Undressed By The Mafia God novel Chapter 532

Chapter 532: God Help Us

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "I don’t know anything about it either. All Don gave me was an address."

"God help us."

Soon, some of the men began to approach. One lieutenant offered a respectful bow of his head.

"Donna," he said. "Congratulations on the baby."

Veronica smiled. "Thank you."

Another man followed. Then another. Their faces softened when they spoke of the child. Veronica handled it beautifully.

She thanked them, asked after their wives, their children. She remembered names Luca had mentioned only once.

Luca watched her with pride. This was what they did not understand. Veronica did not need a throne to rule a room. She did not need to be cruel or hardened. She entered people gently, found their human parts.

That was power too.

One of the older lieutenants stepped forward. His name was Aldo.

"You will make an amazing Don, Luciano," Aldo said. "We have always been proud of you."

Luca inclined his head slightly. "Careful, Aldo. Sentiment ages a man."

A few nervous laughs moved through the group.

Aldo smiled, then turned to Veronica. His tone warmed with respect. "And we cannot wait to have you as Donna here."

She smiled. "Do not let Don hear you say that."

"Don Massimo is retiring soon," the man said, as casually as if he had announced the weather. "I thought you knew."

Both Veronica and Luca turned towards Massimo so fast they might have given themselves matching neck injuries.

Across the courtyard, Massimo stood among his men, looking entirely too relaxed. He was speaking to one of the men, posture easy, expression calm.

The old bastard did not even have the courtesy to give him a heads up.

"What the fuck," Luca muttered under his breath.

Veronica stared at him. "You didn’t know?"

"No."

Her brows lifted. "Your father announced his retirement to the famiglia and forgot to mention it to you?"

"He ambushed me."

Veronica looked from Luca to Massimo again, her smile fading as the meaning of the announcement sank deeper. "What does that even translate to?" she asked quietly.

"I don’t know yet," Luca said. His eyes never left his father. "But I intend to find out."

And he did. He behaved until the guests left, which, frankly, was a remarkable display of restraint and should have earned him applause.

By the time the courtyard emptied, David’s body had been taken away, the men dispersed, and the house settled back into its quiet. The family retreated into the living area.

Massimo poured himself a drink. Veronica lowered herself carefully onto a sofa, watching father and son and choosing not to get involved in this particular conversation.

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