Page 9 of Heartless Mafia Prince

Think good thoughts, Ryah.

Mom’s birthday was a month away. I wondered what dad had planned.

My family’s dynamic was unique, to say the least.

Time to tell you how my parents met.

Dad’s driver was parked in front of his favorite restaurant. As he stepped out of the truck, he saw Melanie. She hurried across the crowded crosswalk and dipped into a restaurant on the opposite side of the street. Luciano entered the building as Melanie walked into the kitchen.

“Sir, would you like to be seated?” the hostess asked.

“In a moment.” His eyes were trained on the kitchen door.

She emerged tying an apron around her waist.

“I’d like to be seated in her section.” Luciano pointed at the woman bouncing toward a couple nearby.

The hostess grinned. “Sure thing.”

Luciano kept Melanie laughing each time she came to the table. He didn’t ask for her phone number that evening. He offered the hostess one hundred dollars if she’d divulge Melanie’s schedule for the following week.

My aunt Minka was the hostess who gave him the information he requested. He made a point to eat dinner at the family eatery on her shift for a month. Luciano finally asked her on a date. He would’ve never hesitated to ask her out if he wasn’t promised to another woman, Rosetta Vitale. Whom he’d met several times over the years. Never once did sparks fly between them. Their fathers made a deal. They were to enter an arranged marriage, uniting their families. They’d become the most powerful mafia family in Philly.

He fell hard for Melanie. Letting her go wasn’t something he was willing to do. Luciano fulfilled his commitment and married Rosetta.

“He never lied to Melanie about his situation.

And that was the moment his double life began.

“He told Rosetta he’d never leave Melanie,” Aunt Minka said.

Dad admitted living between two residences was taxing, but worth it so he could spend time with his family. Mom and me.

I was dad’s only child and if I chose, I could run his empire one day.

A particular time stood out in my childhood. One I’d never forget. I remembered bubbling with excitement about how many gifts I received that year. I was ten. Mom had never been to my stepmother’s castle. I shared a video with her showing off all my presents surrounding the massive Christmas tree. Rosetta threw herself in dad’s face. Stroking his cheek with her huge wedding ring on full display. Mom didn’t lose her shit in front of me. Later that evening, she told dad they needed time apart. That fiasco carried on for a month. Looking back at the situation, I could understand why mom was upset. Rosetta had the life mom wanted with dad. She had his last name and mom didn’t. But Melanie had his heart. Rosetta would kill to have his love and affection. I meant that literally.

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