Signed To The Mafia King - Chapter 110: Chapter 110

ALINA
I understood what he meant.
“Yes, Luca. I understand.”
He opened the door and shut it softly behind him. I listened to his footsteps as they walked down the hall until the silence settled like dust on my skin.
Then I curled into myself, my arms wrapping around my knees the way Victoria had done, and fell asleep.
She was gone.
One second of anger had started a roller coaster of events that had gotten out of control.
The thought spiraled through me bitterly.
She didn’t have to spray me.
And Luca didn’t have to punish her so severely.
But he did.
And now she was dead.
The universe didn’t care what made sense, or even what was justified.
It only cared about what happened after. And in my after, I was ridden by guilt. I shouldn’t have been, but death was different from a punishment.
The guilt carved itself deep into parts of me and settled in.
When I woke up, my body ached like I’d fought a war. Pietro was gently shaking my shoulder.
“Alina? Come on, you have to wake up.”
My eyes cracked open and the sunlight sliced through them like a blade. I winced, curling away from him.
I just wanted to sleep, was that too much to ask for? “What time is it?”
“Three o’clock,” he said cautiously. “Campbell’s here to see you.”
I sat up slowly, my chest still tight like there was something heavy sitting on it. “I’m not ready,” I blinked, shading my eyes. “Tell him I’m sorry. We’ll reschedule.”
Pietro hesitated. “Are you sure?”
“Don’t ask, Peitro, just get rid of him.”
He gave a small nod and left. I stood up on weak legs, pulled the blinds shut, and left the room in the shadow. It felt more honest that way.
I didn't know where Luca was, and I didn't want to call him. I wondered if he'd gotten rid of the body already, and how.
I returned to readi g father's diary instead of letting my thoughts spiral. I underlined information I might need to refer to so I could keep track of it.
I was still circling a passage, something about the Rothchilds which was another Mafia, and a bribe gone wrong, when my phone rang.
It was my mother. I paused for a second, then answered.
“Alina…” Her voice broke into a sob. “Alina, someone… someone shot at me.”
I sat up straight, pulse spiking into a cold panic. “What?”
“I was at the store,” she cried. “In the parking lot. I was just getting into the car. I heard the shots. I…oh God, Alina…” She couldn’t finish. Her words broke into another sob.
My heart clenched painfully tight. “Are you hurt?”
“No…no. But I…I’m sure it was because of Luca. One of his enemies, maybe. Someone was clearly following me.”
I rubbed a trembling hand across my face. Why was she doing that? I'd already told her I wasn't divorcing him, saying that wouldn't change my mind. “You don’t know that, Mom.”
“I do,” she insisted, sniffling. “The Costa family never made enemies. This is obviously Luca.”
I laughed because I just couldn’t help it. It came out too loud and she heard me. “That’s because you never had to see the enemies. Dad made sure you were protected.”
Same as Luca was making sure I was protected.
The silence on her end was heavy. She didn't say a word even though I had expected her to argue with me.
“Where are you now?” I asked, getting out of bed and pulling on jeans and a sweater.
“I’m still at the store. I didn’t want to drive. I didn’t know what to do.”
“I’m coming to get you.” I grabbed my keys and shoved my feet into shoes without bothering with socks. “Stay inside. Lock the car.”
The drive was fast, my hands locked on the wheel, knuckles white. I wasn’t sure if the shaking was from fear or adrenaline or exhaustion.
I just knew I needed to see her and make sure she was safe and then get her somewhere safe. The thought of someone firing a weapon within feet of my mother made my blood go cold.
Was this Riot? Or someone else entirely? Because why would Riot go after my family?
When I pulled into the parking lot, she was in the driver’s seat of her sedan, both hands holding the wheel. Her eyes were puffy and red.
I tapped on her window and she flinched before unlocking the door.
“Come on, Mom.” I wrapped an arm around her shoulder as she got out, guiding her to my car. “You’re okay. You’re safe now.”
She nodded shakily, folding into the passenger seat like she couldn’t bear to stand another second.
I didn’t speak much on the way back. She kept dabbing her eyes and whispering about how loud the shots had been, how close they'd been to her and how she'd been saved because a crowd immediately formed.
When we reached the house, I led her inside and up to the guest bedroom.
“You need to stay here for a few days,” I said softly. “Just until we figure this out and it’s safe for you to go back home. I'll call Valentina and tell her what's happened.”
She looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “Alina, no. I want to go home.”
I shook my head. “Mom… you can't go home. What if they come looking for you there? And why did you go to the store without your guards anyway?”
“No,” she said firmly. “I’ll lock the doors. I’ll be fine, and I'll stay with the guards. I promise.”
I didn't have the strength to fight her, plus I knew she was safe if she would only stay in the house.
I drove her back, slowly this time, watching every car that passed us.
When we pulled into her driveway, she reached for my hand and squeezed it.
“I’m okay, Alina. Don't worry.”
I nodded, but didn’t drive away until she was inside.
Victoria was dead.
Someone had tried to shoot my mother.
I found my phone and called a number I never thought I would call again. Even as I knew I had to, I hesitated, my heart lodged in my throat, my pulse fluttering like flags in the wind.
“Hello?”
“Vector? I need your help.”