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We touch down in Andromeda and Lauren sighs with relief. “Thank God we’re home. Perhaps now you can give me more attention. You’ve been missing in action for a while now and I kind of miss my husband.”
I turn to her and stare deep into her eyes with a promise to step up and be the husband she deserves for once, and I say huskily, “Just as soon as I check in with Maxim.”
“Oh, for…” I gently touch my lips to hers and whisper, “It won’t take long.”
She rolls her eyes and steps from the aircraft, and the usual black car is waiting for us.
As we step inside and the door closes, she snuggles up beside me and whispers, “Well played, Baron. You even had me believing it myself.”
“Which part?” I’m amused because I spoke the truth back there. I certainly never lied, but Lauren obviously doesn’t agree.
“There is no such thing as the Mafia King. I couldn’t keep a straight face.”
“Don’t let Maxim hear you say that.” I laugh darkly and she rolls her eyes and then giggles, “Even Maxim calls you that, everyone does. You really are the Mafia King and everyone on Andromeda knows it.”
“Correct, my little bird, but not one person on the mainland knows that, which is exactly how it’s going to stay.”
* * *
As we headto the palace, I wonder what to tell Maxim. I know he didn’t approve of my involvement in Club Mafia, but I hope I’ve proved to him I was right to take part.
As Lauren heads to our apartment, I walk the other way to Maxim’s office and as his assistant announces me, I note the man himself sitting in his chair by the fire, nursing a brandy.
“Ah, you’re back.”
Maxim pours me a glass and hands it to me as I take the seat beside him.
“How did it go?”
“As planned.”
Maxim nods. “So, everyone is happy now. No more plots, pacts and wars to fight.”
“No. I think we have it all under control.”
“That’s good. How did you explain your involvement?”
“I told them about my aunt but conveniently left out the real reason.”
“Of course.”
“Massimo and Khaled were too close to discovering our identity. They had to be stopped.” I remind him and Maxim nods, looking a little anxious.
“The legend of the Mafia King.”
He fixes me with a dark stare. “I get the feeling you deserve that title. I wonder what they would do if they discovered who you really are.”
“What am I, Maxim? I’m just an advisor to the king in charge of security for our great country. Controlling organized crime is just one of my departments. National security is more important than anything and if there is any threat to our identity being revealed, I will take the necessary steps to protect it, as did my father before me.”
Maxim nods, taking another drag of his brandy and then laughs. “I only have fond memories of Rockwell Academy. Who knew that it would prove so beneficial in the future living next door to the sons of a few mafia crime families?”
“It was a fortunate coincidence. We have managed to bring them under our control and hide our identities at the same time. We deserve to be pleased about that.”
“What about the Ortega Mafia?” Maxim says thoughtfully and I shrug, raising my glass to my lips and taking a deep slug.
“That is no concern of ours. It’s a family matter, nothing more. Giovanni’s death leaves a vacant position to be filled. There are three candidates who need to remove the strangers currently plotting to seize control. They must fight their own demons to win.”
“There will be more bloodshed; are we prepared to let that happen?”
Maxim yawns and I set the glass down and say firmly, “It’s a family matter. A blood issue, mafia blood and has no bearing on the security of our country. Maybe they’ll kill each other, leaving us with one less crime family to worry about.”
Maxim laughs out loud. “Now, where’s the fun in that? It will be interesting to see who wins. Shall we set a wager?”
As I lay my stake on top of his, I write the name of the man I hope will be victorious and he does the same. As I leave, I say over my shoulder, “Perhaps we should involve Gabriel and Duke in the wager. I’m sure they’ll have their own opinions.”
Maxim gathers up the wager and places it in his ermine covered box. “Leave it with me. I’m seeing them later.”
As I head off to find my woman, I laugh to myself. Mafia King indeed. Who ever thinks up this shit?
* * *
