TRAVIS'S P. O.V
"Aprire la finestra" (𝙾𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚠)
His eyes shot to mine as a billion thoughts ran through his head. Silvano smirked and got up, the wooden board creaking underneath his heavy footsteps.
He unbolted the window and pushed it open, a wave of air flooding into the room. "Isn't that relieving?" I remarked, knowing fully well that didn't relieve him in any way.
"To what do I owe this visit, Mr Ferrari" the Prime minister asked, his voice sounding tense. "Relax, Prime minister" Raffaelle spoke up, walking towards him.
Once his hands touched his shoulder, he jumped, causing them to laugh. I looked away with a smirk on my lips as I blew out a puff of smoke.
"We are sorry to barge in like this, Cesare" I spoke up, leaning on the table to ash the cigar, his eyes followed mine ever so intently, preparing himself for my next move.
The office was suffocating, the air thick with tension. The dim light flickered, casting unsettling shadows across the bare walls, matching the overall mood of the place right now.
"Have I done anything to...cause the attention of the..." He voice trailed off as he met my eyes, they were set on his, cold and distant. "You should answer that question" I responded and he glanced back at the men behind him.
"I'm sure we could settle this amicably without—"
"We got words that you're holding out on us" I cut him off, sitting up. "Usually, I'm not the one to make this meetings. But seeing you're a man of high status and someone I have an alliance with, it's best I do this myself"
"I'm aware of—"
"You dismantled our shippings and approved the decree of the Guardia di Finanza, which puts us on a disadvantage" I continued, leaning on the table to ground the ash once again.
"Mr Ferrari—"
"And we met with the President and he said he knows nothing about your recent moves" I paused for a second, holding up a look with him, letting him know I wasn't impressed.
"We are starting to believe we made the wrong choice of candidate to rule us" I finished. "All those policy wasn't to your detriment—"
"Then how are we affected?" Silvano asked a question I also had in mind and he glanced back at him. "The policies I...I assigned were for the safety of the people" he stammered and my hold on the arm rest tightened.
"We are the people"
The place got silent and he looked up at me, his eyes moving rapidly around the room. "Here's the deal, Cesare Rizzo..." I learned on the table to him, so he could look right into my eyes.
"We have your family in Cambodia, your daughter is on a cruise, your wife is cheating on you..." That revelation got him even before I began with my threats and it brought a dark smile to my lips.
"...and my men have a clear shot of them right now, all that is needed is a word from me"
His eyes darkened and he jolted towards me but Raffaelle pulled him back down and I grinned, taking another drag from the cigar. "Don't be irrational" he gritted.
"Irrational?!" I scoffed, letting out the breath of smoke before checking the time on my watch. "It seems we've wasted too much time here" I muttered before flicking my fingers and Silvano got out the plaque and placed it on the table before the Prime minister.
"You need to sign on the dotted line, canceling the decree and giving us ownership of the port" I ordered and he still held on a look with me.
"Wouldn't the press be suspicious? Non puoi annullare una laurea che hai conseguito in meno di una settimana, va contro—" (𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚘𝚔𝚎
𝚊 degree 𝙸 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚊 𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚔, 𝚒𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝—)
"Questo è il mio problema. ( 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚖𝚢 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚖) Now sign" leaning back on my seat, I watched him as I took another drag of the cigar.
He hesitated but the pen was shoved into his hand and he glanced at me one last time before signing it, my smile widened. "Now, isn't everyone happy?"
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"What's the deal in Washington? " I inquired, leaning back on the seat. "Same old, your attention is needed"
I scoffed, glancing out the window as we drove, "he still can't handle shits" I muttered under my breath.
"We got invitation to the Ballo next evening" Silvano mentioned. "I got the invitation, you've got business" I corrected.
And he tore his eyes from the road and glanced to me. "You hate these things, you need me" he disagreed.
"The last thing I need is another one of your scandals. So, while I handle that, you take care of Vincenzo" I stated and he let out a long groan.
He was as womanizing as he was blood thirsty.
"And the summit in Greece" he mentioned and that one had my mind reeling. "They are just tryna keep tabs"
"You haven't reported back to them in months" he reminded. "They haven't reported back to me in months" I corrected and a smirk made way to his lips.
We pulled into the surrounding and I stepped out of the car, fixing my blazer and glancing down at my bloody gloves.
She wouldn't want to see.
I took them off and turned back around to face the rest of my men who were standing put around the surrounding. And on the other side was Silvano leaning by the car, lighting up a cigar.
I immediately took it from him and smacked his head. "You're shitting me?! " he shouted as I stepped on it. "Not here" I warned.
