Page 54 of The Don's Hidden Heir

“Sadly,” Dominic answers.

“And he approached you for a reason,” Marcus chimes in. “He’s using you as bait to get to Dominic and you don’t even know it.”

My throat suddenly feels dry and I swallow. “Why would he do that? I mean, we signed the contract the same week Dominic returned to New York and we weren’t even together then.”

“Lucas.” Dominic’s fist clenches on the table, his blue eyes dark with rage. “He must’ve known about Lucas.”

I shake my head. I still don’t understand what they’re talking about. “But he’s your uncle, right? Why would he want to harm Lucas to get to you?”

Marcus lets out an exasperated sigh. “He’s with the Bratva, a rival Russian family. Peterson is after the Cosa Nostra throne. It’s always been his goal, and after our parents died, Dominic exiled him from the family to keep us safe.”

“So, he’s out for revenge?”

“Yes. And since the Bratva are our rivals, he needs them to take Dominic down. Should that happen, the two groups will then be allies.”

I lean back in my sit. “Wow.” This is a lot to take in. It turns out the mafia is even more complicated than I thought. It doesn’t end at trafficking drugs or smuggling contraband. It’s a lot more than that and it’s even darker than I thought or ever imagined.

While I’m intrigued by Marcus’s loyalty to his brother, I’m shocked at finding out their uncle has joined with the family’s enemies to betray his own nephew.

Fuck.

“That was the reason you warned me to stay away from him.”

“Yes.”

I rake my fingers through my hair. “This is crazy.”

“It is,” Marcus agrees. “All you have to do is keep your ass out of trouble while we handle it.”

“How? Don’t you think it’s weird if I suddenly start avoiding Mr. Peterson? I don’t think it’ll do us any good if he finds out I know his true identity.”

Dominic’s eyes meet mine. “Elena’s right. You’ll play along for now. Don’t give him any reason to suspect you know the truth about him.”

“What if he tries to hurt me or Lucas?”

“This has nothing to do with you, Elena. I’ll do anything I can to keep you both safe, just as I promised,” Dominic assures me.

I shoot my gaze to him. “You’re wrong, Dominic. This has everything to do with me. I may not be a Romano, but my son is and I’ll do whatever I can to protect him.”

Chapter Fourteen

Dominic

“Alexei was spotted in New York this morning.”

I run my hand over my beard, my interest piqued. “Are you sure about this?” I ask Dante.

“I’m as certain of his return as I am certain of what whore I’m fucking tonight.” He smiles cockily. “You think he will get rid of the old fuck for us?”

“Can’t be too sure. I know we’re bloody bastards, but shedding his own father’s blood is something else.” I give it a second’s thought.

Alexei is Kirill’s son from his first wife, a woman he murdered twenty years ago. After Alexei made his first kill at fourteen, Kirill became afraid of his own son and fearing he would kill him, he shipped Alexei off to Chicago as soon as he could.

“If he’s returned, then it’s because he wants to take his father’s place,” I say, a dark smile lurking on my face. “How about we strike a deal with him?”

“What deal?”

“We put him on the Bratva throne and in return, he delivers Kirill to us.”

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