Chapter 8 Meeting Luca's Lover

I looked at Aunt Miranda, she extended her hand and said coldly, "Mila. It's good to see you." Her tone was laced with mocking.

Things became clearer now. Only Mama and Ricardo welcomed me, while the rest...

Why am I even here?

I questioned their stern faces silently.

The heavy silence broke when Marco pushed Papa Gerald's wheelchair and said, "Let's go to Father's study."

Without a word, I followed them, asking Mama to keep an eye on Angelo if he woke up.

Papa was seated behind his luxurious mahogany desk. Behind him, two pistols and three bullets were mounted on the wall.

I'd never asked about them before, but now I wondered-what were those bullets used for? They must mean something significant for him to keep them on display like that.

"It's been a long time, Mila," he said between soft coughs.

Our eyes met for a moment before I smiled bitterly and replied, "Yes. It really has."

In the office were Papa, Marco, Ricardo and me.

Luca stayed outside with that girl.

A glass of red wine glimmered before me. I looked up to see Marco offering it with a strange look in his eyes. Odd. They never even let me taste it before.

I raised an eyebrow, crossed my arms, and said, "I don't drink."

The only time I did was the night I was assaulted. Never again.

Marco took the glass away and raised his brows. "Good."

The door opened, and Luca walked in-with her.

I was happy that the expression on my face didn't match what was in my heart. Life abroad and the pain of solitude had taught me not to be an open book as I was before.

Papa began, "I believe you two haven't met. This is Louisiana Castellano, Luca's fiancée. Louisiana, this is Mila Rossetti." Then he looked at me and added, "My daughter."

I scoffed. That word-daughter-had no meaning anymore. He never changed my name to his and didn't officially adopt me. He just took care of me for my father's sake.

But, as always, Papa Gerald ignored my emotions and the sad look I shot at him and continued, "In the past two years, we've been under attack. Massive betrayals from families inside La Cosa Nostra, trying to take the Haydens down. There were two assassination attempts on me and four on Luca. Thank God we all survived."

My heart clenched at the thought of anyone getting hurt. I looked straight at Luca. He stared at me from head to toe like I was the one who tried to kill him.

Why did he hate me that much?

With a tone laced with pain, Papa Gerald added, "Do you remember that night four years ago?"

I looked back at Papa. Was he trying to humiliate me again? Was that the reason he brought me back? I didn't want to hear what he had to say.

But before I stopped him, he went on saying coldly, "Luca was drugged and lured into having sex with a girl infected with AIDS to finish his chances of becoming Il Don."

He paused, locked eyes with me and added, "If you hadn't... that night, maybe we could've saved him."

My mouth dropped open. "So... Luca has AIDS now? But you said..."

"No." Luca interjected. "I am not infected. Although I don't remember what happened exactly that night, I'm sure if you hadn't betrayed us, my father and brothers could've uncovered the plan before I even arrived that night. But they were too busy searching the entire city for you. Not knowing you'd decided to become someone's whore!"

My eyes widened as I froze.

"How dare you?" I hissed through clenched teeth, my heart burned with pain.

Huh, he's blaming me for him fucking some diseased slut now!

Forced by hatred, I grabbed the glass of water in front of me and threw it on his face. "You bastard!"

He didn't even flinch though. He turned to his fiancée and said coldly, "Why don't you wait in the lounge with Mother?" Like an obedient dog, she left immediately.

I scoffed, "Classic mafia wife."

He shot me a deadly glare and spat, "Better than a filthy whore."

Marco grabbed Luca's collar and shoved him against the wall. "Shut the fck up! You don't know what you're talking about."

"Enough!" Papa Gerald yelled.

I looked at all of them and shouted, "Why am I here? To insult me? Great, bravo! You succeeded. Can I go now? I'm disgusted by this filthy mafia life. I have a normal life with my son and I plan to keep it this way."

Ricardo stepped forward. "No one wants to insult you, Mila. Please, just listen to what Father has to say."

"I hate you, Mila Rossetti," Luca muttered, his tone laced with pure hatred that mirrored in his piercing eyes, as he leaned on the wall and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

I won't lie-that stung. But I ignored him and told Papa, "Let's not pretend we're family, okay? I am not your daughter. You only took care of me because of your loyalty to your friend. But now I'm a grown woman, and I don't need your protection."

I stood and headed toward the door. Once I held the door knob, he said, "Your engagement to Lorenzo Castellano-

Louisiana's brother-will be in two days. And you will never return to Italy again."