Page 42 of Single Mom’s Mafia Daddies (The Forbidden Reverse Harem Collection #22)
LILA
T wo Weeks Later
“Still no sign of them.” Renzo lounged in the chair across from Alessio. Matteo sat at his left, while I’d made my place in the window seat that overlooked the pool.
Alessio’s office had a few more feminine touches to it since I’d officially joined the cartel. So far, his men respected me. I’d gained their trust during the Verducci battle when I helped them from the control room, and they’d been quick to accept me.
Alessio steepled his fingers and propped his chin on his fingertips. “Rumors still spreading?”
“Like wildfire,” Matteo answered with a grimace. “I’ve spoken to my brother, who reports that the Russo syndicate is withdrawing their support of the Verduccis. If they reappear, their syndicate is fractured and most likely will not regain power.”
“We’re going to make sure of that.” Alessio sounded certain, and I knew why.
“Lila has drawn up a plan for the Verducci’s businesses.
With her expertise in the area, we’re going to turn the businesses over to her for management.
With the Verduccis fractured, our goals are to strengthen alliances.
” He pointed at Renzo. “Continue your attempts to reconnect with your family, even if it’s a minimal shift, we need to continue to pull resources our way. ”
“They’ll see the light.” Matteo’s grin flashed. “I’ll make sure of it. My brother is set to inherit the syndicate. He’s young enough to want to make a good impression, especially with the man who single-handedly took down the Verducci clan.”
Alessio harrumphed. “That’s not true, and everyone knows it.”
“Yes, but it’s a better story, and it fits our needs.” Matteo relaxed in his chair with a snarky grin. “So I’m helping the rumor.”
Renzo picked at the edge of the new patch on his sleeve that marked him as Alessio’s second-in-command. “This is ridiculous.”
A short laugh burst from Alessio. “You’re not required to wear it except when we have meetings with other syndicates. I know how you are about your uniform.”
Matteo cuffed Renzo’s arm off the chair. “Get over it. You’re a hot shot now.”
Renzo rolled his eyes in a dramatic display that made Matteo laugh harder. “My military precision is not something that earns badges or accolades.”
“It should be.” I sipped my morning tea and enjoyed the lack of nausea that came with the glint of sunshine over the yard.
The pool sparkled below me, and Leo’s excited chatter reached us all the way from the suite of rooms across from us.
I’d had the space converted into a playroom for Leo so he could be close by while I handled business with Alessio.
I’d been hesitant at first to fully accept my role as the queen of Alessio’s empire.
Fame and fortune were one thing, something that had been within my grasp my entire life.
But this changed things. I had fortune enough for several lifetimes, and the fame lingered more on the side of infamous than I originally wanted.
My own business still needed time before it could reopen. The insurance company for my boutique was dragging its feet, but my heart wasn’t in badgering them. I loved the fashion, but applying my knowledge to many businesses was a new challenge I couldn’t resist.
“What kind of businesses are you bringing in?” Renzo asked.
Matteo wiggled his eyebrows. “Let me guess, brothels and black-market auction houses.”
“You wish.” I took a minute to linger over the fragrant ginger tea and swung my legs around until my feet rested on the floor. “Would you show them, Alessio?”
I’d drawn up the plans a few days ago and discussed them with Alessio last night.
“The downtown area is rife with opportunities. It’s one reason why my boutique did so well.
We want to create competition without saturating the market.
” I ran them through a quick explanation of the businesses I’d selected and why, waiting for the moment when their eyes glazed over and they stopped paying attention.
It never happened. They listened to every word, expressions open and their full attention locked onto every word.
“The layer of protection this adds is significant.” Matteo tapped his finger against the tablet sitting between him and Renzo. “This is amazing.”
Leo ran into the room, holding up two blocks. “Guess what I did.” He climbed into Renzo’s lap and handed him the blue triangle. “I made the whole house with blocks. You want to see?”
“Of course.” Renzo stood with Leo in his arms and poked Matteo in the shoulder. “Matteo has to come with us. He’s not seen your blocks yet, and I bet he’d love to see.”
Matteo didn’t hesitate to follow them from the room.
I grinned into my tea and chuckled. “He’s never going to get tired of dragging them around to play.”
“Neither will they.” Alessio made his way over to the bench seat and joined me, opening the tall windows to let in a breeze.
The air smelled like sunshine and fresh opportunities. A kind of contentment I’d never expected wrapped around me, and I let out a lingering sigh.
“I thought this kind of happiness was a dream, an illusion people chased in hopes of keeping their sanity.” What good did it do to live a life that never had any hope of improvement?
We lived the kind of life I’d always wanted for Leo, I just didn’t know the shape it would come in.
He had three men who adored him, each of them offering a unique perspective to the world that would help him become a well-adjusted adult.
We were loved and we loved in return. I might face danger when the syndicates tried to take power from us, but I was not weak or helpless.
We were a family of our own making, our own choosing.
And the newest addition in my belly would be treated just as well as Leo.
“How are you feeling?” Alessio broke into my reverie with the question.
I cupped a hand over my stomach and smiled. “Better every day.” Once Alessio had healed a bit and the initial threat was neutralized, I’d found a doctor willing to come to the house and see to my OB care.
Matteo tried to see to my every need despite me telling him I liked my independence. I had to admit it was nice to be so well cared for. He’d learned how to make the ginger tea the doctor recommended and brought it to me every morning.
“The rumors surrounding Luca are becoming more erratic.” I handed him the report I’d gotten from Bruce earlier. “There’s no proof he’s alive, but the fact nobody has turned up is problematic.”
Alessio scraped a hand down his face, scratching at the scar along his jaw. “I’d hoped the photos I posted would be enough. I suppose it’s difficult for them to accept their leaders might be dead. It’s easier to think they escaped.”
“I can’t believe someone was able to take their bodies without anyone noticing.
And there’s no way they walked out of here on their own.
” I’d seen the aftermath of Luca’s and Alessio’s fight.
The man was stone-cold dead. I had no concrete proof of Vincenzo’s demise, but the ones who’d shot him were certain he couldn’t possibly be alive.
Alessio drew me closer with a tug on my hand.
He settled me between his legs with my back to his chest and brushed his fingers through my hair.
“If they try to rebuild, we’ll take them down.
Luca’s history makes them all want to think he was invincible.
They want to believe. I wouldn’t be surprised if they find someone who looks enough like him to replace Luca in hopes of rebuilding the syndicate. ”
“It’s too late. We already own everything.
We took all their property. There’s nothing left for them.
” I hadn’t hesitated when it came time to scoop up the land and assets left behind.
We’d needed to make it known we were in control before one of the others tried to take it from underneath us.
We’d won the war and had every right to the spoils.
Alessio massaged the soreness in my neck, and my head fell back to rest on his shoulder.
Laughter mixed with Renzo’s and Matteo’s voices. Spots of color drew my attention to the window and the vibrant green grass below us.
Matteo kicked a soccer ball toward Leo, who reared his foot back and launched the ball into the air directly at Renzo.
Renzo jumped and headbutted the ball from the air. Matteo stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled while Leo laughed so hard he fell over and rolled in the grass.
Alessio pulled me close, his breath nothing but a whisper in my ear. “This is just the beginning.”