Signed To The Mafia King - Chapter 21: Chapter 21

LUCA
I knew the Alvarados.
Which meant I also knew nothing good could come from Alina’s uncles meeting them.
I stood beside her, listening to Roberto and Alberto whisper in the dimly lit hallway, their voices just low enough that they clearly didn’t want to be overheard.
But Alina had pulled away the moment she heard them, and now I couldn’t ignore it either.
Even though I really wanted to.
I wanted to pull her into my arms and against the wall, eating her up like candy.
I wanted to kiss her until her eyes were hazy with lust, I wanted to treat her like my pet.
I couldn't do any of it.
Three weeks.
That was what Roberto had said. Three weeks until whatever they were planning came into effect.
Alina’s body was tense beside me, but she wasn’t moving. I didn’t like that. I didn’t like the way she froze, the way she seemed to be preparing to deal with them.
So I didn’t give her time to.
I took her hand, turned the corner, and smiled like I had just stumbled upon long-lost relatives.
“Oh, I’m so glad you two decided to show up for the wedding.”
They turned so fast they nearly tripped over each other. For a second, both men just stood there, frozen in place, their eyes wide like they had seen a ghost.
Then Roberto’s face twisted in fury.
“You,” he spat, looking at Alina. “You’ve humiliated this family enough. First this ridiculous marriage, now you’re standing here, eavesdropping like a…”
Alberto grabbed his arm, but Roberto pushed him off, turning fully to Alina now.
“Do you think you can just do whatever you want because you carry our name? You’ve ruined everything. Our reputation, our alliances…”
“That’s enough,” I cut in.
Roberto turned to me like he had only just remembered I was there. He opened his mouth, but one look at my face made him stop.
Good.
I wasn’t in the mood to deal with any of this.
I stepped around them, barely sparing them another glance. “Come on, Alina.”
She followed, silent as I led her away.
Only when we were far enough did she speak. She was still trembling. I didn't know if it was in anger or fear.
“Why are you so mad?”
I didn’t answer immediately. Because I didn’t want to say it. I didn’t want to admit that seeing her in another man’s arms had made my blood boil.
Especially because I'd been trying to get rid of Victoria.
I still felt that anger sitting in my chest like a stone I couldn't throw off.
So I took the other thing that pissed me off.
“The Alvarados have always fought me for territory,” I said. “If your uncles are meeting them, it’s not for something good.”
She muttered something under her breath.
“What?”
“I said I fucking hate how all of this is happening on my wedding day.”
I nodded ,dragging a hand down my face. She wasn’t wrong. We were supposed to be celebrating, not dealing with this shit.
Before I could say anything, a door opened beside us and her mother stepped out.
She looked between Alina and I, smiling. She looked happy. Happier than I'd ever seen her at least. “I’ll be leaving on vacation soon,” she said. “But I wanted to check on you first. How are you?”
Alina was already shaking her head, no. “Maybe it’s a bad time to leave. Roberto and Alberto are planning something,”
I nodded. “Stay for a few more days.”
Her mother frowned. “I'll be out of the country. What will it matter?”
“Mother? Please listen to us.” Alina said.
I looked away from her when someone familiar came out of a room just ahead of us. I had barely taken a breath when I saw him.
My father.
I dropped Alina's hand, asking her to come after me soon.
My father was walking down the steps of the house, his hands in his pockets like he had all the time in the world.
I frowned.
He knew I was behind him.
He wasn’t supposed to be here. He lived in the UK with my sister.
So when the hell had he come back?
The last time I saw him, he was standing in his London office, telling me he would never step foot in Chicago again. That staying away was the only way to keep Sofia safe.
That I would handle things here while he lived the quiet life he had fought for.
And yet, here he was, walking down the steps of Alina’s house like he had every right to be here.
He turned to me finally and sighed, his mouth twisting like I was the last person he wanted to see.
“Since when do you make house calls?” I asked, not bothering to hide my suspicion. “You’re not even supposed to be in the country.”
“You don’t look too happy to see me.”
“I’m not. You told me staying away was the only way to keep our enemies from finishing what they started.” I took a step closer, lowering my voice. “So what the hell happened?”
He pulled his hands from his pockets, shrugged. “I decided to come home.”
“Bullshit.”
His lips twitched. “You never did like being left out of things, did you?”
“This isn’t about me. If you’re back, it means you either lost control over there or something forced your hand.”
Father didn’t answer. That told me enough.
I stepped closer, my patience hanging by a thread. “And you’re not just visiting. You let yourself be seen here. Why?”
“I’m back to stay.”
The words landed like a punch to the gut.
I clenched my jaw. “You know that’s too dangerous. You’re risking both your life and Sofia’s.”
Still, he didn’t answer. Alina walked up and stopped beside me.
I wanted to demand more, to force him to tell me what had changed, but my father was the most stubborn man I knew. He wouldn’t say a word unless he wanted to.
So I did the only thing I could, I watched him, searching for anything that would give him away.
His suit was perfectly pressed, his shoulders relaxed, but he was different. His relaxed air was only a facade. His eyes were tight, his jaw locked, his tongue in his cheek.
Something had happened.
And whatever it was, it had forced him to come back.
Father finally turned to Alina, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. He nodded. “She’s certainly beautiful enough.”
Alina lifted her chin, her voice even. “Thank you.”
Matteo hummed. “I hope she’s worth all the fighting that’s about to happen.”
Then he turned and walked away.
I watched him go, my thoughts racing.
Alina didn't say a word.
Neither of us spoke.
Because we both knew what this meant.
Matteo didn’t come back unless there was no other choice.
And now that he was here, everything was about to change.