Tempting Darkness

Chapter 14

Christian

I stepped into my penthouse in Chicago and someone was already here. "It's quite rude to enter someone's penthouse without their consent," I said to the man sitting on the couch while I took off my coat.

"It's been a while," He said with a slight smile. He got up and walked toward me and I held my hand out.

"Adrian," I greet my cousin, Adrian Agosti, the Don of La Famiglia, our mafia organization and the Mafia King.

"Chris." He gave me a small smile and soon enough, his expression became the same stoic one. At least, there was some emotion on his face, even if it only lasted a few moments, it was good to see my cousin smile. Half a year, and now, finally, he's showing some emotions. Her loss truly hit him hard.

"How is she? Is she getting better?" My cousin asks.

"That's the first thing you ask me after three months?" I raise a brow but his face stays the same, emotionless. I roll my eyes. "Dani says so. She's still scared of everything, but Dan says she's getting there," I reply, my expression matching his.

"I see. She shouldn't be scared. Please tell me you've at least talked to her, and explained everything to the poor girl. And, tell me you're not stopping her from completing her education."

"I haven't. But I'll soon. When she's ready for it. And yes, obviously, I'm letting her complete her education. I promised her to take care of Isabelle and I intend to keep it, Adrian. Right now, Isabelle's in that wretched hometown of hers, taking her high school senior year exams. After that, as you requested, Dan is bringing her here, in Chicago." 

"Alright. Thank you, Christian. For all that you're doing." I narrow my eyes and smirk.

"Is that gratitude I'm hearing from my dearest cousin?" I mock. Adrian shakes his head and chuckles.

"Still a punk, aren't you, Chrissy?" I glare and growl at him but it only causes him to smirk. Dick. She really knew how to get on my nerves and now it looks like she taught that to my cousin, too. His expression soon returns to the emotionless one again. Baby steps as Dani says it, I guess.

"Also, when Isabelle comes, why don't you bring her to the Mafia Ball? It can be her first step into getting used to the new world she'll live in now."

"We don't know if she's permanently here, Adrian. I don't think when she wakes up again, she'll allow Isabelle to be a part of this world."

"She will be a part of this world. she can't be kept hidden, she'll be found someday and because of that, keeping her away from us will be problematic. What if, Isabelle is found and kidnapped? It wouldn't be safe to let Isabelle stay away from us."

***

Adrian, Luca, my younger brother— the Capo Bastone of Chicago— and I walk into our family club, Lo Spettro. My cousin and I are meeting one of our dealers while Luca goes off to check on the club's activities.

"Mr. Agosti, Mr. Russo. There you are," Our head drug dealer, Antonio Bianchi greets me and Adrian.

"Did you find out who caused the attack?" I ditch the greetings and get to the point.

"I.. Um... Well, signore, you see—"

"Find whoever the fuck attacked our drug dealings, do you understand?" Adrian growls.

"S-sì, signore."

"Now. Stop wasting time at clubs and get to work," I command and Bianchi leaves. Adrian and I go to the bar.

"What can I get for you, signore?" The bartender, Damiano asks.

"Two scotch on the rocks," I reply and the bartender begins preparing our drinks. He slides them over to us.

"It was most probably the Bratva that attacked the dealing," I say taking sips of the scotch.

"Or it was someone with a thirst for revenge. Gigi. We practically destroyed her. And, then she escaped. Maybe this is her first step toward revenge. Anyway, we need to find the little bitch. I want my revenge, too. Gigi hurt the wrong girl and now, she'll fucking pay because I'm coming for her," Adrian replies while sipping on the liquor in his hands. I smirk. 

"I do love a good torture, cousin."

"Everything seems to be running smoothly," Luca says as he sits beside me. "A dry martini, Damiano." Luca turns to me and our cousin beside me. "Except, last Thursday. While we were back in Italy and Adrian was in NYC, a few thugs tried to get in through the back door. They wanted to sell drugs, as our men have told me and what the cameras show. They tried fighting the security, one even had a gun. But they all got beaten up and now, are behind bars."

"Amateurs," I say while rolling my eyes and slide my glass to Damiano. "Another," I tell him.

We spend another two hours at the club going over deals, drug sale numbers and discussing the rest of our clubs— in Italy, Sicily, Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, LA, two in London, New Jersey, Detroit, and Philadelphia. We're sitting in our office. Adrian is leaning against the desk while Luca and I are sitting on the couch in front of the desk in the grey-painted room. Luca sits opposite me with his legs on the table with a laptop in his lap.

"Come in," I say when someone knocks on the door. Tony walks inside.

"Capo," He calls to Luca and his head snaps to Tony. Tony continues, "Dante sent me here to tell you that Miss Josephine is here." Luca angrily shuts the laptop and puts it to the side, standing up and fixing his suit jacket. I raise a brow and smirk.

"Little brother. This Josephine, is your childhood Josie or just someone with the same name?"

"It is. I fucking told Dante not to bring her here."

"Still a little rebel, isn't she?" Luca glares at me.

"I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Take all the time you want, cousin. After all, it seems like you're finally getting to be around your childhood crush," Adrian mocks and my smirk widens.

"I will kill both voi stronzi," Luca growls and leaves the office. (You assholes.)

Adrian and I continue to discuss our dealings. We soon wrapped up discussing the deals and began to trace Gigi with all the information our men had collected on her. She's had plastic surgery done on her face. Well, fuck. I guess my sister-in-law, Adrian's wife was right. Gigi is too good at hiding. Once hidden, it's nearly impossible to find her. Fuck, it'd be so much easier if she was here to find Gigi. Somehow, it's been a piece of cake for her. Maybe had something with growing up with Gigi. I open my mouth to say something when the door is kicked open and Luca walks in with Josephine in his arms bridal style. She's giggling and whining like a little kid. She's drugged. Explains Luca's pissed-off expression. 

***

I walk back into my penthouse and take off my suit jacket. I loosen my tie and my phone begins buzzing in my pocket. I take it out and the caller ID of my father pops up on the screen. I answer the call. "Papa," I address.

"Christian," He greets back. "I heard you came back to Chicago. Why don't you come by the manor tomorrow? We've got a lot to talk about. Especially, your marriage." I roll my eyes. Again and again the damn thing. "And, I'm not hearing any more excuses. You're picking a girl and getting married by next spring. Am I understood, son?"

"Sì, Papà," I force out.