82 Feeling Giddy
82 Feeling Giddy
Luca,
It had only been a few hours since my father returned to Karolyn, but the unease gnawed at me like a relentless shadow. The afternoon sun streamed through the windows, mocking the heavy weight in my chest. I knew it wouldn’t be a swift operation—my father couldn’t just walk in, grab the information we needed, and walk out. It would take time. He’d have to manipulate Karolyn, the same way she had played him for years. Still, I hated waiting. The uncertainty was unbearable.
My mother, meanwhile, was falling apart. She had locked herself in her room after Emma left, and the sound of her muffled sobs had been constant. It pained me to see her like this, and I worried for her health. She had already endured so much, and this was pushing her to her limits. I prayed to the goddess to give her strength—and to protect my father.
I had sent for Castelo and Aldo to regroup with me before calling in Uncle Leonardo and Emma’s brothers. The plan was simple: we would assign the rest of the trusted circle fictitious tasks to keep them occupied. If there was a mole, they would need something to report back to the cult. It was a delicate balancing act, and everything depended on keeping the operation airtight.
When my uncle arrived, he immediately requested whisky. Aldo poured him a glass, and we gathered in the great room to discuss the matter. Tevin and Bruce joined us, but Gilbert was conspicuously absent. Likely still caught up in his honeymoon phase with Veronica. The thought made me chuckle quietly to myself. Gilbert and Veronica were such an odd pair, and I couldn’t help but wonder how he had managed to win her over.
As my thoughts wandered, I considered Emma’s brothers, who were undeniably handsome. It was no wonder Marcelo had once tried to recruit them for his “pleasure department.”
The absurdity of that idea struck me as ironic now, given everything that had unfolded. I laughed softly at the thought, but Emma frowned at me, her expression puzzled. Everyone else seemed equally confused, their eyes silently questioning my amusement.
“Why are we having a private meeting?” Leonardo finally asked, snapping me back to the present. I adjusted myself in my seat, ready to focus.
“My father has returned to Karolyn,” I began, and the room fell silent, all eyes fixed on me. “He’s using her to find the headquarters or leaders of the cult.”
The shock in the room was palpable. “The same father you fought with yesterday?” Aldo asked, his disbelief evident.
I nodded. “That fight was a show, in case there’s a mole among us. We couldn’t take any chances.”
Uncle Leonardo leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “You did say some harsh things to him yesterday,” he said. “I hope you’ll make amends when this is all over. What he’s doing is dangerous.”
I nodded solemnly. We all knew the risks. “I plan to,” I assured him.
“What about Lacy?” he asked, his voice softer now, tinged with concern for his twin.
“She’s not handling it well,” I admitted. “She’s locked herself in the bedroom. She hasn’t stopped crying since she found out.”
Leonardo bowed his head, his jaw tightening. “She’s been through enough. When this is over, I want to rip that bitch Karolyn apart for what she’s done to my sister.”
“Hopefully, we’ll get our revenge soon,” Castelo said, his tone grim. The room fell into a heavy silence.
“I guess we’re the chosen few,” Aldo said after a moment, piecing things together.
I smiled faintly. “Yes. We’re the only ones who know the truth. And it needs to stay that way.”
Leonardo leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “What about the others? They’re eager for revenge. They won’t sit still for long.”
“We let them channel that energy into something useful,” I said. “Assign them to investigate, gather resources, and dig into any leads. If there’s a mole among them, their efforts will be wasted. But if there’s no mole, it might lead to something useful. Either way, it keeps them busy—and far away from the real plan.”
I sighed heavily, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. “Honestly, I’m hopeful we don’t have a mole. I don’t think I can handle another betrayal.”
The others nodded, their agreement solemn and unspoken. We were united in our purpose, but the stakes had never felt higher. For all our sakes, and for my father’s, I prayed we could hold the line.
As we wrapped up our discussion at my house, we decided to head to the packhouse separately. It was crucial to maintain appearances and not raise suspicions. Emma chose to stay behind with my mother, which was a relief.
My mother’s emotional state was precarious, and leaving her alone could result in her making impulsive decisions—like going after my father. That would jeopardize everything. I admired Emma’s compassion and patience, knowing how hard it must be for her to manage someone else’s grief while handling her own worries about me. I couldn’t imagine being in my mother’s shoes. If Emma were in my father’s position, I wouldn’t handle it well, either.
At the packhouse, we trickled in one by one. I used the opportunity to officially welcome Tevin and Bruce into the mafia. It was a long-overdue acknowledgment of their efforts and loyalty. Despite Tevin being the eldest, Bruce’s temperament and leadership abilities made him the natural choice to head their family. They both seemed thrilled, and I informed them of my intention to give them Celio to govern once the ordeal with the cult was over. It was fitting—after all, they had risked their lives to reclaim it from the Nuovo Ordine clan.
As I entered the main hall, Mathias approached me almost immediately, his expression serious.
“Don Luca, I need to speak with you,” he said, gesturing for me to follow. As we moved to a quieter corner, I couldn’t help but notice Teressa flirting with Bruce. She was all smiles and charm as she gently took a pen from his hand, her tone playful and uncharacteristically soft. Bruce seemed captivated, and I raised a brow. I never thought I’d see her act so sweet. It seemed her bratty demeanor was reserved for me alone.
Mathias placed a firm hand on my shoulder, pulling my attention back to him. His expression was grave but calm.
“If I may speak freely,” he began, his voice carrying a weight of sincerity. “Theodore is my friend, Don Luca, and I’m not happy with how he was treated yesterday. We called a meeting without him, and you humiliated him in front of everyone. I know you and I have our differences, but your father doesn’t deserve that.”
I swallowed, unsure of where this was going but sensing it would be important.
“He’s my best friend,” Mathias continued, his voice softening. “I’ve seen how much he loves your mother, you, your late brother and your sister. That woman, Karolyn, has always been a menace. Your father was just caught in her web, Luca. He never loved her. When your grandfather introduced him to Lacy, it was love at first sight. He didn’t even hesitate to leave Karolyn for your mother. And believe me, he’s never cheated on her.”
I listened intently, stunned by the depth of his words.
“Karolyn is highly manipulative,” Mathias said firmly. “She claims she has cancer, and she’s used that to keep him tied to her. Your father has called me several times, asking for money for her treatment. Some nonsense about a miracle drug. He’s trying to do the right thing, but it’s not out of love—it’s guilt. He’s trapped, Luca. And yesterday, you made it worse for him.”
His words stung, even though I knew yesterday’s confrontation was staged for a greater purpose. Mathias’ anger was real, and his loyalty to my father was unmistakable.
“What you did was uncalled for,” he added. “I know he raised you better than that. When this is over, make sure you apologise to him. He’s doing his best.”
I nodded slowly, processing everything he had said. Mathias’ words confirmed what I already knew: my father was a victim of Karolyn’s schemes, not a willing participant. Initially, I had harbored resentment toward him, thinking he had willingly chosen Karolyn over us, but I eventually saw the truth—and it weighed heavily on me knowing I let him go back to her.