Page 36 of His Son's Ex

She approaches, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek. “Don’t work too hard,figlio mio.Remember, we have a life outside of this, and we’re the only ones left to enjoy it.”

I swallow hard. “I know.”

She glides out of the study, a regal silhouette fading into the corridor. I remain by the window, letting the quiet seep in until my phone buzzes on the desk. It’s a message from Riccardo, my right-hand man, about the next steps being taken to cripple Lombardi.

Instead of responding, my mind drifts to Eva. I can’t help it. There’s a pull, a sense of unfinished business when it comes to her. I want to see her again, to figure out what has made me so restless. She’s tough, witty, and fiercely self-reliant. The way shestood up to Luca—hell, the way she stood up tome—makes me have a profound respect for her.

Yet there’s also something guarded about her, a darkness behind her eyes. I sense secrets and pain.Who hurt you, Eva?And why do I feel so compelled to find out, to protect you?

I shake my head, trying to remove the thoughts. I’m not some lovesick boy. I’m the don of the city’s most powerful mafia family. We don’t get the luxury of daydreaming about women we barely know. At least, not without consequences.

Still, I can’t deny the spark she’s ignited. One night with her wasn’t enough to quench it. If anything, it only stoked the flames.

My phone vibrates again, this time with a call.

“Speak.”

“Boss, Lombardi’s main distributor in the garment district just got a sudden freight check from the Feds. Our tip worked. He’s going to lose half his shipments to regulatory issues. Should slow him down a bit. What are our next steps?”

“Excellent. Proceed with the second phase, quiet sabotage of Lombardi’s finances.”

“You got it, Boss.”

I end the call.

A grim smile tugs at my lips. One step closer to making Gianni regret ever targeting me.

I blow out a breath, returning to the window. The sunlight feels undeserved, shining on a man who’s lived more in the shadows than in the light. Perhaps the dark is where I belong, though Iwouldn’t mind someone to share my life with. To bring light into my world.

A wry grin lifts one corner of my mouth. The thought of Eva’s eyes lighting up with that fierce spark is enough to keep me on edge in a much more pleasurable way.

I exit the study, nodding at the security detail stationed outside. My footsteps echo down the corridor as I head toward my office, my mind awash in equal parts ruthless intent and a longing I haven’t allowed myself to feel in years.

Maybe this time,I think to myself,I won’t ignore it.

CHAPTER 8

EVA

“BK&C is one of the leading private equity firms in the country. We oversee billions in assets, specializing in acquisitions, high-level investments, and security—both financial and digital. Our clients expect discretion, reliability, and most of all, protection.”

The assistant walks briskly beside me, her heels clicking against the marble floor as we pass the sleek, glass-walled offices.

She shoots me a knowing glance.“That’s where you would come in.”

I nod, trying to focus on her words rather than the nerves trying to take over. This is the kind of job I’ve been dreaming of. High stakes, top-tier systems to play with, and the resources to build a cybersecurity framework unlike anything I’ve done before.

The assistant glances down at her tablet, then back up at me with a small smile. “You should know, the CEO has taken a special interest in this hire. He’ll be conducting your interview personally.”

“The CEO?” Most companies of this scale don’t have their CEO sitting in on interviews, even for high-level positions.

She nods. “Well, this position is for the head of cybersecurity. It’s an essential role, and Mr. Bellacino likes to be directly involved in all matters of security.”

My stomach flips. “Mr. Bellacino?”

She doesn’t seem to notice the giant lump I just swallowed. “Dante Bellacino,” she clarifies, tapping something into her tablet. “He can be a little intimidating, but he’s brilliant. He built this firm into what it is today.”

My heart lurches, the ground tilting beneath me for a fraction of a second.