THE MAFIA’S HEIR

MASSIMO’S POV

I woke up so late in the morning, feeling extremely tired. There wasn’t a doubt that the recent happenings had really drained a lot of strength from me. I hadn’t even had the time to see Francesca lately. We last saw each other about a week ago, when she said she was going to be at her father’s place for the next week. That simply meant seeing her was going to be much difficult. I groaned in frustration, realizing she was the first person I thought about after waking up. And it drove me crazy because, I couldn’t even tell what we were doing! Our relationship wasn’t defined and I didn’t want to complain about the fact that she was showing me any form of commitment, because I was scared I would lose her completely. If being in this undefined relationship was what worked best for her, I’d try to work with it. But for how long? I didn’t know how long I was gonna be able to keep hiding what we shared. I knew we both shared something, we were beginning connect with each other, and our little time together has only made me realize that she wasn’t really as rude and ill mannered as a lot of people thought.

She tried to put up a bitchy facade and all that, but I could very well see through all of it. She could be really sweet when she wanted to be. With miss B and the Don being away recently, I had less work to do, and more time to spend with Francesca. She always called me over whenever she was home alone, and we ended up doing a lot of nasty things. I have been celibate for a few years now, and it was because of my line of work. As a professional bodyguard and a part of the Russo group, I couldn’t afford to sleep around. I knew and held a lot of information about Russo, which was definitely sought for, by a lot of enemies. I had always just wanted one woman to settle down with, and make a family. But then, all the while I waited, no woman who could take Francesca out of my mind showed up. Or maybe they did, but I was just too busy with work and pinning away for Francesca to have realized it. Now that I finally had what I always wanted, I couldn’t help but feel like she was only using me as her boy toy. Or was I overthinking and misreading things?

It was always just sex for her, and whenever she found herself talking and connecting too deeply with me, she was quick to pull away. Even though she didn’t speak much about it, I could put a few things together, to know she was actually a hurt and lonely child deep inside. I have overheard a few calls between she and her father, and I knew for a fact that she had literally lived her whole life trying to please the man. I guess dating Manuel Russo was the first thing she ever really tried to do for herself, without caring what her father thought. It was clear that the journey of her relationship with the Don wasn’t a smooth one, due to her father’s meddling. She had been finally able to buy the man over, before her relationship with the Don fell apart. I knew she was a hurt woman, and there was more to it. I truly wished she could just let me in. I wanted her to heal from all the things that had contributed to making her such an aloof and distant woman. It was a week already, and I was hoping she was going to return from her father’s residence to her own apartment today. I have already made my peace with the fact that I wasn’t going to pressure her, and just let things go at her own pace. I probably had been hoping that things would develop so fast between us, because I had loved her for the longest time.

But now, I realize that love was actually something that took time to grow and be nurtured. Moreover I enjoyed the sex with her, and how much she matched my energy. She was a literal sex appeal and many times, I wondered how the Don could actually pick another over her. I knew she wasn’t perfect, but she could be, if she healed from her pains and traumas. I remember walking in on her crying in the kitchen once. She had acted like I heard wrongly, and quickly shooed me away. There were other days where she seemed swallowed up by thoughts, and would literally forget where she was. I knew a lot of things weighed on her mind, but she just needed to communicate. Or maybe she didn’t trust me enough? If that was the case, what could I do to change her thoughts regarding that? I was going to think of something but for now, I just hoped she returned to her apartment today. I missed her. I missed kissing her, driving myself so wildly into her, and cuddling her on some rare occasions. Some times, she could seem so vulnerable and other times, so distant.

I hopped down my bed and made my way into the bathroom for a cold bath to help with my boner. It was always this way for me now. It wasn’t difficult for me to get hard, just thinking about her. I wonder how it was actually possible for me to have been celibate for a couple of years now. When I finally gave into sex with Francesca, I realize I couldn’t hold back anymore. I was always needing it, anywhere and anytime. But only with her.

Immediately I stepped out of the shower, I picked up my phone to see that I had actually put a reminder for the day. Today was supposedly the day I took miss B to go see her parents, but I wasn’t sure she was game anymore, seeing as she hadn’t called me to say anything about it. But then, I couldn’t be so sure, maybe it skipped her mind. It was best I took a short trip to the estate, and know if she wanted my services today. Yes. That was just what I was gonna do.

After dressing up and fixing my hair, I walked out of my apartment and made my way to the Russo estate. It took a while for me to get there because my cab had arrived late, and when I eventually did, it was already noon. Gosh, I was so late! Unlike me. I took slow steps inside and halted my steps at the doorstep of the living room, when I noticed there was quite a drama going on. The moment I spotted Francesca in front of the Don, my heart fell to the pit of my stomach. I thought this wasn’t going to happen again? After the last time miss Bianca and I had walked in on her and the Don in a hotel room, I thought that was going to be the last time she’d try to get back with him. What was happening now? The expression on everybody’s face told me that all wasn’t well. A few seconds later, I began paying attention to what was being discussed, and I eventually heard something that threw me off balance. What did Francesca just say? She was pregnant?

