Page 71 of The Don's Hidden Heir

Marcus nods, then we both sit in the silence that engulfs us, both of us lost in thought. Unease settles in my stomach and it churns relentlessly.

I have to protect Elena and Lucas.

I remind myself of that every second that passes. I don’t mind losing a billion more worth of shipments, I just want my family safe.

“Have you decided what to do with her after this is over?” Marcus asks gently, a trait my brother doesn’t show often. He’s always grumpy and gruff. “Elena, I mean.”

“Yes.” I don’t need to rummage in my head for an answer. I’ve had years to think and a few more months to make a decision. “But this is not the night to discuss things like that.”

“We don’t know how this will end. We’ve seen it happen once before and the picture wasn’t very pretty, brother. You should let her know you care before it’s too late.”

No.

If anything happens, I don’t need Elena to know how I feel about her. I’d prefer it if she hated me and considered me worthless. That way, I won’t have any regrets if I end up dying.

I won’t be holding her back from finding the happiness she truly deserves.

Someone kicks the door open and saunters inside. I’m not disappointed when I crane my neck to see Vincent walk in. I don’t think I raised him right because the fucker has no manners.

He slouches on the sofa across from me and props his foot on the glass coffee table. He looks around and raises his brows. “What happened this time?”

“Get your fucking shoes off my table.”

He doesn’t listen. He never does. “There was another attack, wasn’t there?”

“Why do you care?”

“You’re my family, that’s why I care, man.” He lifts his foot from the table. His white outfit is an eyesore, I swear. “Is it another war?”

Marcus answers this time. I don’t know how he has the patience for Vincent’s bullshit, but I’d rather smack some sense into the kid than play word games with him. “With the Bratva. We lost twelve men this morning.”

“And a shipment,” I add. “Maybe if you actually chose to become useful, we would have someone more capable of keeping our shipments safe.”

“Or you could have a dead brother. I’m not Clarke Kent just because I’m good with a gun, man.”

“I wouldn’t have wasted my hard-earned time teaching you how to use a gun if I knew you were going to be so fucking useless to thefamiglia,” I retort. Do I regret it? No. Vincent is a Romano despite his refusal to get involved with the mafia, that alone puts him at risk of being attacked if anything happens.

He should be able to protect himself, but the boy has skills my best men don’t even have. His aim is good and so are his fists when he decides to use them. His skills would be useful to us, but he insists on not getting blood on his hands.

It’s infuriating, but he was born into this world and it’s something he can’t escape.

Whether he realizes it or not, the mafia runs deep in his blood. Sooner or later and for whatever reason, he’ll find himself deeply rooted in the underworld. For now, I let him have his fun.

“Speaking of useless, shouldn’t you train your son? The kid is going to be underboss someday and I don’t mind teaching him.”

Marcus tries to bite back a chuckle but it slips through him. “Elena will be mad when she hears that, bro.” He looks at me with an accusing eye. “I imagine she’ll nag you to death when she finds out Lucas can’t escape his fate.”

My head falls between my shoulders and I sigh. “Lucas joining the mafia is the least of my problems now. I’ve got to figure out how to keep them safe first.”

“I’ll protect Lucas. You take care of your lady.” He yawns. “I’m only offering because I like the kid.”

“Of course, you should. He’s your nephew, you idiot,” Marcus retorts.

“And yours, too. I’ll be out for tonight though, got to stick my cock in a whore’s mouth one last time before my confinement begins.”

My brothers go on and on with their bickering. I don’t listen to half of it, I’m too busy thinking about Elena.

When I return home, she’s sitting up in bed, wearing earphones and with her MacBook on her legs as she examines the screen. She doesn’t notice enter, so I just lean on the door frame and watch her for a while.

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