Page 56 of Mafia Heir's Broken Vows

I sit comfortablyin one of the lounge chairs on the terrace, watching Leo race across the garden, his small legs carrying him in circles as he chases after his own shadow, giggling like it's the greatest game in the world. His laughter rings out, pure and untethered.

Serafina reclines beside me, her head resting on my shoulder, a book forgotten in her lap. Her eyes are on Leo, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

"He's happy," she whispers, more to herself than to me.

I watch him too, feeling something warm and steady settle in my chest. The kind of warmth I never thought I'd feel—a quiet joy that feels like it might last. "He should be. He deserves this."

But in the back of my mind, the darker memories linger—the look in his eyes when he saw me kill a man. The weightof what he's already witnessed. Happiness isn't guaranteed. It's something you fight for.

She shifts slightly, turning to face me more fully. "And you? Are you happy?"

I consider her question. It's not an easy one. The man I was before wouldn't have known how to answer. But now, watching my son run free, Serafina's hand warm in mine, I know the answer.

"Yes," I say softly. "But I want more. For him. For us."

Serafina tilts her head, looking at me. "What kind of more?"

I take a deep breath. "I don't know what it looks like yet. Something better. Bigger. Safe."

Her soft smile grows, her fingers lacing with mine. "You'll figure it out."

I raise an eyebrow. "Hmm. I suppose you have it all figured out, what you want?"

Her smile deepens, a little mischievous now. "I already have everything I want."

The sleek officebuilding towers over the skyline, its glass facade reflecting the sharp sunlight. I stand in a corner office—my office—overlooking the streets below. The space is minimalist and modern, the walls lined with clean designs and bold, forward-thinking blueprints.

Enzo stands beside me, holding a leather folder, his posture as straight and rigid as ever. Yet even he looks different in this space, no longer the enforcer but a business partner. Equal, not someone who owes me a debt, or has to do what I say.

"The contracts are finalized. The security company is fully operational. No loose ends," he reports.

I take the folder, flipping through the pages. Every signature, every deal, is clean. Legal. Above board. No bribes, no making problems disappear—no unmarked graves in concrete slabs.

"Good," I murmur. "What is next?"

Enzo hesitates for a beat. "Your father?—"

I cut him off with a glance. "My father is the past. This is my legacy now."

For a moment, silence stretches between us, but Enzo nods, understanding. "He's dead, Alessandro. I got word this morning."

I pause, letting the words settle. "Who's taking over?"

Enzo's jaw tightens. "Carlo. He was loyal to Matteo to the end. But loyalty and competence aren't the same thing. The family's in disarray."

I turn back to the window, watching the cars weave through the streets below. The city is alive, and for the first time, I feel like I belong to it—not above it, not hidden in its shadows, but a part of it. "Let Carlo have it. Let them tear each other apart. I'm not going back."

Enzo's voice lowers. "With Matteo gone, there's going to be a power vacuum. The other families are already circling. You know what that means."

"I do," I reply quietly. "That's why the firm's first contracts went to families I trusted. It keeps them in check. They won't risk biting the hand that keeps their assets protected."

For a moment, silence stretches between us, but Enzo nods, understanding. "They're watching, Alessandro. Some think you're weak for leaving. Others think you're building something stronger."

I shrug. "Let them watch. I don't answer to them anymore."

Serafina isin the kitchen when I get home, moving around to her music as she finishes preparing dinner. The scene feels domestic, full of life—and perfect.

Leo sits at the table, coloring with fierce concentration. His tongue sticks out slightly as he presses a crayon to paper, completely absorbed.

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