“Well, I’m sorry honey. But then again, you did.” She grinned at the Don, which made my stomach twist in pain. “Unconscious or not, we both had sex and you are now responsible for this pregnancy.” She was pregnant for the Don? But that couldn’t be… I felt my head spin for seconds, wanting to wake up from this dream.

“I refuse to believe tha…” He was quick to counter, not a trace of amusement in his eyes or voice. According to her, she had gotten pregnant after she had drugged him the last time. But then, we had both been having sex with protection, a good number of times, before she pulled that stunt with the Don at the hotel. My mind was reeling with so much thoughts, and the most prevalent which nudged at my mind, was too harsh to be true.

“Is that how much you hate me, Manuel?!” Francesca suddenly yelled, catching me and everyone else off guard. What was this? What was she doing?! My mind kept yelling at me and telling me that the glaring truth was in front of me, but I didn’t want to break my own heart by accepting it. I didn’t want to believe that Francesca was pregnant, and that the child in her belly was mine. I didn’t want to believe that she would be capable of trying to pin my child on another man, all because of her obsession for him. “Oh wow. You can’t even say anything.” She whispered, before leaning forward to grab his chin with her hand. Immediately her hand touched the Don’s face, his wife swatted it away.

“Now, I would look past a whole lot of inappropriate behaviors from you. But you know what I wouldn’t over look?” She asked rhetorically. “You thinking that for some stupid reason, you have the right to put your hands on what’s mine!” She growled, making Francesca visibly flinch. “Of course! You should cower like that when I talk.” She smirked. “Now get out of my premises, before I finally lose it.”

I didn’t know what made me more sad at that point in time. Was it the fact that she was fighting so hard for the love of a man who didn’t want her, and humiliating herself this way? Or was it the fact that it just dawned on me that she was pregnant with my child, and tried to take him away from me? God, I was such a fool! I could feel my eyes sting with tears and suddenly, whatever they were saying wasn’t so coherent to me any longer. That was until a familiar voice called me, and I looked up.Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

“Massimo.”

“Miss B.” I replied, so much tears in my eyes already. Francesca looked shocked to see me, and more than anything else, it confirmed my thoughts. Indeed, the baby was mine. I hadn’t even seen it coming when the Don had charged towards me burning in rage, and threw a hard punch at my face. I fell to the floor from the impact of his punch, little blood dripping from my nose. My entire face felt like it was on fire, but because of how numb I felt in my heart, I couldn’t bring myself to stop him or protect myself. I just remained on the floor, while he kept on hitting.

“Oh my God!!” Miss B cried out in shock. “Manuel! Stop! Stop it this instant!” She yelled, making her way towards us. The Don’s father and brothers had gotten to him before her, successfully stopping him from hitting me more than he already had.

“Stand up and fight me, you prick!!” The Don yelled out in anger. “Since you suddenly thirst for my wife, you should as well be ready to best me!” Oh God! If it was in a different situation, I would have laughed out loudly in disbelief. But it wasn’t a different situation, so I remained quiet as he continued to yell. I wanted to say something, but I didn’t even know how to, as I focused on not letting the raging tears fall from my eyes. I couldn’t let that happen in the presence of everyone here.

“What are you talking about?” Miss Bianca rushed towards her husband and hugged him tightly. “Stop it now.” She whispered against his chest, and I could see how he tried to regulate his rapid breathing at her request. That reminder that he had something so beautiful with his wife, only made me feel more pathetic. Here I was, collecting punches because of a woman who didn’t care about me, as much as giving my baby to another man. The very man who hit me so badly.

“I’m so sure my wife would never give off the wrong signals to you or any other man. So why in God’s name, did you start to hunger for what’s mine?! I fucking trusted you! Enough to protect her!” He yelled at me again, and freshed tears brimmed up in my eyes.

I wanted to yell back and tell him this wasn’t about his wife, but the lady he never really loved. But then again, that would be too much effort for a woman who didn’t love me.

“Manuel please stop all these!” His father thundered, and he released a sigh.

“So this was the reason you have been eagerly protecting her?! Not because of loyalty, but because of your lust for her?” The Don asked, but I couldn’t even look up at him at that point. I was already exhausted. With shaky legs and a bleeding nose, I stood up from the floor and gave Francesca a quick glance. She looked to be in tears, and I didn’t know why. My best bet would have been that she was scared I’d spoil her plans and expose whatever we had going on between us. Little did she know that whatever we had, was dead to me now. I was a kind man, and I know I didn’t deserve this. “Take the Ferrari lady and leave this instant! And don’t ever show your face here until you hear from me again. Get out.”

I took slow steps towards Francesca whose eyes had already gone red.

“My apologies ma’am, but it would be great if you made things easier for us both, by letting me simply escort you out.” I tried to sound as normal as possible, without showing any emotions.

Without as much as a glance at me, she silently walked out of the living room and I followed behind. Immediately we got outside she walked straight to her car and hopped in. I, on the other hand, tried ordering a cab to come pick me up. I noticed she was still inside her car and wasn’t driving off, but I told myself she wasn’t my business anymore. I waited patiently, and once my cab arrived outside the gates, I walked away.