DAMIEN: Book 2 of The De Luca Brothers Series [COMPLETED]

38:

Four more weeks pass by and Gufo and I are basically back to normal. I've even visited the mansion with Toro, Zac and him; he had kept to his promise and put the baby and I first when it came to his mother who still looks down at me. When she had tried to persuade Gufo into seeing things from her point of view, he stopped her short and put her in her place. Let's just say he got a very nice treat that night.

Currently we're in Leone's office where he's taking a highly anticipated phone call regarding the previous mansion and his men in that country. He made sure they regained enough power over time and they were commanded to take back the mansion- it's just whether they succeeded or not which makes everyone nervous.

I'm sat and Gufo's lap, his hand caressing my stomach whilst I place my head on his shoulder. From across the room I can feel his mother's gaze on me, judgemental and cold just like her personality. Leone is sat at his desk with the phone pressed against his ear waiting patiently for the news. Toro and Zac are both on the loveseat whilst Mr and Mrs De Luca are sat on the opposite settee. The tension in this room is not only about the phone call; a chill crawls down my spine.

Gufo notices my stiffened state and leans in to whisper, "You're Fine."

"I know, it's just I don't feel comfortable," I whisper back.

"Whispering is rude," Mrs De Luca scolds. "If you're to say something, you should say it with your head held high and proud. Whispering is for wrong-doers and disrespectful members of society."

I was about to point out the flaw in her speech since she is literally an ex-gang leader within one of the largest gangs in the world, however Gufo beat me to it. "Whispering is also used if people don't want others to hear what they had to say, since it is none of your business."

My brows raise in surprise as I turn to look at him. He doesn't meet my gaze, rather holds it with his mother before she looks away in disappointment that her son is not taking her side for once. Good.

"So I found out you are in university for chemistry," Mr De Luca states which surprises me since I've never spoken to him before.

"Yes," I nod.

"What do you want to do after you get your PhD?"

I shrug, "Pharmacist perhaps. They pay well."

"You know you require chemistry to synthesise drugs. Perhaps since your dating a dealer, you could look into working in the gang since you're evidently going to be involved?"

My brows furrow as I throw a quick glance at Gufo, only for him to look at me with a small smile. "I never really thought about doing some illegal job. Especially since it's so dangerous for the child."

"If anything it would be safer. The child is already intertwined in the gang due to the father... why not just pursue and guarantee your safety, constantly having gang members surrounding you to protect you?"

"But the law—"

"We're above the law," he butts in, only to finish in a smile. "The cops can't touch us. Who do you think funds them? Us. In return they don't interfere."

"I'm not sure if I'm comfortable working on producing drugs that hurt people's lives. Especially since that's the thing that ruined mine, or rather the people close to me."

"Why do you think we're so successful?"

I look around the room in confusion; why should this matter? They sell drugs to addicted people. End of. I tell him this.

"Yes, at a reasonable price- we don't rip them off. The majority of people who are our customers are rich and know we aren't ripping them off. We produce the good shit. Also, we develop our drugs in such a way to minimise health risks... of course there are still the effects, they can still die from overdose and whatnot, but long term our products are far more safer than the contaminated bullshit produced in unhygienic rundown factories by slaves."

"So I'd develop drugs to be safer to consume?"

"As a side project whilst looking over the production process. Since you're involved with such a high member, it's only logical for you to get a high ranking job."

"Mio amore," Mrs De Luca whispers harshly, gripping onto his arm and casting a harsh glare to her husband.

He casts her a hard look and shrugs off her hand, "You'll he secure. Safe. Working in good conditions. Doing what you want to do with multiple international opportunities regarding our gang's work."

"I-I'll have to think about it," I mumble.

Gufo pulls me in and kisses my forehead, "Take all the time you need sweetheart."

"Report in," Leone orders into the phone snapping all of our attention to him. "Good. Okay. Send their families our condolences and a sum of money. Any survivors? You're kidding me. How could you let that happen?! I want you to send our men out on the streets for nightly patrols from this day forth and bring in any dealers that are not ours. Any news on Rita? Fuck. Okay. Thank you."

He sets the phone down and sighs solemnly, "We got the mansion back."

"Isn't that good?" Zac asks in confusion.

"It is. It's the sacrifice and the aftermath that has written this down as bad though. The majority of our men died as well as a lot of the other gang members escaped in the combat and have run to the city for cover, like little rats."

"When are we moving back?" Gufo asks.

"As soon as possible. Pack your things and be ready to leave tomorrow morning. I'll send a van to collect you at seven. Gufo, I'm trusting you to call in for the private jet. Toro make sure that the members here know of our leave. Mother and father, thanks for your hospitality, come by whenever you want to."

"This is your home you know," Mrs De Luca chides.

"Not for me," Leone shakes his head. "Maybe did you, but I like the other mansion."

Before we leave, Mr De Luca grasps me by the elbow and tugs me back gently. I look at him and offer an uneasy smile.

"I'm not like my wife. I appreciate you had to go through a lot with your personal family life and that meant moving and having a exposing career, but think about what I have to offer you. It's not all that bad."

I offer him a small smile, "Thank you."

"Anytime."