The Mafia Heir’s Runaway Mistress Chapter 09

The Mafia Heir’s Runaway Mistress Chapter 09

Lorenzo’s POV

I’d had a drink.

Not much-just enough to take the edge off.

The villa hadn’t changed much.

The fuzzy slippers were still sitting on the rack by the front door.

The unfinished bag of cat food remained beside the pet bed in the corner.

A cold draft from late autumn crept through a window left ajar.

The thick area rug still hadn’t been put down.

Other than the silence hanging in the air, everything looked almost exactly as it had the day I left.

I didn’t bother with the lights-just walked over to the couch.

The moment I sat down, something pressed lightly against me.

Frowning, I reached beneath the cushion.

My fingers brushed against something soft.

I pulled it out.

An unfinished sweater-warm, pale yellow, with two tiny embroidered flowers at the collar.

The alcohol dulled my thoughts.

I stared at it for a long time before remembering.

She had been knitting it for the baby.

The baby who would never be born.

Without thinking, I ran my fingers across the delicate stitches.

Her scent seemed to linger in the fabric.

Almost on instinct, I spoke, my voice carrying its usual edge of impatience.

“Elena, put this away. Leaving it here is annoying.”

The words echoed through the empty room. No answer.

A beat passed.

Then it hit me. She was gone. Back home.

I leaned back against the couch and closed my eyes.

My phone buzzed. Matty had tagged me in the group chat.

[Heard you destroyed the Ricci family. Went all in, huh?]

He followed it with a laughing meme.

I ignored him.

A moment later, a private message arrived.

[Found Miss West yet?]

I immediately replied: [Who said I’m looking for her?]

[Relax. If you don’t want to find her, then don’t. Why are you getting worked up about it?]

[She always runs back home when she’s upset.]

[Give it some time. She’ll come crying back to you eventually…]

I replied: [Whether she comes back or not is her problem.]

I tossed my phone aside.

Come to think of it, the timing added up.

That “flu” she’d mentioned-that was probably when she’d gone to the hospital.

So she’d grown some courage after all.

I let out a cold laugh. A tightness I couldn’t name settled in my chest.

My mood was so foul I ended up tearing into Tony over nothing.

It was only a fetus. Nothing more.

Women willing to have my children could line up from one side of the city to the other.

I grabbed the tiny sweater and threw it straight into the trash.

If she wanted to leave, fine. Leave.

I never went back. Not for anyone.

The transfer of power went smoothly.

I became the Don.

Women were never in short supply around me.

Finding another girl as obedient as Elena wouldn’t be difficult.

I found Bianca. Moved her into the villa Elena used to live in.

Didn’t even bother changing the furniture.

Life went on. Business as usual.

I pulled every project Elena had been attached to.

Had every billboard with her face taken down.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Then spring came.

Matty posted a photo of his wife’s pregnant belly on his Instagram Story.

I caught myself staring a few seconds too long.

If Elena hadn’t ended the pregnancy… the baby would’ve been born by now.

The thought lasted only a few seconds before I crushed it.

A child was just a child. I could have one anytime I wanted.

Just like before-when I’d decided I wanted one from Elena.

I’d only meant to tease her. Never expected she’d actually say yes.

So I asked Bianca the same question.

“Want to have a child for me?”

Her eyes lit up instantly. She nestled against my chest shyly.

“Yes.”

A strange irritation surged through me.

I thought of Elena.

She wouldn’t have said yes that fast.

And she sure as hell wouldn’t have looked so happy about it.

Bianca was obedient. She wore what I told her to wear, did what I told her to do.

But Elena wasn’t like that.

At restaurants we’d been to before, Bianca would smile and say it was delicious.

Elena would wrinkle her nose and stick out her tongue.

“A little fishy.”

Then she’d slide the plate over to me.

Elena never treated luxury goods like treasures.

She’d complain that expensive handbags were too heavy and insist canvas totes were more

practical.

Elena never played games to make me comfort her.

She’d simply throw herself into my arms the next time we met and quietly ask for a hug.

I thought finding a replacement would fill the emptiness.

I finally realized how wrong I’d been.

I didn’t miss her face. I missed Elena.

The Elena who stayed up late making soup for me.

The Elena who hid in my arms and cried whenever she was hurt.

The Elena who looked me in the eye and said, quiet and serious, “I’ll give you a child.”

After running in circles for so long, I finally understood.

I didn’t want a replacement.

I wanted Elena. Just Elena. An Elena who loved me.

So I sent Bianca away.

I would never take the initiative to look for Elena.

That was beneath me. Humiliating.

But if she came back on her own… I could accept that.

I’d keep her again. Just like before.

But spring turned to autumn, and then another year slipped by.

No messages on Signal. Nothing on iMessage.

My private number stayed the same. I never changed it.

One day, Matty laughed and teased me.

“Never thought I’d live to see it. Our charming Don-burned by a woman.”

I didn’t answer. My thumb rubbed absently along the edge of my phone.

She could hold a grudge.

Fine. If this was how she wanted to play it, I’d play along.

She couldn’t hide forever.

Another six months passed.

At an auction, a pair of beautiful wedding rings appeared on display.

Without meaning to, I thought of the ring I’d once given Elena.

Back then, some rival’s wife had her eye on it.

I’d noticed Elena looking at it too-so I kept bidding until it was mine.

Then tossed it into her lap.

Her eyes had sparkled. Her cheeks turned pink.

“I love it.”

There had been two red velvet boxes.

Yet only one ring sat inside.

She’d thought the other one was missing and started looking for it.

I stopped her. “I threw it away.”

It had been the men’s ring.

She froze for a second.

Then leaned in, obedient as always, and kissed me. “Thank you.’”

After a while, she stopped wearing it much-filming schedules, sizing issues.

Then one day, I found it. Bottom of a cabinet. And beside it, a postcard.

I’d never allowed Bianca into this bedroom.

Everything remained exactly where Elena had left it.

For a long moment, I just stared at it.

Then I unfolded the card.

Dear Lorenzo,

I got to live my dream of acting.

I’ve seen so many places, lived a life I never could’ve imagined.

My only regret is I was never really talented at it.

You lost so much money on me, and I never even brought home an award to show you.

I really loved New York.

It was always lively.

But I often felt lonely there too.

When I think of New York, I think of city lights. And you.

You always had somewhere to be.

When things got busy, I barely saw you.

I know I leaned on you too much.

I was scared of being a burden, so I tried not to get in your way. Otherwise you’d just call me clingy

again.

Ending the pregnancy-I thought long and hard about it.

Please don’t hate me. I just think a child growing up without a father who cares is too sad.

We all have to live with the choices we make.

I miss home. I want to settle down somewhere quiet.

My parents are getting old. They need me.

Once I leave, I won’t be coming back.

You gave me too many things.

I couldn’t take them all, so I left everything in the closet.

Drink less. It’s not good for you.

Please eat right and get some sleep.

I heard you’re getting engaged to Sienna.

It’d be too awkward for me to stay, so I won’t be there.

I hope you get everything you want.

Congrats on your wedding.

-Elena

The edges of the postcard crumpled beneath my grip.

Before I knew it, my eyes had reddened.

After a long silence, I let out a bitter laugh.

The lingering warmth in those words felt like cold air forcing its way into my chest.

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

Who gave her the right to decide for me?

When did I ever say I didn’t want the child?

When did I say we were done?

All the emotions I’d buried for over a year finally erupted-and this postcard was what broke me.

Pride, dignity, reason-I stopped caring about any of it.

That night,

I booked the earliest flight out. To Boston. A city I had never once set foot in.