The Mafia's Heir

Chapter 46

"Nonno, you wanted to see me?" I walked into the room with as much confidence as I could. Being in the presence of my nonno sucked a lot out of me. He was getting sicker everyday and I didn't know what to do about that. "Are you okay?"

"Tia, la mia preziosa nipote, my time is nearing its end." He sighed gently and patted the space beside him. I walked over to him and sat down. He grabbed my hand. "You know I love you, right?"

"Sí, nonno." I smiled at him and squeezed his hand.

"It's about time we talked about some things. I don't have much longer."

"Nonno, don't talk like that!"

"What else am I supposed to say? I can't say I'm going to live forever."

"I--Bisnonno said almost the same thing. You know his funeral wasn't too long ago. How is it that you were doing so well up until recently? Someone's after you, Nonno." I tugged at my curls. "It's nerve-wracking to think that you won't be with us any longer. We haven't spent that much time together."

"I've been too busy to spend time with anyone, Cynthia." Nonno looked towards the window. "I know you want to be the queen badly. I wanted you to be the queen too, but there are things you haven't figured out yet. Things no one can tell you."

"Would you say that to Ren?" The jealousy was getting to me. How was it that someone completely stranger to him was getting the praise? I was here longer. I was raised in it my entire life. I know more than her! I deserve being the only heir. She wasn't even the heir by blood.

"...It's not like that, Tia. I'm trying my best here to make way for the mafia's future queen. Everyone here depends on the leadership of their new leader. If I mess up...then who are they going to come after?"

"...Me?"

"Exactly. Ren isn't as capable as you, but you know she has better leadership skills. I've seen the way you look at her when she speaks her mind in front of people she doesn't know. People she could easily tag as enemies." Nonno coughed. One that sounded like it hurt. I stared at him in panic. "...You don't like her, because she's partially Korean, yes?"

I'm not going to lie. All Koreans were people I avoided. I guess I had been racist to assume Youngmin was in fact some Chinese hottie. He had already gotten on my nerves by waltzing around the mansion like he owned everything. This new half-Korean wench was stealing my thunder. I know I said I hated Youngmin, but the way he gazed at Ren with so much affection made me want to gouge his eyes out.

The fact that Ren was being all perfect around everyone was making me look like a bad person. I heard people talking about me. My own family. My parents even seemed to be embarrassed to call me their daughter. I know I've done some things to make them question my sanity, but everyone was going too far with how they were treating me. I used to be adored, but now they're looking at a fresh face. Did they know she was partially Korean?

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't." I sighed. "I just feel like you aren't helping me out, you know? I thought I was coming to a family who understood me and why I act the way I do. Now, all I hear is my own relatives complaining about how I think I'm better than them. I hate it."

"It happens, Tia. My own brother tried to kill me, because of that very reason. If I wasn't so blinded by the love I felt for your nonna, he wouldn't have been killed in the raid. I would have torn his heart out with my bare hands."

"A little harsh for brotherly love..."

Nonno laughed and finally looked at me once more. "I'm sorry, but someone would have eventually challenged your birthright. With things going the way they are now...I don't think anyone would be safe in the mansion. Or in Italia."