Tristan's POV
I lit the cigar pressed between my lips, irritated from last night's exchange. I always thought she was smart, but I didn't know how much until she figured out my angle and proceeded to use it against me.
Nonetheless, I was impressed.
"You're smiling, which means you're either thinking about her, or your son."
I looked up at my friend Miko just as he snatched the lighter from my hands to light his own cigar. "You're just like your damn father- always analyzing shit like a damned therapist."
Miko is the oldest son of Marcellius Fierri, who's the biggest Mafia boss in New York and Sicily. He and I met at a party one summer, while he was in college studying business and I was being prepped to one day take over the Lucci Mafia. He and I have been inseparable ever since.
He blew a puff of smoke into the air, a smile on his face. "I learned from the best."
I rolled my eyes. "How's your wife doing?"
"Good. Despite the postpartum depression she went through when our son was first born, she really loves being a mother."
"And little Dominic?"
"Dom is amazing. He's really smart for a three year which is both exciting and frightening. It's exciting because that means he's growing up. But frightening because that means soon I'll have to give him the talk."
I raised a brow, confusion written all over my face. "Isn't he a little young to be receiving the talk?"
"Not really. He's a year younger than I was when my father first gave me the talk."
"You were four years old when your father told you about the birds and the bees?"
"What? No! I'm talking about his family history and what our family does for a living."
How the hell was I supposed to that that was what he was referring to? Besides, everybody knows that the talk means the birds and bees.
"Do you really think he's ready for that conversation? I mean the kid most likely won't even remember it."
"I don't know. What do you think?" He asked, blowing more smoke into the air.
I may have only been a father for a few days, but I would think keeping my violent, criminal background a secret would give my child a chance to grow up and live a normal life.
"I would wait to tell him. At least until he's old enough to fully understand it all."
He nodded. "You're probably right."
"Your brother Daimon's next in line after your father, right?"
He nodded. "If he chooses not to follow in our father's footsteps, then Christiano is next. But if neither decide to take over, then my uncle Niccolo will be the next leader of the Fierri Mafia."
Their family is strange. I was never given the option to choose whether or not I wanted to fill my father's shoes.
As soon as they found out I was a boy, my life had been planned out for me. There was no father-to-son discussion about what I wanted to do with my life.
I wanted to be a lion who ruled like a King when I was four. This isn't exactly what I meant when I said that, but I've come to accept my destiny as the son of Agostino Lucci.
"Why did your father give you a choice?"
Despite having accepted my role, I was still curious to know why Marcellius gave his sons an option.
For generations, it is the son who continues their father's legacy. It's their duty. And it's what's kept us here this long, so why change it? Why change what works?
Miko looked down, sadness flickering in his dark brown eyes. "My pa knows what being involved in the Mafia does to you. He's seen things a young child should never see as a result of my nonno(grandpa) and his strong hatred towards weakness."
His eyes became glossy, tears brimming in his eyes. "After my ma was killed, my pa decided not to force me into that life. And that if I wanted to, it would be because it was my choice."
I've also seen things I wasn't supposed to see. I've seen several people die at the hands of my father. Just like Giovanni Fierri, my father would make me watch as he tortured and killed his victims. It was his way of preparing me to takeover as Mafia boss.
My relationship with my father is complicated. And although he was mostly drunk or absent
throughout my life, he did the best that he could. When sober, of course.
He's a controlling hard ass for sure, which is where most of the conflict comes from. But as long as he doesn't find out about Sienna and Mateo, especially Mateo, we won't have any problems.
"I see."
Miko chuckled, quickly wiping the tears from his eyes before changing the subject. "So tell me about your girl. Why is she so determined to get away from you?"
"I'm holding her and our son against her will. She want's freedom and I just want my family."
"Seriously?" His chuckle turned into a hysterical laugh which prompted an eye roll out of me. "No wonder she's trying to get away from your psycho ass."
"It's not that fucking funny," I snapped.
"Oh but it is, mio amico(my friend)." The laughter died down, the smile on his face replaced with a serious frown and a furrow of his brows. "But seriously, you need to let them go. That's not how you get her to trust you."
I growled, smoke protruding from my mouth due to the cigar still pressed between my lips. "You worry about your family and I'll worry about mine!"
"Fine," he replied, backing down.
I know that Sienna is afraid of me and of what I do. I also know that she doesn't think it's a good idea for Mateo to grow up within the Mafia. But she's safer with me than anywhere else. I have way too many enemies for her to be out there without any protection.
"What are you going to do about papa Agostino?" He asked after a moment of silence. "You know he's coming back soon, Tristan."
My nails dug into my palm, anger boiling in my veins. "I know," I mumbled through gritted teeth.
My father is not only the man who gave me affection, but he raised me to have no mercy towards my victims. Because in his eyes, mercy is for the weak. And weakness isn't allowed in the Mafia.
If you want to live, that is.
If he finds out about Sienna and Mateo, he'll try and rip Mateo from her arms like he did me with my mother. He'll take him to some secluded area and raise him to be a cold blooded killer. And that's not what I want for my son.
He deserves to have a childhood. And he deserves to have that with his mother by his side. The vigorous training my father put me through at such a young age almost killed me. The things I've seen. The things I've done...
I have to keep Sienna and Mateo safe from him, and anyone else who would try and harm them just because of who I am. And the best way to do that is to keep them under my roof where I can keep an eye on them at all times.
Miko grabbed my shoulder. "I suggest you get your shit together, Tristan. And fast. For the sake of your family. Because when Agostino returns, all hell will break loose."