Sweet Temptation

“Shouldn’t you be in bed? You have school tomorrow.”

“I knew something was wrong when Mom came home crying. She wouldn’t tell me what was going on.” His voice was already changing from boy to man. I’d raised him, had suspected he wasn’t mine for many years and now had certainty. It didn’t change anything. Giulia loved Daniele and Simona as if they were her own, and I did too.

“I had a discussion with Luca.”

Daniele came closer, fear on his face. “Are you in trouble, Dad?”

That word coming from his lips still filled me with pride. That would never change.

Giulia stepped back to give us room.

I cupped the back of Daniele’s head and pulled him against my chest. “I cleared everything up. It was a misunderstanding.” Daniele briefly hugged me. Now that he wasn’t a small boy anymore, these displays of affection had become less. “Now go to bed.”

Daniele pulled back and headed upstairs, taking the steps two at a time. I wrapped an arm around Giulia.

“Nothing changed,” she said firmly.

“Nothing changed,” I confirmed. “Daniele is a good boy, my boy, and he’ll be a good Underboss.”

Giulia smiled widely. “I know he will be. Just like his dad.” She linked our fingers. “Let’s go to bed.” The way she said it, I knew she needed more than just sleep, and after today, making love to my wife sounded like the perfect balm.

After Giulia had fallen asleep, I headed into the cigar lounge. Loulou trotted after me. She spent most nights in Daniele’s or Simona’s bed, but my steps must have drawn her out. Fixing myself a drink, I sank down in the wide armchair and took a sip. It was dark in the room, except for the moonlight streaming in through the windows and the glow of the dying embers in the fireplace.

Loulou peered up at me.

I patted my thigh and she effortlessly jumped up then curled up on my lap. She and I had come to an understanding over the years. She still preferred Giulia, Simona, and Daniele, but when I spent a sleepless night in the lounge, she always kept me company.

I stroked her soft curls with a sigh.

Secrets had a way of coming out. Today had proven that.

I should have known Father had done a paternity test the moment he found out about Andrea. He wasn’t a man who let things rest that bothered him.

I was angry for his disregard of my wishes and absolutely livid that he wanted the truth out so badly that he told someone like Felix. Both wanted to see their unborn grandson as an Underboss. That was all it took to turn men who hardly tolerated each other into allies.

I didn’t want to imagine what it would have done to Daniele and Simona if they’d found out. Our circles wouldn’t have looked kindly upon them. The result of cheating and incest. No matter how brutally I would have reacted to people’s gossiping, I doubt I could have convinced my men to accept Daniele as their boss one day.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to face Father again. He’d risked Daniele’s and Simona’s future. That wasn’t something I could forgive. Luca must have called him today because Father had tried to reach me, but I turned my phone to silent mode. I didn’t want to talk to him.

As if my thoughts had conjured it, my phone flashed, but it was Mia. That she was awake at this time of the night was already a bad sign. I picked up.

“You have to come to the hospital. Dad’s dying. He won’t survive the night.”

I was silent, caught somewhere between shock and my burning anger.

“Cassio?”

“I’ll be there soon.” I hung up. Loulou jumped down from my lap, and I hurried upstairs to wake Giulia.

“I’ll come with you,” Giulia said immediately.

We didn’t wake the kids. I didn’t want them to see their dying grandfather, especially if he might reveal the truth in his last moments. Elia would watch the house while we were gone.

Giulia slanted me worried glances as I drove us to the hospital. “Are you okay?”

“No.”

“You love your father, right?”

I frowned. Right now, my anger was the dominating emotion toward him, but I still loved him. “He was a decent father, better than many men in our world. He had his faults, but so do I.”

“Then don’t let your anger ruin saying goodbye. What he did was wrong. He’s been sick for a long time. That might have influenced his judgment.”

“He’s been wanting the truth out for years.”

“I know. But still, don’t fight with him today. Let him die in peace. Not just for him, but also for you.”

I sighed. Giulia was the forgiving soul. I was more of a vengeful being. I nodded anyway.

Ilaria waited with Mother in the corridor. Both of them were crying and clinging to each other. Mother immediately hurried my way and hugged me tightly. I patted her back. “What happened?”