I sank into the passenger seat as Elia slid behind the steering wheel. I dialed Alessio’s number but got a busy signal. Luca was in town to talk to Alessio and Mansueto. Everyone knew Mansueto didn’t have much time. Perhaps Alessio was on a conference call with other Underbosses and his Chief.
“We can’t wait until we can reach him. It’s urgent.” Elia nodded and walked out of the garage. The traffic was horrendous, and my worry increased with every passing second. Finally, Alessio called me back.
“Are you okay?” The concern in his voice warmed my insides.
“I’m fine. The baby is fine, too. Don’t worry. I’m going to my parents.”
“What is it?” I hated lying to Alessio, but I didn’t know what else to do.
“My mother collapsed today. I just want to make sure she’s okay, and they’ve been asking me to visit her for a while.”
“Isn’t that too much work in your state?” I huffed.
“I’m pregnant, not sick.”
“Be careful. Elijah is with you, I suppose?”
“Of course. And my parents have their bodyguards, not to mention that Christian will be there too.”
“All right. Unlike your father, he’s a capable man.”
I used to defend my father, but today I couldn’t find the words.
“I will come back tomorrow morning. I will have dinner with them and spend the night.” “All right,” Alessio said. In the background I could hear male voices.
“I love you,” he said in a low voice so that no one but me could hear.
“And I love you.” I hung up, more determined than before. Elijah looked at me carefully. “Is there anything I should know?”
“No.” I softened the word with a smile. It was bad enough that Mansueto had told my father. Knowing him, he had probably already passed the news on to Mom and Christian. It was only a matter of time before it spread like wildfire. I didn’t even want to imagine what it would do to Daniel and Simona.
After a while I fell asleep. Elijah woke me up when we stopped in front of my old house. Elijah got out and held the door open for me. Mom and Dad were waiting on the porch, both beaming like a child on Christmas morning. I wished it was not because of something that could have destroyed the people I loved most in the world. I walked toward them and hugged them briefly. Christian waited behind them for his turn. “You are getting bigger every day.”
“That’s not something you should say to a woman,” I said to Christian.
“Are you alone?”
“The flu has taken over our house. I’m the last man standing.” I smiled, but fell when I met Dad’s gaze.
“You must be hungry,” Mom said enthusiastically, motioning me to follow her into the dining room. I gave Elijah a little nod so that he knew it was okay to leave. He entered our watch room. We all settled down at the table. Once the maid had served dinner and disappeared, I resumed the topic.
“I suppose Dad has already told you?” Christian nodded darkly. His tense expression made it clear that he did not approve. Mom tightened her lips.
“You should be ecstatic, Gianna. This is your chance.” My eyebrows rose. How was this my chance? I had no intention of becoming Underboss.
“I don’t want the news to get out.”
“You should want the best for your son,” Dad said in a reproachful voice.
I exploded.
“Is that so? Was it for my best when you gave me in marriage to a man you described as the cruelest underboss in the Family, a man almost twice my age? Was it for my best or for yours, Father?” Father’s face turned to stone. He lowered his gaze to his plate. I felt almost guilty because, despite all his faults, I loved him. He had been a better father than many other men in our world.
“How can you speak in that tone to your father? Show some respect,” Mom hissed. I took a bite of the beef tenderloin, trying to keep my composure. Keeping calm had become more difficult since pregnancy hormones were in play.
“I respect you, but your ambition will ruin everything. I don’t care if this child becomes Underboss. I just want the best for him, but becoming a leader in our world is not part of that.”
“You’ve always been a dreamer, Gianna. That’s what I love about you,” Dad said, breaking my growing anger to his next words.
“But as a man, I cannot afford irrational daydreams. I know the reality of our life. And the truth is that all that matters is a position of power. I don’t want to have the son of a traitorous whore as sub-chief. Our grandson will rule over Philadelphia and no one else.”
“Dad,” Christian exclaimed, frowning.
“No, I will not speak further on the matter. Once you are Underboss next year, you can make the decisions, but now it is still my word to rule in this house and in this city. I don’t care if I have to tell all the members of the Family the truth, as long as it means that our blood will rule in Philadelphia.”
I dropped my fork and stood up.
“If so, today is the last time you will see me.” Christian touched my arm.
“Stay. You shouldn’t go back to your state so soon.” ”
I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. I won’t stay in this house one second longer.” Father got up from his chair.
“I’m doing this for our family. You will realize this when your child is born, and then you will thank me.” I smiled sadly, with tears in my eyes.
“You’re wrong, but I know you and Mom will never understand. You can’t.”
“You should be grateful,” Mom whispered as if I had personally broken her heart. I was tired of this game.
“I’m thankful I didn’t inherit your ambition. I will never turn my children into pawns in this horrendous game for power. Not Daniel, not Simona, not Gabriel.” I touched my belly.
“Because they are all my children, and I will fight against them all like a warrior to protect them from the horrors of this world, even if they come in the form of my parents.”
“How dare you after all we have done?” Mother whispered harshly.
“After all you’ve done?” I shouted. My stomach contracted in sharp pain, but I ignored it.
“You married me off to Alessio so that he would guarantee Father’s place. You married your niece to the Vegas freaks for the same reason, and you want my gratitude?” I turned, clutching my stomach, my heart pounding in my chest. Elijah waited in the lobby, his hand on the gun, his eyes half-closed. “You’d better take your hand off the gun or you won’t live to see tomorrow,” Christian growled.
Elijah ignored him and walked over to me, squeezing my elbow.
“Are you okay, Gianna?” I nodded laconically.
“Take me home. I’m done here.” Elia led me outside, grabbing my coat along the way. Christian followed him. I slumped into the passenger seat. Before I closed the door, my brother leaned over.
“Text me when you’re home so I know you’re okay.” I turned a tremulous smile to him.
“I wish you were already Underboss.”
“Even then I wouldn’t have been able to stop Dad from spreading the news. You know our parents. This is their chance.”
“I know.”
“I will still try to convince them to desist.”