Page 37 of The Don's Hidden Heir

A war is looming, and it’s coming at us full force. I can feel it, taste it, and smell it as it approaches. The stench of blood, the vulgar taste of death, and the ominous feeling of souls drifting away from their bodies.

It’s been fifteen years since the last war, and I’d sworn to keep everyone safe after I lost my parents.

My shoulders stiffen as realization kicks me in the guts. I have way more to lose if a war happens. I just found my son and Elena, and I need to keep them safe.

Caterina wasn’t Marcus’s weakness, yet they’d gone after her. It was a sure deal they would go after Elena and Lucas if they found out about them. Those are my biggest weaknesses now, and my enemies would take any chance they could to use them as bait to lure me in.

They can try though, but they won’t succeed because I’m determined to keep them safe. And I don’t care if I have to risk my life to do it.

***

“You’re kidding, aren’t you?”

Elena stops smiling when she sees how serious I am. After my meeting with Victor last night, I’d thought of a better plan to keep her and Lucas safe.

They have to move in with me.

After I drove Lucas to school this morning, I wheeled back to Elena’s house to fill her in on what was going on. Of course, I didn’t tell her about Caterina’s murder. Elena has no idea who Caterina is, and she would only become scared if I told her someone was murdered.

“Dominic, you know that’s not possible, right?” She shakes her head. “We can’t move in with you.”

“I wasn’t asking if you can. I am telling you to.”

“No.” She drags her fingers through her hair. “Lucas and I have nothing to do with the mafia or whatever is going on with you. Why do we have to suffer for it, too?”

She doesn’t understand, and I’m going insane trying to make her.

One thing I love about Elena is her stubbornness, but I’m not sure how I feel about that trait of hers right now. “You don’t get it, Elena. Lucas is my son, and you’re his mother. That is reason enough for anyone to hurt both of you.”

“And no one knows that,” Elena says.

“Sure. No one knows besides me and my brothers, but some things don’t stay hidden for long, especially when the people involved are soulless bastards who’ll stop at nothing to exploit my vulnerability.”

She leans against her kitchen island. “I don’t know, Dominic. I can’t live the rest of my life in fear. I also want Lucas to have a normal life like every other kid.”

“Lucas is not every other kid,mio cara.You own one of the biggest businesses in New York, and I’m a billionaire. He was never destined to be a normal kid.”

“Maybe you’re right,” she admits, huffing out a breath, “but being our son means his life is hard enough already and this will only make it worse. I’m sorry, but I can’t move in with you.”

I clench the edge of the counter as a growl rumbles in my chest. I’m exasperated, and raw rage flows through my bloodstream. I’m this close to lifting her up and carrying her to the car. Maybe keeping her in a room until she comes to her senses.

Instead, I try to take in deep breaths, reminding myself to remain calm. Elena has no idea how deadly the mafia world is or how evil my rivals can be.

Be patient, Dominic. Calm down.

“Fine.” I peer out the window then take in every corner of kitchen to see where I can install hidden cameras. “If you don’t want to do it my way, then we’ll do it your way.”

She shifts her weight to her other leg. “What way?”

“You’ll have bodyguards around you every single minute of the day,” I explain. I don’t intend for my voice to sound as gruff as it does, but I’m too damn worried to care. “Same goes for Lucas.”

“Bodyguards?” She scoffs and glares at me as if I’ve gone crazy. Maybe I have. “No way.”

“Yes, way.”

“No!” She struts away to the living room, her anger propelling her forward. “This won’t work, Dominic.”

I follow her. “My word is final. We won’t argue about this anymore. Oh, and you have just three days to agree to move in with me.”

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