The Return of My First Love novel Chapter 18

Alessio

I tapped my foot impatiently, waiting for dad to finish his phone call. In the early hours he had already called me to his office, and at the moment he sat in his big chair, fully ignoring me as he discussed some sort of business.

Behind him stood my uncle, Stefano, who also happened to be his advisor. Despite him being an almost 6'5 muscly beast, I had never feared him, liked him, nor admired him—but if looks could kill at the moment, I would've been dead by now. 

It was probably deserved after the scene I had thrown last night, when I had cut of my engagEmilyent with Maxine Baldini in front of everyone. To add fuel to fire, I had also announced my plans to marry the maid. Emily.

It was all an act, but the aftermath was very real.

Ever since, the tension was thick. Dad hadn't looked at me since last night, and Dante who had sworn he wasn't into the maid, treated me like a ghost.

Dad ended his call, meaning I could finally escape Stefano's dagger eyes. Not that it meant much because Domenico Fanucci had taken matters into his own hands and by now was also looking at me with those disapproving eyes.

"Did you hear any of that?" he frowned.

Honestly, I hadn't. "Kind of hard to with Uncle Death Stare here trying to kill me off with his laser beam eyes." I chuckled towards Stefano.

Stefano snapped, and his face turned a shade redder. "You're the one killing this family, boy. Not me!"

"Over ending an already doomed engagEmilyent?" I mocked. "Or is it because I chose to marry for love?"

"You will not marry the maid," Dad's voice was clear enough. Had it been one of my brothers or anyone else for that matter, the conversation would've been over, right there and then, but unfortunately for him, I was not the one to back down.

"Her name's Emily. And yeah, I will," I leaned forward. "As a matter of fact, she'll be here in a few hours, with her suitcases, so you'll better get used to her."

Emily was as weak as a paper sheet. Convincing her, or more-so forcing her to get on with my plan wasn't that difficult. It wasn't as if she had anything better going on for her in the first place.

I furrowed my brow, daring Stefano, who was about to explode, to say something and he did. "Your duty is to marry the Baldini girl and unite our families," he stated. "We need that alliance."

"Alliance this, alliance that," the eyes rolled in the back of my head. "This is not the middle-ages. Please know, I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions."

"Ales—" Stefano paused taking a breath. "The Baldinis are growing stronger, Alessio. If we don't align with thEmily, they will become our enEmilyy."

EnEmilyies...

We already had many of those. One more really wouldn't matter.

"So, we fight back. Since when did we become the scared ones?" I came with a solid point.

Stefano looked like he might explode. But I wasn't done. "Dad, when did you become so... weak?"

Somehow those words had managed to slip out, but I meant every word of it.

Domenico Fanucci.

A name that screamed both respect and fear. A name that could silence a room without having to show his face, and it was all because of the terrifying reputation of how he dealt with those who crossed him.

No mercy, no hesitation.

He had the power to make a whole family disappear as if they had never existed.

That's how he had earned his nickname, the Shadow king of the East.

Yet, that same shadow was now a shadow of weakness, worrying about alliances and useless peace treaties.

Where was the man I admired?

"Watch your mouth!" Stefano already barked in defense, but dad responded with a simple smirk and shrug. If anything, he looked more tired than upset. "I have a family to protect, Alessio. I've changed."

"But that doesn't mean I'm weak," he locked his hands together and pushed his chin in his hands. Then he leaned in, his eyes piercing mine. "I'd rather kill the maid than let her marry you." he spoke in a low tone. "I'd kill you if I have to my boy. Don't test me."