Mia Figlia

Chapter 5 ✔️

PoV Riccardo

"What were you doing at the hospital yesterday evening?" My sotto looked at me suspiciously. He had joined me in the kitchen a few minutes ago. But his usual good mood was nowhere to be seen. Most likely he did not have sex with his wife the night before. Not my problem.

"No clue what you are talking about," I muttered before taking a sip of my coffee, not in the mood to have another conversation.

"Oh really? My sister-in-law called me to tell me that you sneaked out of the room of the woman without name."

Ugh, completely forgot that Alessia worked at that hospital as nurse. Sometimes it was an advantage, but this time it was a disadvantage for me. No surprise that he had heard about it. I felt his burning eyes on me and decided to give him a short answer.

"Fine. I was curious why Mario cared that much for Isabella's mother." I still had not figured out the reason. Likely because she was this fragile and would have the perfect age to be his daughter. He and his wife Francesca had tried for many years and finally given up. They would have been great parents. Seeing them with the children on my property was always a delight. The love with which she spoke about Isabella made my heart melt. My thoughts drifted to my little sunshine. The desire to hold her in my arms became overwhelming, but my underboss screwed up my mood.

"And why did you run away like a thief who got almost caught with his hands in the cookie jar when she collapsed?" Giovanni raised one eyebrow, an annoying gesture. He knew too well how much I hated it. Although, I used that expression often myself, but it was okay then, because I was the boss. I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms. Sighing I dropped them again. Oh well, last night. Why did I sneak out in a hurry?

"Maybe because I told her it was ok to die," I mumbled. Was not proud of that afterwards. Particularly since I stared at Isabella after I came back home and saw her asleep in my bed. She looked greatly like her mother who was fighting for her life in hospital, although my little one had a much healthier skin color. I had sat down on my bed and watched my darling for some time. As long as her space was not ready, she would stay in my room. She was safe with me. I smiled at that thought.

"When have you become such a psychopath?" The man in front of me stared at me in disbelief, possibly due to me smiling. But what was it with people arguing with me lately? It seemed that my decisions were not popular anymore. First Mario and my father, now Giovanni. Did anyone still respect me? I sighed and took another sip of my coffee. It did not help much. I should have taken an espresso. Sleep had been a disaster again. Instead of resting, I had turned from side to side in bed after the hospital visit.

"Riccardo, please leave the woman alone. Isabella would never forgive you if her mother died by your hands." He looked at me with pleading eyes, reminding me of the consequences my reckless behavior would have for my daughter.

I agreed grumbling with him. Then I left the kitchen and locked myself in my office. Needed some time to think about this fucked up situation. Woman without a name. Cazzo. We knew her fake identity so far, Stella Miller. When my men searched her tiny and run-down apartment, they found false documents. They were done well, but still, they were fake. The woman and the girl were not living there since a long time, merely for a couple of months. And it looked like they moved a lot, from one city to the next. My guts told me that the mother was hiding, possibly to stay far away from the child's father and to keep her daughter safe. Well, the girl was safe now.

Again, I read the little information I got this morning. It was useless. My head started to pound; I massaged my temples. Then I grabbed my phone.

"Romano take a few men and move the woman's stuff to one of my family's apartment buildings. Make sure to remove all signs of her having a child. Make it look like a single person apartment."

I hoped she would not remember anything if she woke up again. Somehow, I was convinced now she would not die. She was too much of a fighter. A woman who was able to hide her identity and her past this well, no matter which reason she had, had my respect. Still, it was better if I kept the girl. Then the woman could go on with her life. Sí, this was a brilliant idea of mine.

I reread the information. Stella Miller. Age twenty-three. Not married. Daughter Isabella Miller, age five. Last known places before they came to Milwaukee: Albuquerque, Tucson, Fresno, Kansas City. Always six to nine months until they moved on. Not an ideal situation to raise a child. Who were they trying to escape from? The more I thought about it, the more it intrigued me. I was used to obtaining all the information I desired. Not getting the full picture now was unsatisfactory to say the least. I pinched the bridge of my nose. A knock on the door disturbed my thoughts.

"Come in."

"Il mio padrinho, that's impossible since you locked the door," Mario stated from the other side.

Sighing I traipsed to the door and unlocked it. My consigliere handed me a document folder when he walked in. I opened the file and read through the few lines before I smirked.

"He had it coming," I said while handing the papers back to my advisor. Mario now looked at the information. The pics taken by the police were nice if I might add. They showed our former cement supplier in a puddle of blood on the ground of his warehouse after a fall of approximately sixteen feet. The platform safety rail was a short distance from him.

"According to the police it was an accident." The man in front of me gave me a knowing look.

"Of course, it was an accident. Not our fault that the screws of the safety rail were loose. It is a known fact that he neglected the maintenance of his buildings. Profit has always been more important to him than safety measures." Odds were in favor that I grinned like the Joker at this moment. Maybe, just maybe, the psychopath reference was not that far off.

"That is true. But that was not my main reason to come here. I need to talk to you about the woman." Mario looked at me, waiting patiently for my reaction. I sighed and motioned him to talk further.

"Romano called me to ask, where he should move the woman's belongings. He also mentioned that he must remove the girl's stuff. What is your intention?"

"Just making sure that the woman can enjoy her life while I take care of Isabella. It is better for everyone this way."

"So, you are still convinced it is your right to separate mother and daughter. Please, Riccardo, think about it. The mother would do everything for her daughter." His forehead was furrowed.

"I am not going to force her into a marriage with me, if that is what you are hoping for," I growled infuriated. A marriage between us would never happen. Not to spare her, but for my own sanity. Otherwise, I could shoot myself in the head right away. Suddenly I got an idea.

"Mario, wouldn't it instead be a grandiose plan to adopt two or three young boys? Then I don't have to marry at all." And I did not have to argue with an annoying wife who solely loved my possessions.

"And which woman is going to raise them for you?" He placed his hands on his hips and tapped his foot.

"Erm, Francesca?" I made puppy dog eyes. In my childhood it had always worked.

My consigliere looked at me like I had grown another head or were the devil himself. Then he shook his head and walked out of the office, leaving me behind. Possibly I had to reconsider my plan. But first I longed to see my little girl.

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What do you think? Is he crazy enough to stick to his adoption plan? He abducted one child already. Shouldn't be a problem for him to kidnap another.