All Chapters of The mafia king’s substitute husband: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

MATTEO SURPRISE.ELIAN’S POVMatteo calls one evening, and I can hear the excitement in his voice before he even tells me why.“I want you to see something,” he says. “Before I show anyone else. Can you come by tomorrow?”I agree.I bring Leo with me the next afternoon, partly because I don’t want to leave him behind and partly because I’m curious about what Matteo could possibly be this excited about.When we arrive at the Rossi townhouse, Matteo is already waiting for us.He looks different.For once, there’s none of that constant tension I’ve gotten used to seeing in him. He barely gives us time to take our coats off before he’s leading us toward his study.“You’re making me nervous,” I tell him.He laughs. “Just come on.”The moment we step inside, I understand.There are papers spread all over his desk. Financial projections. Plans. Notes written in the margins. It’s obvious he’s been working on this for a while.I picked up the first page.“What is this?”Matteo leans against t

THE QUESTION LEO ASKSELIAN’S POVIt happens on an ordinary evening.The three of us are still sitting around the kitchen table even though dinner has been cleared away. Leo has his schoolwork spread out in front of him, his pencil tapping against his lips as he stares at one particular page.“Papa Elian?”I look up. “Hmm?”He turns the paper toward me.“What do I put here?”I lean closer.It’s a family tree.Parents. Grandparents. Siblings.A simple little diagram that probably makes perfect sense to most children.For Leo, it isn’t quite that simple.“What does it ask?”He points to the top of the page. “Where I came from. My mom and dad.”His pencil stops moving.“But I have you and Papa Salvatore too.” He looks at the empty spaces on the page. “I don’t know where to put everybody.”Across from us, Salvatore lowers the report he has been reading.He looks at the worksheet, then at Leo.“There isn’t one right way to do it,” he says.Leo frowns. “But it’s supposed to be a family tree

GOOD NEWSSALVATORE’S POVSalvatore notices it during the security briefing.Nico pauses.It is only for a second, but Salvatore knows him well enough to notice. Fifteen years of working together has taught him that Nico does not hesitate unless something is bothering him.Salvatore puts his pen down.“Say it.”Nico looks at him.“Whatever you’re thinking about.”Nico takes a breath.“Rosa’s pregnant.”The words come out simply, but Salvatore can see there is more behind them.For a moment, Salvatore just stares at him.Then he smiles.“Congratulations.”Nico nods, but he doesn’t smile back.Salvatore’s smile fades slightly.“That’s not what’s bothering you.”Nico looks down at his hands.“We found out yesterday. She wanted to wait until we were sure before telling anyone.”“That’s fair.”“I know.”Nico is quiet again.Salvatore waits.Eventually, Nico says, “I keep thinking about what kind of world I’m bringing my child into.”Salvatore says nothing.“The life I’ve lived. The things

THE INTERVIEWSALVATORE’S POVThe request for an interview lands on my desk on a Tuesday morning.I read it twice before putting the paper down.A journalist wants to profile me for a piece about the “changing face of old power” in the city.My first instinct is simple.No.For most of my life, I’ve avoided attention whenever I could. Attention brings questions, and questions bring people who want answers they have no business having.I’ve spent too many years learning that the less people know about you, the fewer things they can use against you.So I tell Nico to decline.He doesn’t even get the chance.Elian finds the letter on my desk that evening.“You said no?”“I was going to.”He picks it up and reads the request, then looks at me.“Why?”“Because I don’t need a journalist digging into my life.”“You don’t have to tell her everything.”I lean back in my chair. “That’s usually not how interviews work.”“Then don’t give her everything.”I watch him.He walks around the desk and

NAMING HERELIAN’S POVThey name her Sofia.Rosa chooses the name after her grandmother, and when the christening finally comes a few weeks later, the estate is fuller than it has been in a long time.Matteo arrives with Camille beside him. They aren’t saying much about whatever is happening between them, but they don’t really need to. The way they look at each other says enough.My mother comes too. She spends most of the afternoon with Leo, helping him with his shirt and listening patiently as he explains everything he thinks everyone needs to know about Sofia.Even Dante comes.He stays near the edge of things at first, as if he’s still getting used to being part of a family gathering. But when Rosa places Sofia in his arms, he doesn’t refuse her.He holds the baby carefully, almost awkwardly.For a moment, the hard expression on his face disappears.“I never held you like this,” he says quietly, looking at Salvatore. “I don’t think I knew how.”Salvatore looks at him for a long mo