CHAPTER 71: DISTURBING RUMOURS

Luciano went straight to the information room from Valentina’s room with the keys of la stanza dei sussurri dangling in his pockets.

Her words were venomous, and she knew how to use them to cut deep.

This would teach her a lesson, so that she knew she couldn’t just say whatever she wanted, because she thought there were no consequences to it.

Vittorio, and Salvatore were already in the room when he walked in.

"How is Natalia?" He asked Vittorio as he took his seat.

"She’s back to normal." He opened his mouth to ask something else, but thought the better of it, and left it in his mind.

Luciano noticed. "Spill," he said.

"Sorry?"

"There’s something you want to say. Say it."

Vittorio sighed, having been found. He should have known Luciano was too intuitive to be deceived.

"I shouldn’t. I’ve crossed that line already."

"I’m guessing it has to do with Valentina then."

Vittorio stayed quiet. That topic was still a pending discussion between them.

"Well is it?"

"Yeah," he replied.

"Let me guess again, she wants to see Valentina."

He inhaled sharply. "She does."

"That’s not going to happen though. Your punishment for crossing me will be to tell Natalia that it is impossible for her to see Valentina. Got it?"

"Si carpo."

Luciano did not cringe this time at being referred to as boss from Vittorio. He didn’t have it in him to be that hypocritical when the moment they just shared was not a friendship moment. But one of a boss and his subordinate.

The blank screen lit up, and Adin showed up on screen.

"Why has Eva not been with you recently?" Salvatore, who had been quiet ever since, asked, rolling his eyes.

"Nice to see you too Salva. And to answer your question, that’s because she’s working agent Carter. Trying to find out everything he knows about Valentina’s situation."

"Oh, makes sense. Still better seeing her face than your strong ass face."

Adin grinned. "Sure, let’s go with that. It’s her face you want to see."

Salvatore chuckled, but they all grew serious when Luciano cleared his throat.

"Why did you call for this meeting, Adin?"

"Oh yeah carpo, there are whispers going around. I’m not quite sure yet if any of it is true, but I thought to let you know."

"Talk to me." He tilted his head to the side, as his forehead etched with wrinkled lines of concentration.

"It’s about Ross Voltron," he said.

Luciano kissed his teeth. "And what about the bastard?"

"Rumors have it he’s coming to Italy."

Luciano scoffed, and so did Salvatore. Only Vittorio did not react.

"That’s not possible. The rules are simple. We do not allow Mafia lords from the States into Italy if they do not have any Italian heritage. He won’t dare cross that line surely."

"Well he says there is a double standard. He had always said that," Adin reminded them.

"We take permits before we enter into the states. You know how much we pay for that permit. And their government allowed it that way. That’s their fault. Don’t blame us because we kept our rules stricter." He shrugged.

"Like I said carpo, it’s just rumors for now. But there’s never smoke without fire. I have to return to work."

The screen went blank, and Salvatore laughed dryly.

"He won’t dare carpo. Do not even bother about it."

"Are we sure? Are we really sure he won’t?" Vittorio asked.

Luciano looked at him. "Do you know something you want to share?"

"Nope. But I do know someone who can confirm what we need to know."

"Chris," Luciano said.

"Exactly."

Luciano rose to his feet. "We open the clubs tomorrow. Tell him to take the first flight down to Italy. I don’t want any delays."

"I’ll call him immediately," Vittorio said, following behind as Luciano walked out of the room.

***

"So have you made up your mind about your intention with the Natalia situation?" Luciano questioned Daniela in the privacy of one of his office rooms.

"Ugh!" She groaned. "I didn’t come here to talk about that. Let’s not talk about that." She pouted.

"Daniela, Natalia is Giovanni’s daughter. He has a right to know that he has a biological daughter."

Her breath sharpened. "Are you trying to say I don’t matter because I’m illegitimate? Because he’s not really my father but my adopted father?"

"I never said that Daniela."

"But that’s what you meant. How could you?!"

"You can choose to interpret it whatever way you see fit. But it doesn’t change the facts of the matter."

She glared at him, and he held her gaze unflinchingly.

"Fine!" She relented after a while.

"So you are going to tell him or should I?"

"No, I will," she smiled sinisterly.

"What is that smile about, Daniela?" His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Nothing. I just know my father is not going to accept her anyway. He hated her mother."

"That’s not true Daniela."

"Maybe not before she lied to him, deceived him that the child belonged to another man, told him he was too impotent to father a child, and then ran away to the states with that child. My poor mother had to heal his broken heart. How can he accept a child like that?"

"By conducting a DNA test, and if it matches, taking care of his responsibility. That’s how."

She frowned. "Whose side are you on, babe? You do realize I’m going to be your wife right?"

"Unfortunately," he said in his mind.

"I’m always on the side of truth. I might not like the parties involved, but I have to stand for truth always."

"Pssst!" She rolled her eyes. "So boring," she muttered under her breath.

However, a thought crossed her mind, and she opened her mouth to relay it when a heavy knock sounded on the door, followed by Sonia’s voice.

"It’s me carpo," she said.

"Sonia?"

Daniela rolled her eyes hard. "That silly bitch!" She thought.

"Come in Sonia," Luciano ordered.

She pushed the door open, and walked in. But as her eyes caught sight of Daniela, her heart began to drum lightly.

"Do you want something, Sonia?"

"When does she never? You give her too much access to you," she hissed.

Luciano threw her a warning glare, and she swiftly controlled her tongue.

"Sorry," she muttered.

"Speak Sonia." He returned his attention to her.

Sonia fidgeted, wishing Luciano could just read her mind instead. She didn’t want to put anyone in trouble.

Trouble was exactly what both her and the boss would get if she mentioned Valentina’s name in front of Daniela.

"Sonia? I don’t have all day you know? What is it you want?"

"It’s about—-" she faltered..

"It’s about what?" He pressed.

"It’s about–you know–its about—-"

Luciano’s eyes caught a glimpse of the time, and it snapped something in his head.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath, as he reached into his pocket. "Here, have it," he said.

Sonia’s eyes squinted, not exactly sure what he was giving her because his hands were covered.

However, when she accepted it, she smiled on feeling what it was.

"Thank you carpo," she said, and quickly ran out of the room.

The door had barely closed when Daniela stared at him with daggers shooting from her eyes, and asked. "What the hell just happened?!"