46

46
Alaric’s POV
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the sea of spreadsheets on my laptop screen, barely paying attention as Allesio rattled off a list of last-minute details for the event. In theory, this charity gathering should be simple: a few speeches, a good meal, a little wine, and a lot of handshaking. But when you mix mafia families into the equation, even a simple charity event becomes a delicate balancing act.
The irony wasn’t lost on me. Here we were, a room full of criminals, putting on our best smiles for the sake of charity. It wasn’t all smoke and mirrors, though. Despite our reputations, the money raised tonight would go straight to St. Catherine’s Orphanage, a place that had done good work for decades. I’d seen those kids before-lost, scared, desperate for a chance. Giving them that chance was something I could live with, a way to clean a bit of the blood off my hands, even if only symbolically.
“Alaric?” Allesio’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Did you hear me?”
I snapped my gaze to him, setting my laptop aside. “Yeah. The security is doubled, the staff is briefed, and the catering will be set up by six. What’s the issue?”
Allesio rolled his eyes, folding his arms. “The issue is that you look like you haven’t slept in days. Are you sure this event is a good idea? Bringing all these families under one roof?”
I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the tension simmering beneath the surface. “It’s necessary. Guiseppe’s men have been restless since the ambush, and the Cruz family is sniffing around for weaknesses. This gives us a chance to show unity. Plus, the public angle helps us keep a low profile.”
“Right,” Allesio smirked. “A low-key gathering of the most powerful crime families in the city. Very subtle.”
I allowed myself a brief smile before standing up. “Let’s do a final walk-through of the setup.”
The sun barely touched the horizon when I stepped into the main room of the mansion, already vibrating with a quiet energy that matched the beat of my own mind. Today was all about preparation. The charity event I was planning wasn’t just any event-it was a show of strength, a display of unity among the families allied with me, all under the guise of a benevolent cause. On the surface, it looked like an effort to raise money for an orphanage, a tax-deductible opportunity for everyone involved. In reality, it was a low-key meeting of powerful men, a chance to reaffirm loyalties and assess potential threats.
I paced the length of the room, mentally rearranging tables and decorations, though the planning had already been delegated to the staff. This kind of event wasn’t just a party-it was a chess game, every piece meticulously placed. Allesio had secured the guest list, and I trusted him to keep any unwanted players out. Still, it was hard not to imagine all the ways this night could go wrong.
“Sir, the caterer just called to confirm the menu,” a voice broke through my thoughts. It was one of the newer maids, standing at a respectful distance.
“Good,” I nodded, dismissing her with a wave. “Make sure they know what they’re serving isn’t just for show. We’ll have actual children from the orphanage attending for a brief appearance. It needs to look genuine.”
She nodded quickly and scurried away. It was all about optics-making sure everything appeared legitimate. We had donated to that orphanage before, enough that I knew they’d keep quiet about the money coming their way.
Allesio entered the room, his expression as calm and calculating as ever. “I’ve gone over the security plans twice. There will be armed guards at all entry points, and I’ve assigned extra personnel to keep an eye on the guests. Everyone knows their place.”
“Good,” I replied, scanning the room one more time. “The families we invited-are they confirmed?”
He pulled a small tablet from his jacket, scrolling through it. “All except for the Santini family. They’re still holding out. Word is, they’re nursing old grievances.”
I clenched my jaw. The Santinis had always been problematic, their loyalty fickle. This event was supposed to put any lingering disputes to rest, but it seemed that some old wounds hadn’t healed as easily as I’d hoped.
“Reach out again,” I said finally. “Tell them this isn’t a request-it’s an opportunity. If they don’t show up, they’ll be making a statement they can’t take back.”
Allesio nodded, already making a note on his device. He didn’t need to be told twice. One of the reasons I trusted him implicitly was his ability to anticipate my needs, often before I voiced them. He turned to leave, but stopped mid-stride, looking back at me with an uncharacteristic flicker of hesitation.
“There’s something else,” he started, lowering his voice. “Emilia wanted to speak to you.”
I frowned. Emilia rarely sought me out unless it was about Francesca. My mind immediately jumped to the worst-case scenario, but before I could ask, she appeared at the doorway, her expression tight with something I couldn’t quite place-fear, maybe.
“Allesio, give us a minute,” I ordered, and he left without another word.
“What is it?” I asked, my voice softer than I intended. There was something about the look on her face that made me push aside the usual cold way I spoke to her.
“I just wanted to let you know something that happened today,” she began, her hands twisting together nervously. “I went to the mall earlier, and a car almost ran me over.”
My eyes narrowed, the words settling in me slowly. “Almost ran you over? What do you mean?”
She took a step closer, and I could see the unease etched into every line of her face. “I was crossing the parking lot. The car came out of nowhere, speeding straight at me. I barely managed to jump out of the way. It didn’t stop-it just kept going.”
The muscle in my jaw Ticked as I absorbed her words. Emilia was no fool. If she felt that something was off, I had to consider it. But I couldn’t ignore the other side of this-she was tied to me now, whether she realized it or not. Very few people knew that she was working in my house, but those who did could easily connect the dots. I’d kept her presence quiet, but there were always eyes watching, and people loved to gossip.
“Did you see the driver?” I asked, my voice sharp.
“Just for a second,” she admitted. “It was a man, I think, but I couldn’t make out his face.”
I stepped closer, reaching out to cup her elbow, and that made her eyes widen slightly. “Are you sure it wasn’t just an accident?”
“I don’t know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “It felt… intentional. Like they were aiming for me.”
A part of me wanted to brush it off, tell her it was just her imagination running wild. But another part of me-the part that had survived this life by trusting my instincts-knew better. If someone was targeting her, it was only a matter of time before they tried again, and I couldn’t afford that kind of distraction right now.
“Listen to me,” I said, tightening my grip on her arm just a fraction. “I’ll look into it. In the meantime, you need to stay alert. Don’t go anywhere alone, understand?”
She nodded, swallowing hard. “Okay.”
I released her, stepping back. I watched her walk away, her shoulders tense, and I made a mental note to have Allesio increase surveillance around her. Whether this was a real threat or just a scare, I couldn’t take any chances.
When I returned to the room, Allesio was back, waiting for me with that same stoic expression.
“What did she say?” he asked, though I knew he probably had already overheard.
“She was almost hit by a car at the mall,” I replied, voice low. “She thinks it was intentional.”
“Do you believe her?” he asked, tilting his head slightly.
I hesitated. “I don’t know yet. But I want you to look into it. Quietly.”
He nodded once, already in motion. “I’ll start with the traffic cameras around the area. If someone was tailing her, we’ll find them.”
“Good,” I said, dismissing him with a wave. But even after he left, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was slipping through my fingers. The timing of this couldn’t be worse. With the charity event coming up and the pressure from the other families mounting, the last thing I needed was an unexplained threat against someone connected to me.
I moved to the window, staring out at the sprawling city below. It was moments like this that I hated most-the moments where I didn’t have all the answers. It was one thing to control a room full of men, to manipulate alliances and crush rivals with a single order. It was another thing entirely to deal with a threat I couldn’t see.
I exhaled sharply, turning back to the room and the endless list of tasks that needed my attention. The charity event was only days away, and I couldn’t afford any distractions-not even one as compelling as Emilia’s safety. But as much as I tried to push it from my mind, I couldn’t forget the look in her eyes when she told me about the car.
For now, I’d keep her close, watch her like a hawk. And if someone was stupid enough to target her, they’d learn the hard way what It meant to cross me.