Mafia's African Rose

Alexio

I leaned back in my leather chair, staring out the window of my office. The city lights twinkled below, but the usual peace I found in this view was now replaced by a gnawing tension. The door creaked open, and in walked my father, Leon, and my cousin, Luca. I didn't even need to say a word. They all knew the weight of the silence I was carrying.

My father sat down across from me, his eyes sharp, calculating as always. "Ronan' dead, Alexio," he said matter-of-factly, his voice low but laced with that same cocky arrogance. He was as cold as the steel we dealt with. "It's done, you have to marry his daughter as the deal implies.

I clenched my jaw. The name of Ronan was still fresh, his death a reminder that nothing was ever as simple as it seemed in our world. I could feel my blood pressure rising, the veins in my neck tightening.

"So, now what?" Leon asked, his tone neutral but his eyes searching for any reaction from me. He had seen me lose control before, but this was different. It wasn't just business, it was personal.

"Now we move forward," I said, my voice grating. "But we do it on my terms, and not some prearranged marriage with a woman I've never met." I slammed my fist down on the desk, the force of it making Leon and Damon stiffen. "Betrothed? Really, Father? In front of everyone, at the table?" I paused, staring him down. "That was a stunt, and I won't tolerate it. I'm not a puppet."

My father's eyes narrowed, the cold smile never leaving his face. "It's not just about you, son. It's about power, influence, the family. You know this. You don't run an empire like ours without making sacrifices. Marrying into a family like hers isn't weakness—it's leverage. You need this."

I stared at him, his words sinking in. I had my own empire, my own power, but he was right about one thing: in this world, you didn't get to the top without using alliances. A marriage with a prominent family like hers could secure territories, eliminate rivals, and strengthen our name. It was the price of running this kind of game, the price of survival.

But I wasn't a fool. I had learned the hard way that family ties could become chains, and once you were tied to someone, you were never free again.

"I didn't ask for her," I muttered, my fingers tapping against the desk. "And I certainly didn't ask for the public show you put on at dinner, You've made this personal. You know I won't play by those rules."

My father's expression didn't change, but the edge in his voice was sharper now. "You'll play by my rules, or I'll find someone else to take the reins. Don't think for one second I won't do it. The world won't wait for your emotions, Alexio."

Leon cleared his throat, clearly trying to calm things down. "The death of Ronan complicates things, the old man just have to die now, now I've found my Angel, We need allies, and fast. The Russians are not to be trusted we've been enemies for decades and a single alliance won't change that it's better to be ready and with Viktor lurking around more than usual Russians will always be Russians son, and there's talk of the Germans making a move in our territory. You can't afford to be distracted by your feelings, Alexio." You've grown soft!

I looked at the old man , and for the first time, I saw the gravity of the situation. The Russians were always a risk, and losing Ronan had created a vacuum. It was no longer about business. It was about survival.

"You're right," I muttered, my voice low. "But don't think for a second that I'll be pushed around. You want me to marry some stranger for power? Fine. But I'll do it my way, when I'm ready, and I'll never forget who put me in this position."

My father's lip curled in what could have been a smile, but it wasn't a friendly one. "I knew you'd understand eventually. It's for the family, for the empire Alexio. You'll thank me later."