Signed To The Mafia King - Chapter 70: Chapter 70

ALINA
I pulled my phone out as I walked out of Valerie’s room, dialing my mother.
She picked up on the second ring. “Alina?”
“Get ready,” I said, heading down the hall. “You’re going on vacation in two days.”
Mother laughed happily. “Is Sofia leaving finally?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, finally!” she said, laughing. “I’ve been stuck here for too long.”
I swallowed. “You deserve a break, Mami.”
She exhaled. “I know.”
There was a pause, then her voice became softer. “Valentina came back. She finished cleaning your father’s study.”
I stopped walking, feeling guilty. I hadn't gone back to the office since finding the diary even though the room was now supposed to be my own office.
Valentina had, though. She had done what I couldn't.
I pulled the phone away from my ear and clicked on Valentina’s contact after I had told my mother goodbye.
She picked up almost immediately. “I thought you're dead.”
I winced. She had most probably heard about everything going on. “I'm very alive and well. I called to say thank you.”
Valentina sounded confused. “For what?”
I started walking again “For cleaning out father's study alone.”
Her voice was quiet. “It needed to be done.”
I swallowed down the lump in my throat. “I should have…”
“It’s okay,” she said. “Really.”
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Okay.”
I hung up, slipping my phone back into my pocket as I reached my room.
I climbed onto the bed, pulling the diary from under the pillow.
I read the notes that father had written on the pages, slowly turning the pages until I found the family was looking for.
The Alvarado Cartel.
I read the information on them. Their grandfather had been an immigrant, arriving in Chicago with almost nothing and breaking his back to build the family empire.
His first son was Daniel and Riot's father.
I frowned, turning back a page to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.
Daniel was’t an Alvarado.
I stared at the words, my eyes popping out of my head in shock.
What?
I read it again, my heart pounding.
Daniel wasn’t an Alvarado?
Then whose child was he?
I searched through the next few pages, but there was nothing else. No explanation. No hint of a name.
I dropped the diary onto the bed, staring at it like it might give me the answer if I looked hard enough.
If I’d known this earlier, I could have used it. Threatened to make it public knowledge. It would have wrecked him, ruined everything.
But I hadn’t known.
I shook my head. It didn’t matter in that moment.
I pulled my legs off the bed and stood up. A walk. I needed a walk.
I wore my sandals and headed downstairs, pushing open the back doors. I was happy for some time alone.
Lorenzo was still guarding Valerie, but I was sure Luca would have his replacement ready in days.
I called Mikhail as I walked. “Hello?” I said when he picked up.
“Good morning, Boss.” He answered.
“How are things now?” I asked. None of my men had been attacked yet, but we still expected that Daniel would strike back somehow; a show of power for his humiliation.
“Still calm. I've added three men to guard the warehouse. The men each have an extra pair of bodyguards too.”
I nodded. “That should help. Thank you, Mikhail.”
“I do my job, Boss.” He said before hanging up.
I thought of Ethan, and hoped he was okay. He still hadn't called me yet, and he hadn't reached out to me at the club because I'd told Mikhail to let me know if he did.
I also hoped that Daniel had not gotten his hands on him.
I started walking but as I passed the pool, I stopped. The water was clear and very inviting.
I turned back toward the house.
A swim. That was a better idea.
I walked back upstairs, stepping into my closet and pulling out a black bikini.
I changed quickly, tying my hair up into a bun before heading back out.
The cool tile sent a small shiver up my spine as I walked barefoot to the pool. I stepped to the edge, dipping my toes in first.
Warm.
I exhaled and walked in, the water wrapping around me and cooling my skin.
I pushed off the steps, floating on my back, staring up at the sky.
The weight of everything; the Alvarados, my father, Daniel’s secret, faded away.
I pushed myself deeper into the water, letting it swallow me whole. The coolness washed away my thoughts, my tiredness, my frustration.
I stayed there, floating just under the surface, my arms moving lazily through the water.
Then, as I came up for air, I heard someone talking to me before I even opened my eyes.
“I didn’t know you knew how to swim.”
I gasped, my head turning toward the sound.
Luca.
Standing at the edge of the pool, hands in his pockets, watching me with amusement.
Heat rushed to my face.
Without thinking, I sank back under the water.
A deep chuckle followed me down.
“How long do you plan on staying under?”
I squeezed my eyes shut, cursing myself.
Of course he’d showed up, when I was practically naked. The bikini was nothing but thin strings, barely covering anything.
I needed to get out. But not near him.
I thought fast, then turned, deciding to swim underwater to the other edge of the pool. If I was fast enough, I could climb out before he got there.
I kicked off, swimming fast through the water.
But as I got closer to the edge, my stomach dropped.
Luca was already there.
Waiting.
Of course he was.
I hesitated, my lungs beginning to burn.
I could not get out here.
I turned and started swimming back.
But before I even made it halfway, I heard a splash.
I barely had time to react, before Luca jumped into the water fully dressed.