Chapter 10 – A GHOST FROM THE PAST

I stood up from Matteo’s lap.

“Matteo? Who is that?”

He stood and walked to the window. His jaw tightened.

“Stay here,” he ordered softly.

He walked quickly out of the study. I didn’t listen. I followed him down the stairs.

Marcus was already at the front doors when Matteo arrived.

“Boss,” Marcus said grimly. “It’s the Chicago Commission. They want a meeting.”

Matteo cursed under his breath. The Commission was the board of the five oldest crime families in the city. Since Matteo had taken down Victor Ricci, they had been eerily quiet.

“Send them to the formal dining room,” Matteo said.

Five minutes later, three older men in sharp suits sat at the long mahogany table. They looked at the elegant, warm home with disdain.

I stood in the doorway, my heart pounding.

“Matteo,” the eldest man, Carmine, rasped. “You’ve been making changes. Selling off the casinos. Shutting down the underground clubs.”

“I’m going legitimate, Carmine,” Matteo said evenly. “I told you this when I took over.”

“Victor Ricci kept the peace,” Carmine warned. “With him gone, the Russians are pushing into our territory. We need you to step up. We need the Romano muscle.”

“My muscle is retired,” Matteo stated flatly.

Carmine’s eyes darkened. “You can’t just walk away from this life, boy. You have a new wife. A new kid. Be a shame if the Russians found out where they go to school.”

The room dropped ten degrees.

Matteo didn’t yell. He didn’t pull a gun.

He simply leaned over the table, placing both hands flat on the polished wood.

“Carmine,” Matteo whispered, his voice vibrating with absolute lethal intent. “If you, the Russians, or anyone else so much as looks at my wife or my son, I won’t just go back to the old ways. I will become a monster that makes my father look like a saint. Do you understand me?”

Carmine stared at the young boss. He saw the cold, terrifying truth in Matteo’s eyes.

The older man swallowed hard and stood up.

“Understood, Mr. Romano. Enjoy your retirement.”

They left.

Matteo let out a long breath, rubbing his temples.

I walked up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

“Are they going to be a problem?” I asked quietly.

He turned and kissed my forehead. “No. They just needed to know I’m still the boss. And I am.”

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