AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The lawyer cleared his throat, commanding the attention in the room. "We have reached a critical point in this proceeding. It is my solemn duty to announce the person designated by the late Mathias Fiore to take the helm as the next Don of the Fiore family."
His words hung in the air, heavy and pregnant with anticipation. It was going to be Carlo. After all, he was the oldest son and the heir, though the expectant look on my uncle’s face made me frown. Was there something I wasn’t aware of?
"Mathias Fiore has designated..." The lawyer paused, and his eyes scanned the room. "Emilio Fiore as the new Don of the Fiore family."
Silence.
Time seemed to freeze, each heartbeat echoing louder.
What the actual fuck!
"What?!" Carlo's voice roared, disbelief and anger twined in his tone.
My uncle, Luigi, was equally taken aback. "This can't be true. Mathias never discussed such a decision."
The lawyer calmly continued, "It is explicitly outlined in the will. Emilio Fiore is chosen as the next Don."
Carlo's face was a painting of fury, but beneath the rage, I saw a hint of desperation. I honestly felt sorry for him.
I remained rooted to the spot as the lawyer proceeded to explain the legal reasoning behind the decision, citing Mathias Fiore's explicit wishes and the responsibilities tied to the role.
Carlo was not one to surrender easily. He began to argue vehemently, pointing out his seniority and experience. His objections ricocheted in the room.
To think that when I was just a step away from freedom.
Even while dead, my father had played a cruel joke on me.
Chapter 31
Griselda
Enzowasimmersedinhis phone, still perched at the kitchen island, probably checking up on Emilio and who knew what else. I cleared away our plates and packed away the leftovers from the small snack I had prepared for us.
Standing at the sink, washing a few dishes, my mind wandered to Emilio. Emilio was still with his family for the reading of the will, and I couldn’t help but slightly wonder why it was taking so long.
Three months into this pregnancy, keeping it secret felt like international espionage. I had thought hard about what to do. Emilio deciding to distance himself from the criminal life was a huge deal for both of us. It meant a shot at a future free from the crime-related family—a future where our baby could grow up safely.
I peered over at Enzo, who was still absorbed in his phone. How did he step into Emilio's life and become such a big part of it? What was the story behind their friendship, and why was he so loyal?
I had figured out that Enzo was Emilio's right-hand man, a friend from way back. During one of our many chats, Emilio had let slip that they met when they were kids, which meant that he had seen Emilio through the highs and lows of being in the mafia.
"Hey, Enzo," I called, catching his attention. He looked over to where I was drying the dishes. "I have a question I've been meaning to ask you.”
"Sure, shoot," he replied, setting his phone aside and coming over, taking up another dishcloth.
I contemplated how to begin my quest for answers. "So, you and Emilio have been friends for a long time, right?"
"Since we were kids," he confirmed, a nostalgic smile appearing. "We've been through a lot together. It's more like we're family than just friends."
We moved around the kitchen, returning the clean dishes to their respective shelves.
Curiosity sparked a question within me. "What about your father? Was he...?"
"Yeah, he was in the mafia, just like Emilio's father," Enzo replied without any trace of sadness.
"Is it okay if I ask how he passed away?" I hesitated, unsure if it was a sensitive topic.
"No problem at all," he reassured, opening up. "He died during a mission when I was just a child."