"That's Barley!" He continued and I shot him a look before turning around and walking towards the house. I shoved the gloves in my pocket, out of sight because I wasn't ready for another one of her outburst.
The door was thrown open and I stepped into the bright hallway and once I took off my jacket, "Uncle Travis!!!"
I spun around quickly at the sound of tiny feet pounding against the floor, a smile already tugging at my lips. Within seconds, he appeared, leaping toward me with uncontainable energy.
I caught him mid-air, lifting him high above my head. His laughter bubbled over, his long black hair falling messily across his face, hiding his bright eyes as his giggles filled the room.
"Nico, sei cresciuto più di quanto ricordassi (𝙽𝚒𝚌𝚘, 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚟𝚎 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍)" I commented and he laughed.
"Ho...mangiato risotto alla milanese ( 𝙸 𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝙼𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚘𝚝𝚘)" he replied and I smiled before placing him down and squatting to his level.
"You've been eating it all alone, you don't share" I said, moving his hair from his face, he giggled, not seeming to hold himself as he did. "Mom, could make some for you" he pointed back.
"Your mother hates me" I disagreed. "Exactly, because you feel like no meal taste better than yours" Raquel added, walking in, her hands crossed over her chest.
I smirked, turning back to Nico. "She's mad I'm a better cook"
"I... I love your tacos" he teetered and I ruffled his hair before getting up. "And you, what are you doing up?" She began scolding her son
"Uncle Travis is here" was the best answer he could come up with and it made me chuckle. "It's past your bed time! Come on!" she straight out her hand to him but he ran and hid behind me.
"Nico!" She called warningly wanting to grab him again but I held her back. "Travis!"
"Run!" I whispered to him and he ran out of there as fast as his little feet could carry him down the hall, she let out a huff and smacked me. "Seriously?!"
"He's just a kid," I said, my eyes still fixed on the spot where he'd disappeared. She stepped closer, her expression unreadable, and wiped something across my jaw with a gentle touch. When she pulled her hand back, her fingers were smeared with red.
"I’ve told you to keep your business out of this house," she said, her tone low but firm. I finally tore my gaze away hers, shoving my hands deep into my pockets, my jaw tightening as her words hung in the air.
"It was something small"
"I know you always drop by here to clear your conscience but I don't want my son getting wrapped up in any of those shits" she warned before walking down the hallway.
I sucked in a breath before following her into the house, walking into the living room, there was Nico jumping on the sofas. "Are you fucking kidding me?! " she exclaimed.
"Language"
"Shut up" she hissed before turning back to him, "Nico, get down from there. Vai a letto!" (𝙶𝚘 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎𝚍)
But he persisted, "Nico" I called and he stopped and turned to us. "A letto" (𝚃𝚘 𝚋𝚎𝚍)
He got down the sofa, casting his head down and then he shuffled towards the door. "Hey! " I called out once again and he stopped before turning around and meeting our gaze.
His big brown eyes holding some form of guilt, "Apologize for disobeying" I said and he turned back to his mother and said, "Mi dispiace, mamma" (𝙸'𝚖 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢, 𝙼𝚘𝚖)
She sighed and ruffled his hair a little, "now go to bed, I'll be there in a few" she said and he turned and hurried up the stairs.
We stood there watching him till he left and then she muttered under her breath, "I fear he's gonna be like his father" with that she headed towards the kitchen and I followed once again.
"Does he still come by?"
She let out another sigh, "He does have custody, so I can't stop him but that's the least of my problem. Mother wouldn't let me be!" She declared and this time I sighed and walked to the window.
"She's hell bent on finding a successor for the lineage and she wants Nico. I don't want him to get involve in this, in this fight for...power"
"I don't think you can control that"
"I'm his Mother, I can" she countered and I let out another breath before turning to her. "The world is a dangerous place, the sooner he learns that, the easier it will be for him to pick sides"
"Like you did" she said and I paused, holding on a look with her. "How different would it have been if...you chose the other side?"
There was silence after her question and I looked away from her, "The right decisions aren't the easiest" Answering that I walked to the fridge and pulled it open.
"Well, are you gonna make a cameo at the Ricardo's ball, I'm sure she already sent an invite" she mentioned as I got out a can of apple drink. "I don't have much choice, I've been keeping away from her for too long"
Popping it open, I took a gulp. The sour liquid, running down my throat and alerting my senses, they tasted like... a memory. "Thanks to you, Nico is now obsessed with that drink" she hissed and I grinned.
She then let out another breath of frustration before muttering, "Gosh, you're such a bad influence"
