Page 29 of His Son's Ex

He nods, his breathing shallow. “Said it was an easy score. That we could keep whatever we took. That’s it, that’s all I know!”

Gianni Lombardi. That fucking cockroach. His father and I made an agreement years ago—one that clearly meant nothing to him.

I glance at Luca. He watches in silence, his posture stiff, probably wondering what I’ll do next.

I lean in, my voice quiet but lethal. “You and your men made a mistake. A big one.”

Darren nods frantically. “I know?—”

“No,” I cut him off. “You don’t know. But you’re about to find out.” I straighten, rolling my shoulders as I turn to Vito. “Get him out of here. I want him breathing in case I need more from him.”

Darren’s face crumbles. “No, please?—”

Two of my men drag him out, his pleas trailing behind him. The room falls into thick silence as Luca and I are the only two that remain.

Luca exhales sharply. “Gianni Lombardi was behind this?”

I nod. “Apparently so, as our friend just confirmed. I believe him. The Lombardi’s have been stepping over the line for years, testing us. This was a direct challenge.”

Luca swallows hard. “You think it was personal? Not just about money?”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Of course it was personal. Otherwise, why your wedding in front of our guests?” I shake my head. “He was sending a message. This was a power play.”

Luca hesitates. “And what’s our message back?”

I tilt my head. “What do you think? I’m going to show Gianni what happens when you challenge the Bellacinos.”

His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows again. “And you’re sure you want me around for that?”

I stare at him for a long moment. My son, my blood.Yet right now, I see a boy, not a man.

I finally speak, my voice cool. “That depends. Are you going to step up, or are you going to keep your hands clean?”

Luca shifts his weight, uncertainty flickering across his face. I already know the answer.

I shake my head in frustration. “You have to decide, Luca. Because this world? It doesn’t wait for you to grow a spine.”

He doesn’t respond right away; instead he glances at the doorway where Darren was dragged out. “I thought I could handle it.”

“Now you’re not so sure?”

Luca hesitates. “No, I… I can handle it. It’s just…” His fingers rub at his temple. “I didn’t expect so much blood and violence, I guess.”

Blood and violence is a big part of it. You don’t hold power without getting your hands dirty. That’s something my father made damn sure I understood when I was Luca’s age.

I move toward the rust-stained sink in the corner, twisting the tap. Water splashes against the basin as I rinse the blood from my knuckles, watching the red-tinted liquid swirl down the drain.

“Look,” I say, shutting off the water and drying my hands on a rag. “If you can’t stomach this, now’s the time to walk away. Go back to your cushy apartment, your designer suits, your high-society dinners, and let the rest of us handle the dirty work, the dark side of things.”

Luca bristles. “That’s not fair. I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Being here isn’t enough.” I toss the rag aside. “You can’t just watch from the sidelines. Sooner or later, you’ll need to get in the game and do it yourself. You’ll need to make someone bleed. Can you do that?”

He doesn’t answer. Just stares at the floor, his jaw tight, tension rippling through him. He wants the power, the name, the respect—without having to deal with the brutality of it. He’s not built for this life, not the way I was.

I shake my head, my irritation level rising. The Bellacino name is more than just a title. It’s a legacy. One that requires strength and bravery, as well as a willingness to defend it.

Eva’s face flashes in my mind. That fierce, wickedly intelligent woman with curves that still make my hands itch to claim her—again. The last thing I need is a distraction, but that doesn’t stop my gut from tightening at the memory of her beneath me, hermoans ringing in my ears, the way she felt wrapped around my cock.