent the message.

A few seconds later, the reply came.

(Serafina...) A drooling emoji followed. (What have you messed up this time?)

(I need private security guards. Professional. Strong.)

(Type?)

(Underground.)

A pause.

Then he typed, (Wow. That serious?)

(I contacted several companies. They all declined me.)

(Can we go dark web?) he asked.

The best thing about Jamal was that he never asked unnecessary questions. He simply got things done.

(Yep.)

(They'll cost you a fortune.) A money emoji followed.

(Just make sure they're professionals.)

I had no other option. Luca had already locked every legal door around me.

If I wanted a chance to stay free, I needed to find another way.

I didn't know exactly where this road would lead. I only knew one thing. I had to fight.

A few hours later, I sat at the dinner table, occasionally glancing at my phone while waiting for Jamal's update. But nothing.

“So,” Mrs. Marceau said in her heavy accent, “your parents died in a car accident?”

I offered a small smile and nodded. “Yes.”

“Oh.” She took a sip from her wine. “You must have had a very sad childhood. Missing them.”

She sounded much kinder than she had earlier. I had a feeling Levi had spoken to her privately.

“I don't really remember them,” I admitted. “I was too young. And my adoptive family treated me like their own.” A small smile touched my lips. “So I never really felt alone.”

That realization struck me harder than I expected. Because it was true. For all the darkness that came later, I had been loved.

“May they rest in peace,” she said softly.

“Thank you,” I said.

She turned her attention to Angelo. “Your son is very calm and well-behaved.”

Then she looked back at me. “I think my son chose well.”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

The look Levi exchanged with his mother told me he had coached her into saying that. The effort itself touched me.

“I think there's no point waiting any longer,” she suddenly announced. “What if you make the engagement this week?”

I nearly choked.

A coughing fit escaped me before I grabbed my glass of water.

Once I recovered, I stared at her. “I don't think we're in that much of a hurry.”

She pointed directly at my stomach. “Your belly grows bigger every day.”

My hand instinctively moved over it.

“And if you want people to believe the baby belongs to my son, you need to make an official move.”

“We don't have to prove anything to anyone,” I argued.

“Mom,” Levi said quietly. “Don't pressure her.”

His tone remained calm. But disappointment flickered briefly across his face. And somehow that hurt.

He looked at me. “Mila and I will discuss this later. She's not ready.”

“It's not like that,” I said quickly.

Both of them looked at me.

I forced a smile. “I just think one week isn't enough time to prepare.”

My phone vibrated against the table.

I immediately picked it up.

(I secured a full team.)

My pulse jumped.

(They'll be at your location in three hours. Just send the address.)

Then another message arrived.

(Don't worry. They're not criminals.)

(Retired undercover military operators.)

(No allegiance. No questions.)

(Only money.)

For the first time in days, I felt something close to relief.

Safety.

When I lifted my head, both Levi and his mother were watching me.

“I...” I quickly recovered. “I asked a friend to help me reserve a venue for a small engagement party.”

“Why small?” Mrs. Marceau asked immediately. “I want it to be one of the biggest parties in the city this year.”

She looked at Levi with obvious affection. “He's my only son.”

Then she turned toward me. “Since his father died, he became my whole world.”

I smiled softly. I understood that feeling. That was exactly how I felt about my children. They were my world.

Everything I did was for them. Everything.

The difference was that their father was still alive. And he happened to be the greatest threat in our lives.

“I won't lie,” Mrs. Marceau said. “At first, I didn't like the idea that you already had a child.”

“Mom,” Levi warned.

But she ignored him. “Then I met you.”

Her expression softened. “And I liked you.”

My surprise must have shown because she laughed quietly. “You're a kind girl.”

Then she reached over and squeezed Levi's hand.

“I learned long ago that when my son loves someone, he loves with his whole heart.”

Levi smiled sheepishly. “Mom...”

She ignored him again. “I accept whatever makes him happy.”

I found myself smiling. The bond between them was beautiful.

I hoped one day my children would still look at me with that same warmth. That same trust.

“The mafia killed my husband,” she said suddenly.

The room fell silent and tears appeared in her eyes. She didn't bother hiding them.

“I spent years raising my son alone because of them.”

Her fingers tightened around her glass.

“The only thing I have ever truly hated in this world is the mafia.”

Her voice cracked.

“The mafia stole the love of my life from me.”

My smile slowly faded.