Anya’s POV

I watched the smile on my father’s face quickly morph into a grim as he shot up from his chair.

The movement caused his juice glass to tumble over ,spilled its contents on the floor.

“Salvatore!”,my mom stood from her chair.

My father’s body tensed and his face turned stone.

“Anya ,the television.Nowww!”he roared.

I quickly rushed and turned it on,my body buzzing at the tone of his voice. “CEO By Day,Mafia Boss By Night:Is Moretti Industries just a front?”

The news caption read.

I sucked in a breath as I turned to face the rest of my family.

Their faces mirrored mine and the voice of the newscaster faded as we regarded each other.

“Salvatore”,my mom whispered grabbing unto his arm.

“Fuck!”,Cassio my brother hissed.

“This is bullshit.”

This wasn’t the first time news about our family business had reached the public ear.

But never had it been so blatant ,never so damning.

It had always remained whispers and rumours in the shadows,even if people suspected it.

Fear,cold and sharp snaked its way down my spine.

Did this mean there was finally evidence to prove that our millions were not all that legitimate after all,a nagging voice in my head quizzed.

The air around us crackled with tension.

“This cannot be happening.”,my dad rasped his voice rough.

“Cassio,my office now!And get Stan.”,dad roared as he shook my mom’s hand off his.

Without a glance in both our directions they disappeared into the wing where his office was located.

“Mom”,I muttered as I walked to her.

I slowly watched her fix up her expression as she watched me.

“Your father is going fix this.”,she said with a smile but a tone that lack the conviction.

“Go to your room.”

Immediately I slipped into the comfort of my room I reached for my phone.

I needed to find out more.

 The broadcast had been on the city’s largest news channel so definitely social media had heard of it.

“CEO by day,Mafia Boss By Night:Is Moretti Industries Just a Front?”

Alleged sources claim that the CEO of Moretti industries,Salvatore Moretti might be engaged in more that what meets the eye.The FBI says that an eye witness to the recent drug trafficking in Montenegro has mentioned that Salvatore Moretti is the brain behind crime...”

My fears returned with full force and I had to hold unto my bed for support. The news was on every news blog and I had been tagged to each freaking post.

Different renditions of the articles and the media space was buzzing with comments.

I knew without a doubt that this wasn’t good without anyone having to tell me. I wondered how dad was going to rectify this and silence the rumours.

This was far beyond any scrutiny our family had come under ever since I was born.

We had perfected our facade over the years and posed as a normal family to the outside world.Being part of the mafia required that one learn the act of composure and pretense.

And my mom had made sure that we honed our skills in that aspect.

Never once had we faltered or slipped in our act.

We always had rehearsed answers for every question that was posed at us and the media had bought the story of Moretti Industries being our source of wealth.

I wondered if father’s connections could save us this time with the FBI being involved and all.

My phone continued to buzz incessantly and it was almost impossible to ignore.Switching it off I crept out of my room to father’s office wing.

Almost halfway there,I saw Stan moving in that same direction.

I quickly ducked before he had the chance to see me.I wasn’t allowed in that wing of the house unless I had been summoned by dad.But I needed to break the rules today and find out what was happening.

“Come in.”,dad’s voice snapped at Stan’s knock.

“You sent for me,Mr Moretti.”

“Cut with the formalities,Stan.”,he bellowed shoving the newspaper across his desk.

“Have you seen this?”,he asked watching him intently.

Stan studied the headline,his brow furrowing slightly.

“Bullshit!”,his voice was tight and clipped.

“Yes ,bullshit!”

 “But the damage’s been done.How did this slip past your notice?How did you not know this was going to be published?”

Dad approached him,his steps delibrate,eyes cold and unyielding.

I’d never seen dad like this.

My gaze quickly moved to Stan whose face remained an impassive mask. Dad stopped a few feet away from him and they locked gazes,which I could feel the intensity from where I peeped.

“Boss this is unsubstantiated.Likely an attempt to-“

“Do not patronize me Stan!This was your fucking job. Do I need to teach you how is done?This was never supposed to be published.”,Dad shoved him against the wall.

“The Montenegro operation was yours.And you left eye witnesses?”

“You have twenty four hours to find the bastard of a journalist who published this and bring him to me.And the so called eye witness the FBI have.I don’t care how you do it,Stan.

Turn the city upside down if you have to and spare no costs.I want the cunt squirming in his blood and begging as I wrangle his life out of him with my bare hands.”,dad’s voice had a dangerous edge to it.

I shivered at the tone of his voice. I knew what dad was out for...blood. Whoever was behind this had attacked Dad where it hurts the most and I was very sure of the fate that awaited him,if he was found.

Stories of dad’s brutality had drifted to my ears over the course of the years,and I wasn’t surprised.

“Yes Boss.”,Stan inclined his head in a curt nod.

“And while at it ,make those fucking articles disappear from the net! Take them down!”

I quickly left from where I peeped to my room.

Catching the glimpse of Stan’s expression I knew that in the next twenty four hours his hand were going to be covered in blood.

We were a mafia family after all.