Balotelli-Bale Series Book #6: Regina Mia & The Godfather Part 1

Chapter 8: Mine For The Night Part 1

RM's POV
The man I knew as my father was brutally murdered when I was a little boy. His death left a vacuum of power to be filled. Don Giovanni could have filled it but I remember him fading into the darkness just like he appeared. From a young age, I learned what power was. I experienced it. Power doesn't beg. It demands and it sees its goals to fruition. It pursues like an apex predator and the prey is always a sure catch.

Where Keira is concerned, I'm powerless. It feels like she has a leash around my neck and I'll do anything she wants. She tames all my aggression, all my savage intentions and leaves me docile to her constant rejection.

Her return to New York has sparked a buzz. There are numerous photographs of her and in each of them, she is ever so graceful. She's the loveliest flower in the meadow. No other woman has moved my heart like this, not even the woman I was married to for over two decades.

"Slow down." I heard Russo speak. I'm in New York for business. It's the kind of business done in the back rooms, in silence. I raised my eyes to note what is going on.

There is a police car on the side of the road, a man is standing outside a black Benz with his hands on the hood. His eyes followed the car I'm in. Taking no further note of the situation, I kept on reading headlines about my beauty.

"Balotelli's car." Russo informed me.

I turned back. "If he's the driver, she could be in there."

"What would you like me to do Signore?"

It's my doing. It's my way of backing Nick into a corner. I gave instructions for the kid to talk, for him to point out Balotelli for the cops. I want Nick out of the way. I cannot coerce Kei into anything but I can make sure I'm the only option left.

"Wait for her. When the car pulls up at the red light, if it is her, bring her to me."

Russo turned around to look at me, his eyes questioning my order. It's always like this where she is concerned. He thinks my mind is not objective when Kei is in the picture. He is right. I don't use my mind when it's about her. It's my heart that calls the shots. It's quite surprising to me too because I've always been objective.

"What about the meeting?"

"What about it?"

"Are you cancelling?"

"No. I'm bringing her with me."

"But-" I raised my eyebrow at him to discourage his insubordination. "Si Signore." He repeated my instructions to the driver. He came to a stop as expected.

My phone has been ringing. It's my sister. She likes to call me. She talks too much. But she always finds a way to make me laugh. Having her in my life has softened the blow of losing Gio. I miss my father. Our relationship was nothing ordinary but I liked our interactions. Getting a stir out if him was always the best part of my day. He would flare up fast! Quick to reprimand me yet he knew it was too late to bend me. He lost an opportunity to cast his shadow for me to follow when he chose to pretend I don't exist. Not even all his confessions and generosity to the church cured him of his guilt. All things aside, he was my father and I loved the bastard.

"Maria, how long will this take?"

"As long as I can speak. Salve!"

"Salve." My attention is scarce, torn between this call and Kei.

"Dio! What did I want to tell you? I have forgotten! Anyway, I was going through some of Gio's things and I found a photograph of you, when you were a child."

"Seriously?"

"Si. It was tucked inside his bible."

"Hmmm... I wonder how he got his hands on that."