Chapter 65: 65 ~ Jace
"You were perfect tonight." I said to her as we got into our bedroom.
She had been extra quiet after what happened at the party. It wasn’t unexpected.
Mira was yet to get accustomed to my world and what went on, in it.
"Um, thanks." She responded, looking absentminded.
"Enjoyed the party?" I asked for the sake of it.
"I was at first," she said, shutting her eyes. "until..." she trailed off.
"That’s how the underworld works Mira, you’ll get used to it."
"But..."
"He was the guy who tried to have me assassinated." I explained even though I typically did not have to.
"Oh," her mouth formed a circle.
"What about his guards?"
I chose to not respond to that. While the party was going on, I had Tomas slyly eliminate his guards one after the other. We had this all planned out.
It sounded crazy but the point of the whole birthday party was for him. Kazimir took the bait too quickly. It was too easy. He was dumber than I thought and it showed when he sent three puny men to kill me. Dumb fuck. The Russian mafia deserved a better leader and I had in fact given them a better opportunity.
There was no way they could retaliate because they came for me first. In fact, he infiltrated my party so he had it coming.
I knew it would trigger the Castillos even more but at least they would know I was not to be played with no matter what. Their turn was coming.
I took off my jacket and removed the cufflinks on my shirt. Mira walked over and helped me put them in the closet.
There was something suspicious about her change in behavior for the past few weeks. I needed to find out what it was.
I went into the bathroom. I needed to wash all that gel off my hair so I reached for the product counter to pick up my shampoo. It slipped from my hand and fell directly into trash can. I picked up and paused.
My eyes weren’t deceiving me. It was a DIY pregnancy test kit. For the first time in a long time, I felt a bit of fear. Was Mira pregnant?
I picked up the used kit. It had one line which meant it was negative. I sighed in relief. There was no way Mira could be pregnant unless...
She stopped taking her birth control?
She wouldn’t dare.
But what it was affecting her way too much and she needed to take it?
She should have told me instead so we would get the doctor to recommend something less severe.
"This woman," I muttered under my breath.
I’d deal with that later.
~
"Boss,"
I pulled Tomas into a bro hug as we celebrated at my office in the warehouse the next day.
"You did well, my brother." I said, giving him hard pats on the back.
He spearheaded everything and the assassination was seamless.
"Have the bodies been evacuated?"I asked.
He nodded . "Every single one of them. Currently in transit to their home land."
"Perfect."
I smiled at the thought of a mafia don being transported via a cargo plane amongst other bodies. The most befitting insult even in death.
"They would most likely retaliate. Them and The Castillos."
I shrugged. "It’s pretty simple. We stay ready for them. But today we celebrate."
I picked up the finest bottle of wine in the bar and he picked up the glasses. I popped the bottle and poured the content into our wineglasses.
Then with triumph in our gazes, we cheered to more victories.
~~~
My phone rang while I was bent over on my seat, deeply engrossed in reading through some documents.
The caller ID made me let out a groan. Why would he of all people be calling me?
"Uncle Ricardo," I said coolly as I picked.
"Glad to know you still saved my number," came his sarcastic response.
"To what do I owe this honor?" I responded even more sarcastically.
"You killed Kazimir. Impressive." He hummed in approval.
"You know he tried to kill me." I said.
"Hmm. I heard."
"Great."
"You had a party and you didn’t think to invite your family. The same way you did not invite us for your wedding." He sounded accusatory but I didn’t mind.
"It was quite impromptu." I said, referring to my wedding. But for the party, I did not see any reason for them to be there. They only brought along more toxic energy. The room was filled with a lot of darkness already, I didn’t need theirs. Left to me, I could go years without seeing or speaking to any of them.
"Interesting. I’m coming to America soon."
That announcement messed with my head a bit.
"What for?"
"I need to see how you run my brother’s legacy."
I exhaled, trying to keep my voice in a steady tone. "With all due respect, I do not need a chaperon. I have been doing this for years with no supervision whatsoever."
"That was before you started making emotional decisions instead of strategic ones."
I clenched my fist, knowing what he was driving at. He had to right to bring my wife into this. It had been months since we tied the knot. They all just had to get over it at this point and stop insinuating some bullshit they knew nothing about.
"I don’t need you here." I insisted.
"I don’t need your permission Jace, I only called out of courtesy. Your mother knows I’m coming."
I felt even more enraged at that. Why would she let him come without my permission?!
"Enzo and I would be there in a few days."
Could this get any worse? He was coming with the one cousin that pissed me off to no end. What the fuck!
Shutting everything down, I stormed out of the warehouse, heading straight home.
The drive was faster than usual because I sped towards the mansion furiously. Maybe I should have just called but face to face confrontations were better.
I barely responded to my staff salutes as I practically marched into the house after parking my vehicle. I was headed straight for the wing my mother lived at.
She was home, thankfully.
I saw her in her kitchen pouring herself some tea.
"I was expecting you." She said calmly. That riled me up even more.
"Why would you let Uncle Ricardo come here without asking me first."
"He’s family, Jace."
"Does it look like I give a fuck about that?"
"Language boy. Remember who you’re talking to."
I swallowed, letting myself remember that asides the fact that she’s my mother, she is also the feared Donna of the Romano family.
"I don’t appreciate you constantly undermining my authority." I stated.
"That was not my intention."
"Then what was it?!" I snapped.
"You need to get your emotions under control. You’re slowly losing focus and you need someone to keep you on your toes." She said before sipping from her teacup, staring straight at me as she did.
My brows furrowed as I asked her. "Is this about Mira?"
"Who said anything about her? Is she the only one who is capable of making you feel too much?"
I knew my mother. That question was rhetorical. There was nothing I would say that would make her deviate from her mindset so I was simply going to let it be.
I turned and stormed out of there. I approached my side of the mansion in steady strides and a stern face.
I was passing the dining room when I heard a familiar voice.
"Mr Romano?"
I paused, letting the sound of her voice that felt like honey ring in my ears.
I took a good look at her. How was she clad in an apron and simple house clothes but looking sexy at the same time?
"You’re back early." She pointed out.
"Yeah." I rasped, clearing my throat afterwards.
She smiled and I swear it almost knocked the breath out of my lungs.
What is wrong with me? I thought to myself, panicking a bit. I shook it off and approached her at the dining table.
"I baked you a cake for your birthday." She said, pointing at the cake covered in black icing and silver writing.
"Oh,"
"Yeah, it’s in your favorite flavors, red velvet and chocolate."
"Nice." I sighed. I let my finger trail over the icing and then I put it in my mouth looking straight into her eyes.
Snapping my finger at one of the kitchen staff, I said;
"Bring this upstairs."
Then I took Mira’s hand and made her follow me.
I needed a distraction.