Twisted Revenge by A.ZChaudhry

Chapter 26 part III

ALESSIO

"I always aim to surprise."

Dad nodded, packing the spongebob back, "I am aware." and then he looked at me, "Take the next sentence as humour. I have been at the receiving end of your surprises."

The balloon inflated within me when I got up and sat next to him on the bed, "I didn't mean to-"

His expressions got serious when he placed a hand over mine and squeezed it, "I know. I raised you and hence I know you. But Alessio, none of this is cool."

"I know dad, but-"

"No. There are no ifs and buts when it comes to taking over as capo. If you yourself are too unstable, then your empire is unstable. You are part of the foundation block, son. If the foundation block is unstable, then the whole building will collapse. Your father has been successful in this business and I want my son to supersede me. Always."

I chuckled, "No one can beat you dad."

"Is something a future hero would say. I want you to feel yourself as a powerful man. But-" he raised his finger as he looked me dead in the eye, "A decent powerful man is successful. A man who knows how to control his nerves, when to act up, when to stay under the radar, when to do what and when to never lose your guard. There is a time and a place to lower your walls and that is family. When it comes to the mafia? You don't have any space or excuse for that because remember.....whenever the gate falls? The inner house is exposed. So if your mafia falls? Your whole family is exposed. And trust me when I say this, rivalry goes beyond the walls of your primary home. Don't let it ruin you."

I nodded and squeezed his hands, "I'll take care of it."

"You have to. Either you take up as boss, or you step down. Alessio-" my hurt expressions made him squeeze my hand further, "Not always is stepping down an act of cowardice. Sometimes, stepping down is actually the bravery because lunatics will stay in a particular position just to make their enemies jealous or to just prove a point to someone. A sane and smart one would adopt the path that they are fluent in and blow apart the enemy's forts in ways no one would have seen coming."

He was looking at me, at specifically my hurt expression, when I cleared my throat and responded, "I see myself as a mafia boss."

"Then act like one. You need to be strong, you need to have your nerves under control, you need to be quick, smart, intelligent and must be faster than even your right-hand. Be active."

I nodded when he squeezed my hand, "And come to me whenever you need advice. I wouldn't give out any information to any other person but for my son? I would. I, one hundred damn percent, would. All you need to do is ask when you feel like you're slipping. There is no harm in asking, harm is when trying to save your ego, you ignore the parts you lack in and instead of solving it privately.....you fail in front of millions. That is stupid. Don't do it. Ask when needed."

I nodded when I brought his hand up and kissed it, setting it back on the bed, "Thank you dad. It really means a lot to me."

He nodded when he asked after a few seconds, "What about your new bride?"

My mouth turned into a grimace when I slid my hands out of his, "Dad,-"

"Just be careful."

I looked at him when he rested back in bed, "Mafia wars are nasty, be careful. And let me tell you.....having your faithful wife by your side is the best fucking thing ever. No one can even touch the gates to your empire when two dauntless are ruling it."

A smile crept over my face when he nodded, "No doubt I was strong as a capo, but trust me.......your mother made it even better. Females usually have a unique way of thinking. Women who can instantly find out where their cheating husbands or boyfriends are, can, trust me, find anyone. And no, I never cheated." We both laughed when he got serious again, "People feared us more, Alessio."