Alle Kapitel von My Son Started Calling His Father "Uncle," and the Don Regretted Everything: Kapitel 1 – Kapitel 10

When my son, Dante Lombardi, finished speaking, Riccardo and I both froze.For 28 days now, I'd known that Elena and her son came first with Riccardo.Every time he left Dante and me for Elena, I put my hands on our son's shoulders and taught him to call his father "Uncle."I needed the reminder as much as Dante did.We had to stop expecting anything from a man who wasn't really ours.But Dante adored his father.Before today, I'd always had to prompt him to call his father "Uncle."He'd bite down hard on his lip.His eyes would fill with tears. He'd struggle for a long time before whispering the word.Today was completely different.He said it on his own.Clear and steady, without the slightest hesitation.As if he'd practiced it in his head countless times, until it had replaced the word Father.He saw us both standing there, frozen.Dante tugged at my skirt and turned to Riccardo."Uncle, your phone's still ringing. Don't let us keep you from your important business."Then he tipped

My hand froze in midair. I turned to face him, my expression blank.Riccardo sighed and tried to put an arm around my shoulders. He sounded tired."I know why you're upset. You think I've been too easy on Elena and neglected you and Dante."But I swear on the family crest, I'm only helping Elena because she's my brother's widow. Raising a child alone in Sicily can't be easy. I don't want people looking down on her."He took my hand and pressed it to his chest."Give me a little more time. I'll make sure they're settled, and I'll never let you or Dante be pushed aside again."I stared at the sincerity on his face.My head swam.I could barely remember the last time he'd looked at me with such open, undivided attention.Maybe it was during that shootout in Sicily.He'd shielded me behind cover, put a bullet through a traitor's head, then promised he'd never let me down as long as he lived.Or maybe it was the day Dante was born.He'd cradled our blood-covered newborn and kissed my temple

I called the control tower and moved our departure up to three that afternoon.Once the flight path was set, I began removing every trace of us from the estate.At nine, I brewed one last pot of black coffee in the kitchen.The box of cannoli Riccardo had brought home the night before still sat on the table.Dante walked over and swept it into the trash, foil box and all.At ten, the family's law firm sent confirmation that the contract dissolution had taken effect.The first clause was printed in bold red letters.The wife would have full custody of Dante and sole control over his future inheritance.While I waited, I happened to see Elena's new post on the dark web feed."The most precious gun belongs with the most beloved child. That's how power gets passed down."Attached was a close-up of Luca holding the Beretta.Dante sat nearby, cleaning his tactical knife. He glanced coldly at the screen.His voice was flat."Mother, let's get this over with."At one, after lunch, Dante and I

Riccardo rushed out of the medical center, jumped into his armored car, and sped toward the arena.Traffic clogged Sicily's main roads, with cars stretching as far as he could see.He gripped the wheel, his palms slick with sweat.He called Silvia on her encrypted channel.The first time, it rang and rang. No answer.The second time, he got a maddening busy signal.On the third try, a recording said the line had been cut.He thought Silvia was still sulking.He steered with one hand and fired off text after text."Silvia, Luca's taken care of. I'm on my way.""Wait for me in the stands. Don't go anywhere. I'll be right there.""I'm not breaking my word this time. I really am on my way."The messages went through.There was no response. Not even a read receipt.He called the locator comm on Dante's watch instead.A robotic female voice said the device had been destroyed.Riccardo's heart started pounding.A nameless panic gripped his throat and tightened with every breath.Suddenly he r

Elena lay on the floor, clutching her throat and coughing violently.Now that he'd seen through her, she stopped pretending.She wiped the blood from her lip, pulled herself up against the wall, and let out a cold laugh."That's right. I did it on purpose."But what choice did I have?"I'm a widow saddled with a kid, surrounded by wolves in Sicily. If I didn't cling to you, what was I supposed to do? Wait for them to eat us alive?"Riccardo stared at her as if seeing her for the first time."So all this time, you've been playing me?"Elena shook with mocking laughter."Playing you? Riccardo, you're just hopelessly stupid."All I had to do was shed a few tears and tell you how hard life was. You couldn't wait to do your duty by your dead brother."I barely had to mention that Luca was being left out at school, and you came running to play the hero."You call that manipulation? You did it to yourself!"Riccardo went pale, the veins standing out on his forehead."Didn't you swear some ric