Chapter 115
"Sleep now, Jacqueline. You need your rest. I'll be back for you, hun" His eyes stayed on her for a moment.
Outside in the hall, he nodded at two maids that had been waiting in the hallway. "Take good care of her for me," Alessandro said in a low tone.
"When she wakes, see that she has something warm to eat. I don't want her wanting anything while recovering."
The maids nodded, exchanging a glance that spoke volumes to the understanding between them. They could see the concern etched across Alessandro's face, a rare break in his reserve that he only showed around Jacqueline.
"We'll take care of her, sir," one of the maids soothed softly.
Pleased, Alessandro left the room, closing the door softly behind him. His mind, as he walked down the hall, moved to another, darker direction. It was time to step in, time to take the head of his family his father had left behind. The weight of that knowledge settled over him, his jaw clenching as he reached for his phone and dialled Romano.
"Romano, where are you?" Alessandro's voice was even as steel.
"Alessandro! I'm at the mansion with Ariel," Romano's voice crackled through the line, a cadence of laughter erupting in the background. Alessandro could almost envision the casual, sprawled stance of comfort in which Romano was situated amidst the luxury he loved so much.
"Stay there. I'll come by soon." Alessandro did not make it a request. His call ended abruptly, the phone left to slip back into his pocket.
His feet, of their own accord, took him in the direction of his father's study, moving with a slowness that belied certainty. Alessandro had always admired his father's authority, even when it came at a cost, and now that authority would be his for the claiming. Reaching the study, he paused, his hand falling onto the ornate brass handle, its coolness anchoring him for what was to be done. This was where his father had ruled, where every decision that shaped their lives had been made.
Alessandro pushed the door open and breathed in deeply as he stepped into the room. The smell of leather and old wood filled his senses, with a mix of his father's cologne still hanging faintly in the air. It was strange, unsettling even, to know this space would now be his.
He strode across the room and seated himself in the leather chair behind the enormous oak desk, his eyes drifting over the papers that scattered the top. His father left behind him a legacy-twisting in both loyalty and ruthlessness-and it was Alessandro's duty now to uphold it. No room for hesitation.
He pulled the top drawer open and found the usual stack of documents his father always kept there. His eyes ran down the files, looking for anything that would give him full control over the mafia empire. Among the many papers, one thick envelope was sealed and had his name written in his father's handwriting. Alessandro's heart was tight as he picked it up, tearing the seal carefully.
Inside, he found a hand-written letter.
_ "To my son, Alexander,"_ it began. _"If you're reading this, it means my time has ended, and the burden of our empire has now passed to you."_
His father's words continued, a mix of pride and warning, urging Alessandro to take up the mantle with strength yet caution. "Remember, Alessandro, power can make you or break you. Trust few, fear no one, and never betray the family.
The letter concluded after that, with just a signature to finish, but the weight it carried with it seemed far heavier than any contract Alessandro had ever signed. His eyes closed momentarily, letting the meaning and feeling of his father's final words sink in. With great care, he folded the letter back into its envelope and tucked it into his jacket pocket.
Alessandro took a final look around the study, knowing it was time for his first move. He stood up from the desk with renewed resolve. The empire his father left him was a place of loyalty, alliances, and control-control that Alessandro would now need to gain.
Alessandro didn't say anything more as he whirled on his heel, out of the study, to the waiting car. The driver opened his door, and Alessandro slid inside, his face unreadable, giving the simple command: "Take me to Romano's mansion."
It was a short drive, but when he finally arrived, Romano and Ariel were standing in wait, their eyes alight with curiosity. Romano was smirking true to form, yet beneath the jest, a glint of seriousness lay hard.
"Alessandro!" Romano exclaimed, going forward to extend a hand. "Glad you finally came. High time you staked your claim."
Alessandro's eyes cut through the casual façade that shrouded Romano's features. "I'm not here to make a social call, Romano. This is business."
The smirk fell off Romano's face, replaced by sobriety in his expression. "I understand," he said. "Let's talk inside.
They were soon inside the mansion, making their way to the spacious lounge, Ariel sat beside Romano. She looked across the table at Alessandro with interest; her eyes were subtly curious. Alessandro knew he had a weight of expectation on his shoulders now, but it was a moment he was ready for.
"Romano, listen," Alessandro said, his hand still clamped tightly on Romano's arm. His voice was firm, commanding. "With my father gone, I'm taking over as head of the family. There's no room for uncertainty, no room for weakness."
Romano nodded, his face sombre. "We're behind you, Alessandro. You have my loyalty."
"And mine," Ariel said, her tone smooth, through her eyes flared with something that Alessandro didn't quite place.
He continued with, "We're gonna secure the family, reinforce our alliances, and take care of any threats. But loyalty is gonna be non-negotiable. I need to know I can count on both of you."
"You have it," Romano said without hesitation. "And you can trust I'll take care of any loose ends.
For a moment longer, Alessandro looked upon Romano, his expression one of gauging seriousness. "Good, there can be no room for mistakes. This is not some game of sorts. It's about our lives.our legacy."
Romano held Alessandro's gaze, respect flickering in his eyes. "Got it.
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