Page 77 of Fractured Empire

He cuts himself off, shaking his head.

“Say it.”

“They’re saying that you fell for Katya and poisoned Cleo so that she could take her place. That maybe she was sick, or maybe she wasn’t. Either way, people think Leo was never adopted, but just living with his mother while you got rid of your wife so you could all be together.”

My stomach rolls and for a second, I think I might throw up.

My son’s past is a tragic one, but it’s nothing like this vile web of lies being spun. If I had an affair with Katya before Cleo died, I would have certainly never been able to keep my resulting child away for years after the fact. And even suggesting that I would have Cleo murdered to get rid of her. People are fucking loathsome.

“What the fuck?” My fists clench hard, my blunt nails digging into my palms.

“I know,” Gino grimaces. “I knew I had to tell you right away but shit, if you can help it, you gotta forget about it for now. We can deal with this bullshit tomorrow, but tonight our families are here and⁠—”

“I know,” I cut him off, voice gruff and strained. “I don’t want Katya to know. She’d be devastated to know people are talking about her in such a way. She only wants to make everyone’s lives better and this would—No, I can’t tell her until it’s handled.”

“Agreed.” His head dips firmly. “I can see how much she cares for the boys. She would feel terrible that people are talking like this, especially since it concerns the kids.”

“I’ll text Apollo and tell him that I know.”

“Who do you think called me?” Gino shakes his head. “He knew you might be around your wife and wanted you to hear it alone first to decide what to do. He’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Of course he heard about rumors in my territory before I even did,” I reply, trying not to sound bitter. As annoying as his superior information can be, it’s always useful and he never tries to lord it over me like we’re in some kind of unspoken competition. “Fuck, all right. How pissed do I look?”

“Well, your neck is pretty fucking red,” Gino says bluntly. “But you’re controlling your features. Just blame the flush on the whiskey and go with it. Say it was hot in the kitchen and apologize for the white lie later on. It’s not just Katya’s night you don’t want to ruin, you don’t want the boys to sense anything is wrong. Maria and I always say that little lies for the kids’ eyes are the only ones we’re allowed.”

A good rule of thumb, I muse to myself.

“All right, let’s go. I need to distract myself before I decide I’d rather leave to go cut off some heads.”

“That’s the spirit.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Leon

Katya doesn’t question it when I tell her that I need to leave in the middle of the night. Only an hour after putting Bastian and Leo to bed I knew I couldn’t make it until sunrise before doing something about the rumors surrounding my family. I would sleep like shit if I tried, too busy with my mind reeling on how to handle putting a stop to what’s been said behind our backs.

“I might be gone for a while,” I clarify, snapping my cufflinks into place while looking down at my wife.

She’s been sitting on our couch since we finished bedtime together, waiting up in case either of the boys come out of their room needing something. It’s a habit she’s quickly fallen into, not going up to her own rooms until at least two hours after making sure the kids are fully asleep. A habit I’ve come to find endearing. She usually watches a movie, reads a book, or plays keys on a small traveling keyboard that she can plug her headphones into. Tonight, she’s been on her phone instead, texting back and forth with Rayna since sending her photos from dinner.

“Like a few hours or?” Katya looks up, biting on the corner of her lip. “Will you be back tomorrow?”

“I don’t know yet,” I admit, unwilling to make a promise I can’t keep. “Gino and I have a few things to deal with, and it could take longer than we expect. If we aren’t done by tomorrow night, I’ll make sure to come home and then go back after I’ve seen you all.”

Her eyes soften, seemingly liking the sound of my vow. “I’m sure we’ll have a fun day together if you can’t make it home. You’ve been around so much lately, I think the boys will take it in stride.”

I hope so.

“Call me if they don’t.” It’s not a request, but not barked like an order either. “This is something I want to deal with personally but they’re more important than anything. I can have one of my brothers take my place if I need to.”

Katya drops her phone into her lap to show me that I have her full attention. “They’re strong boys, Leon. I know you want to be with them as much as they want to be with you, but they’re adapting. I can handle a day with them, and you can check in on us as much as you want. Watch us on the cameras, call us, send pictures or voice notes for the boys. You can make this work, you know? Being a father and a boss. We can make this work.”

I know that she’s right, and still, a strong paternal urge is clawing at my insides every single day. Something raw and desperate and irrational. I could take them away from this life, I know I could.

Leaving the mafia isn’t something that’s generally allowed, nor that greatly sought after. But if I wanted to, I could change our lives forever with one request to my father. Dante Moretti would never deny me the right to take my children and leave our world. I could be a stay-at-home father, and raise them as normal kids. We could run off to wherever Katya and I found to be the most appealing and live out the rest of our days in peace.

But this life is more than crime, money, and power. It’s a legacy—their legacy. They were born into this world, and one day they’ll partially rule it. Their family is here, and everyone who they’ve ever known. Changing our lives wouldn’t make them better, and no parent truly spends every waking moment with their children. Independence is going to grow as they do, and they won’t always want me around. They’ll accuse me of hovering and request space more and more as they transform from boys into men.