Signed To The Mafia King - Chapter 23: Chapter 23

LUCA
The warehouse smelled like cement and metal, oil and sweat. I stood near the loading dock, arms crossed, watching the men unload crates from the truck.
Everything was running smoothly so far. No delays, no mistakes. Just how I wanted it. The men knew better than to make silly mistakes, especially when I was watching.
Marco stood beside me, hands in his pockets, watching the scene like he was waiting for something to go wrong.
He was always like that, never trusting anything to go as planned. I didn’t blame him. These goods in particular were very illegal and very expensive.
Guns like these came into the market once in a blue moon. I expected I'd make a hundred million just from this batch.
"Make sure they get everything sorted fast," I said. "The businesses that already paid, get theirs first."
Marco nodded, giving a sharp whistle. The men moved faster. They didn’t need to be told twice.
I shifted my feet, lowering my voice. "My father’s back."
Marco turned his head sharply, his brows pulling together. "Back from London?"
I gave a tight nod.
Marco whistled again. "He wasn’t supposed to be back yet."
"No, he wasn’t."
A second of silence.
Marco tilted his head, studying me. "You think something’s wrong?"
I didn’t answer right away. I didn’t like guessing. I preferred knowing.
"Find him," I said finally. "Follow him. I want to know where he goes, who he meets, and how long he stays."
Marco’s lips pressed together, and then he nodded. "Done."
I turned back to the shipment, my thoughts still circling. My father wouldn’t have come back early without a reason.
And whatever that reason was, I needed to know before it blindsided me.
Marco let out a small huff. "So, uh…Victoria was at the ceremony yesterday."
My jaw tightened. I had been waiting for someone to bring it up. I had expected that someone to be Alina.
Marco kept his voice casual, but his eyes were searching my face. "Did you invite her?"
"No," I said, looking away at the men moving the crates. "She was supposed to be out of town. I didn’t expect her back."
Marco’s frown deepened. "Then how did she get in? The guards wouldn’t have let her past the gate without an invitation."
I hadn't thought of that. The ceremony had been invite-only. My mind worked through it.
"Someone let her in," Marco said, like he was reading my thoughts. "And if it wasn’t you…"
"Then it was someone else," I finished.
We stood in silence for a moment, the sound of crates being moved filling the air around us.
"I’ll take care of it," I said.
I didn't know who had told her about the ceremony because it certainly hadn't been me, but I would find out who it was, and find out why. Maybe it had even been my father.
Marco didn’t push, but the look on his face said he didn’t like it. I didn’t either. Victoria showing up uninvited wasn’t just an inconvenience, it was a problem.
A problem that needed fixing.
I turned away, heading toward the exit. "Make sure the shipment gets where it needs to go. No mistakes."
"Yeah," Marco muttered, but his eyes followed me.
I didn’t stop. I had enough on my plate without adding Marco’s questions to the list.
I left the warehouse, my mind already elsewhere. The shipment was handled, the men knew what to do, and Marco would ensure the deliveries went smoothly.
But my father’s unexpected return nagged at me. There were too many moving parts, and I hated not knowing where the next problem would come from.
My hands tightened into fists as I walked to my car. I had planned to meet Victoria, but my thoughts were already shifting to Alina.
She didn’t want me at her meeting with her father’s men, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t be there.
I had let her have her way, but she was mistaken if she thought she could shut me out when it came to something this important.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, I pulled out my phone and called Pietro.
The man answered after it rang twice. “Luca.”
“Call me when she leaves for the meeting,” I said, wasting no time.
Pietro’s voice was steady, calm. “No.”
My fingers curled around the steering wheel. “What did you say?”
“My loyalty is to Alina. I won't help you spy on her.”
"Pietro…"
The line went dead.
I cursed, throwing my phone onto the passenger seat. I should have expected that.
The men who had followed Alina’s father for years wouldn’t be so quick to take orders from me, no matter what my last name was.
I was still an outsider to them.
My irritation only grew as I drove toward the restaurant. I had called Victoria earlier, told her to meet me, and now, with my temper already high, I regretted it.
By the time I arrived, I was on edge.
I stepped inside the room. Victoria was already there, seated at a table near the back. She saw me immediately, standing.
Her smile lit her green eyes. She was really a stunning woman with her long dark hair, her pale skin tanned prettily from her vacation.
“Luca,” she said, smiling.
She leaned in to kiss me, but I turned my head, letting her lips brush my cheek instead.
Her smile didn’t leave her face, but I saw the flash of annoyance in her eyes.
I sat, stretching my fingers against the table’s surface as she sat in the chair across from me.
“You look tense,” she observed, picking up her wine glass.
I didn’t bother with pleasantries. “Who sent you an invitation to my wedding?”
Victoria stilled for half a second before tilting her head. “That’s an interesting way to start the conversation.”
“Answer me.”
She smiled again, sipping the wine in her glass. “Maybe the real question is why you didn’t tell me you were getting married.”
I hadn't come to answer questions from her and I didn't pretend otherwise.
She sighed dramatically. “Were you worried I’d cause a scene? Maybe slap your little bride in front of your guests?”
She took a sip of wine, licking a stray drop off her lip. “I don’t care that you married her, Luca. As long as my life doesn’t change, you can do whatever you want with her.”
My jaw tightened. “Who gave you the invitation?”
Victoria leaned back, crossing her arms. “I’m not telling you.”
I stared at her for a long moment. Then I stood.
Victoria’s eyes flashed with uncertainty. “What are you doing?”
“I’m done.” I reached into my pocket, tossed some bills on the table, and met her eyes. “I don’t want you around me anymore. Don’t come by the house again.”
I hated to be so harsh, but she had disrespected my wife and I didn't tolerate that.
She laughed. “Oh, come on. You don’t mean that.”
I didn’t respond. I turned and started walking toward the exit.
She was beside me in an instant. I heard the tap of her heels and turned to face her.
I barely had time to move before her nails dragged across my face.