Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask (by Silver Spoon) novel Chapter 153

Chapter 153: Chapter 153 My Daddy

Ivy’s POV

Carmen appeared in the doorway moments later, her weathered hands gently guiding Max by his small fingers. The moment Max spotted Caleb across the secure parlor of the Thorne safe house, he broke free from Carmen’s protective grip and raced toward his father with unbridled joy.

"Caleb!" Max’s voice echoed through the bulletproof walls as he stretched his tiny arms wide. Caleb immediately dropped to his knees on the Italian marble floor, sweeping his son into his embrace with desperate intensity.

"Max. My precious boy." Caleb’s voice cracked with raw emotion as tears streamed down his scarred face. The sight of the feared mafia Don reunited with his child sent waves of emotion through every soldier and capo present. I glanced around the fortified room and saw hardened killers wiping their eyes, including myself.

"Caleb, I missed you so much. You stopped coming to see me," Max said with the innocent directness that only children possess, unaware of the dangerous world surrounding him.

"Oh, my sweet boy, I’ve been dying from missing you too." Caleb’s words came out between sobs as they clung to each other with desperate hunger, the Don’s tattooed hands trembling as they held his heir.

"Hi, Mommy." Max turned his bright face toward me while still nestled in Caleb’s powerful arms. "Uncle Xavier brought us here to the big house."

"That’s right, sweetheart. Now aren’t you going to greet everyone else?" I asked softly, my voice barely steady.

"But Mommy, I missed Caleb so terribly much!" Max declared, settling his little head against Caleb’s muscular shoulder. The most dangerous man in North America couldn’t contain his tears. "Hi, everybody!" Max suddenly announced, waving enthusiastically at the roomful of armed mafia soldiers. "Caleb, why are you crying?"

"Because seeing you makes me happier than I’ve ever been," Caleb managed to say through his overwhelming emotions, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "I’m sorry, everyone, but I’m not putting him down right now. You’ll all have to wait your turn." The room filled with understanding laughter from men who’d never shown such softness before.

"Then let’s move to the dining hall, and you can hold your boy while we eat," Xavier suggested warmly, his consigliere instincts ensuring the family’s comfort. "Max, I had the kitchen prepare those fries you love."

"Hooray!" Max clapped his hands with delight, completely oblivious to the armed guards stationed at every entrance.

We gathered around the massive mahogany dining table that had witnessed countless family meetings and territorial negotiations. I found myself mesmerized watching my son perched contentedly on his father’s lap, the Thorne family crest carved into the chair’s back framing them both. Max was all smiles as he munched on fries and chattered about his latest adventures at the secure daycare facility. Caleb refused to release his hold on Max, constantly showering him with kisses and hanging on his every word as if memorizing each syllable. I was so absorbed in watching them that I barely noticed the other family members and soldiers talking quietly around us. The conversation we still needed to have with Max weighed on my mind, and I wondered if he would truly comprehend what we were about to tell him in this world of shadows and violence.

After dinner, we moved into the comfortable family parlor where the atmosphere felt more intimate despite the security cameras monitoring every corner.

"Max, Mommy needs to tell you something very important." He remained perfectly content on Caleb’s lap, showing no intention of moving from his father’s protective embrace.

"What is it, Mommy?" He gazed at me with those stunning ice-blue eyes and that radiant smile that never failed to fill my heart completely.

"Do you remember when you asked me why you don’t have a daddy?"

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