17

17
Alaric’s POV
I rubbed my face, closing my eyes for just a moment before snapping it back open. Now she was tormenting my visions. Brown eyes, brown hair, slender curves and that sharp, witty mouth. They kept appearing every time I closed my eyes. It was unsettling. I needed to shut her out of my mind once and for all.
“Boss!”
I almost startled, raising my head and narrowing my eyes at Allesio who just called out my name. Everyone had their eyes on me. Allesio had an expression I didn’t understand on his face, staring at me for a moment longer before turning around and talking.
“The shipment arrives in two days. I have arranged our most trusted men to stand guard and search thoroughly. Don Giuseppe’s men will also be there to stand guard and make sure nothing interferes with their shipment.” He said, his eyes flicking to me once again as if to make sure that I’m really listening to him. “Is that okay with you boss?”
I gave a nod of my head. “I want to be there while they’re searching,” I added.
“Is there a reason for that, boss?” Allesio asked and I narrowed my eyes at him, not liking that he was questioning me. But I answered him nonetheless.
“I got a wind of information that Guiseppe is involved in human trafficking, and might try to smuggle those women in through our port with his goods. You know we don’t get ourselves involved in such.”
Allesio looked very much surprised by this information, because his brows were raised impossibly high. I shot him a look that had him slipping his mask back up and continuing with his talk.
“Guiseppe has been working with us for years now. He knows our rules. He knows we don’t do human trafficking, neither do we aid the people that do,” he said flatly. “I don’t see any reason why he should start now.”
“I don’t care about what you think and what you do not think, Allesio. Double the security tomorrow. I will be there. We’ll see for ourselves if Guiseppe is a lying peace of shit, or if he’s still the same man we thought he was.” I shot him a cold smile that made me sure he knew better than to keep on arguing with me.
“Of course, boss,” he widely agreed with me, turning back to the others. “We tighten the security and keep and eye on Guiseppe’s men every second.”
“Guiseppe himself might be there, and wouldn’t it be fun to see his shocked look when he sees me there,” I said, the though of it giving me more pleasure than it should. “Is there anything else you to say?” I demanded, ready to be done with this meeting. Gods. I needed a very good sleep. I haven’t been sleeping enough and that was probably why Emilia was plaguing my every thought.
“None, Capo,” Allesio replied with a shake of his head.
“Good. You all are dismissed,” I answered flatly. They all turned to leave, except from Allesio who just remained standing there, watching them as they left. After the last of them closed the door, he turned back to me, his eyes narrowed and his arms crossed.
“I said you’re dismissed,” I told him, frowning.
“Yeah well right now, were no longer capo and lieutenant. We’re now cousins. And I need to speak to you,” he answered with a tone that left no room for arguments, pining me with an intense stare like as if he could see into the deepest, dark parts of me.
“About what?” I replied, my tone flat.
“You were very distracted today. Just as you were distracted yesterday during the meeting with Don Romano,” he replied flatly.
“Your point?” I demanded, raising a brow at him..
“And I think we both know who’s getting you distracted,” he answered, his eyes narrowing.
I opened my mouth to tell him to get the hell out of my office but he continued. “She’s barely been here for two weeks and yet she’s already getting you distracted. I told you that girl screams trouble. You should get her out of this house. I’d gladly put a bullet through her head if she’s going to be trouble.”
“And cost Francesca of the little happiness she had been getting since Emilia stepped into this house?” I asked quietly, my steely gaze on him.
“Francesca is a child. She’s barely four. She’ll forget about her soon enough,” he argued.
“She won’t. You know it just as well as I do. And what will you do when Francesca becomes a shell of herself? Sinking deep into a hole neither of us can retrieve her from? It won’t be your problem, Allesio. It will be my problem. It will be ME dealing with the consequences,” I snapped at him.
“Don’t say that, Ric. You know that I care for and love Francesca just as much as you do and I’ll always be protective of her. I’ll always protect her,” he answered quietly, his eyes conveying messages that I chose to ignore.
“Then you know killing Emilia is not the solution. Francesca needs her,” I reminded him.
“Then at least fuck her and get it out of your system. Just do it and be done with it. For fuck’s sake you know distractions aren’t tolerated in our work, yet you’re letting her distract you anyway,” he scowled.
“I do not mix business with pleasure,” I replied grimly.
“Just do it this once. The distractions will stop,” he insisted.
“I’m not distracted,” I murmured.
“Yes, Ric. You are. Lying won’t change that,” he snapped. “Distractions can cost us this organization, and our life. Shut her out of your life, Alaric, before it’s too late. If Francesca needs a mother figure in her life, you can always make an alliance with one of the other syndicates and get married to one of their daughters.”
“It won’t be the same for Francesca,” I said through gritted teeth. “You and I know that! She has never warmed up to any of the women I’ve ever had in my life. You know that too! She can be very closed off! You know that! And it’s a miracle she ever warmed up to Emilia even without really knowing her. She’s coming out of her bubble and that’s enough for me, Allesio. I will not take that away from her just because I’m scared of being distracted by my daughter’s nanny.”
“The others will think you’re weak for this,” he warned.
“Do you?” I asked. “Do you think I’m weak?”
“No,” he answered with a shake of his head. “No. I do not. But you know what happens if they do,” he murmured, turning around and walking out of the room. He slammed the door shut loudly.
I blinked, his warning ringing in my ear.