Destined For The Mafia (18+) (3 of 3)

Chapter 32 - Knew

When I met Ace, he was working for Sebastian in Landmore, the town Sebastian lives in an hour away. Sebastian was trying to keep everything together while I was pregnant and while Stefano was too young to be without me for long. I met Ace when Stefano was around 7 months old, a few days after I started transitioning into my role leading the Linetti mafia.

I don't really know why the memory sticks with me. It was nothing special or significant. I was talking to Seb and he walked into the room, made some snarky comment about Seb needing him, and his eyes met mine with a type of boldness that surprised me from someone meeting their Donna. It wasn't a threatening boldness, but a self assured one. A brave boldness. He outstretched his hand and introduced himself as Ace Bortello. The name sounded familiar but I couldn't figure out why. But he had a smirk and a charm that made me forget to find out.

And in the almost three years since that day, he has proven to be as loyal as he is arrogant and determined. He does anything I ask with perfection and blind trust. In return, I trust him with my life. I have to. I need someone I can.

We sit on the docks at the beach, ice cream cups in hand. Mint chocolate chip for Ace, and strawberry for me. He convinced me to come this far. Half an hour from home... a compromise.

It isn't as bad as I thought it would be. The feeling in my chest is a bit lighter out here, on the empty beach. We both have our guns in the back of our waistbands. I'm not alone. It's... fine. Nice, maybe. But maybe not. We will see.

"Ace?"

"Yes," he answers immediately, looking over to meet my eyes.

"Your last name - why does it sound familiar to me? I keep forgetting to ask you." It seems silly after three years but I can't get it out of my head today.

His eyes flick down for just a half second.

"It's not just my last name," he says and my eyebrows scrunch, confused. "It's my whole name."

"What do you mean?"

"I knew Pablo."

And there it is.

The next shoe has dropped.

"What?" My voice is small, but firm. My whole body is frozen. Why don't I know this? Why did I not check?

"I didn't want to remind you of back then," he says and my teeth clench.

"Trust me, Ace, I don't forget a thing of my childhood."

He looks down, setting his ice cream beside him on the wood planks.

"I guess I didn't want you to think of me differently because of it. I asked Sebastian not to tell you. I wasn't sure if he would actually keep it to himself. When I started working closer with you, I realized he honoured my wish."

I'm equally as surprised as Ace looks that Sebastian didn't tell me. Especially in the last week when I replaced him with Ace. If he wanted to taint my image of him, that would have been the moment to choose to come clean.

"But why not tell me you met Pablo?" Logically, what difference did it make if that was all? I grew up with him, clearly they weren't close. I didn't know him.

Ace looks at me as if trying to decide if I can take his next words. I straighten my shoulders and he takes my hint - or rather, order.

"We were friends until about 13/14 years old."

There is no way. "Why did we never meet?"

His laugh cuts through the cold autumn air. "You think he would ever let me near his precious Caterina Linetti? None would be so lucky."