Traded In

chapter 38

Christoph's POV

I fastened my tie, as I made my way to Allegra who made a mess of my room simply because she wanted to draw.
"Show me what you drew..."

"Mmm," She sounded turning the paper with the odd looking drawings to me. "This a mummy, this is aunty Fabiola, this is me and this is Niko."
I arched an eyebrow as she took the paper back and continued to draw. "Who is Niko?"

"Mummy's friend, he's my friend too." She said colouring. "He's tall and he.... And he carries me a lot..... Mummy likes him, I don't anymore 'cause he-  he didn't come see me." She turned the drawing to me. "This is you." Her deep grey eyes fixated on my face probably waiting to see me smile.

I cracked the corner of my lips a little.
"You guys are already together so early in the morning." Leilani said walking into the room as I rose to my feet.

She knelt before Allegra giving her a hug simultaneously giving me a little smile. I kept my expression stern.

"What's this?" She asked holding the drawing.
"I was showing Papa our friends."
"It seems like you forgot abuela." She smiled, handing it over to her, Allegra's countenance portrayed  shock as her eyes widened and she got back to drawing.

Our eyes locked, her smile quickly faded, something I hated to see. "Well, we lived with a few people in Glendale, Nikolas and Fab-"
"I didn't ask for an explanation."
"But I know you need it." She bridged the gap between us. "They helped me when I needed it the most."
"They're strangers.... Yet you trusted them."
"You knew me yet you couldn't trust me."
"Let's not go there, you've been out with me a few times Leilani, many of these underworld gangs now know about you..... They could try harming you."
"Nikolas and Fabiola are not bad people, I've lived with them for years.... I understand your concerns but trust me on this one." She held my hand, her eyes clawing into mine.

"I'm just glad you're with me once again." She smiled. "I have a meeting with Vincent, a few people will help you get ready, I've planned something for us." Her smile turned into a grin as she wrapped her arms around me and I planted a kiss on her hair.

The meeting went on rather smoothly,   our business affiliates soon left, while Vincent and I stayed back.
"Shit." I muttered, putting my phone down.
"Forgot that you run a mafia?" He joked.
Chuckled leaning back in my leather seat. "I have to fly out to Italy tonight but I kind of already made plans with Leilani."
"I see, just take her with you."
"I can't, Italy is the last place I would take her."
"I can take care of whatever you had to do."
"Jacopo planned an attack on Ferdinando and the famiglia. Seems like they became too reluctant... They're incapable of protecting themselves now."
"I think the dissolution and relocation of the members to different families will do them some good." I nodded merely brushing it off even if it meant losing territory.

"You said you wanted to talk?"
"Yeah, it's about Leilani.... I had a talk with her and I'm sure she's affiliated with the Nelucas. It may not be on a one on one basis with Neluca but it's definitely Amara."
"Meaning?"
"Leilani claims Amara is her mother, she came across one of the files that contains her information, she claims that Amara Neluca is her mother but Neluca isn't her last name....which makes sense because she'd have to be Kaele."

Is this what she wanted to tell me?

"I went through the file, she was recorded as missing a few months prior her death, those few months could have been the time that makes this make sense."

I narrow my eyes, taking his words into deep thought and consideration. Coming up with endless possibilities.
"I'll look into it some more, you focus on the Ferdinando matter."

I returned to my villa in the late afternoon, my daughter stood at the door excited to see me.
"Papaaa!" She yelled as I lifted her into the air.
"How are you principessa?"
She giggled, "What does that mean?!"
"I called you princess."
"I'm good, are you fine papa?"
"Now that I've seen you I am." She smiled hugging me tightly.

Allegra and I made our way to Leilani's room, she stood immediately she saw us and I couldn't help but smile at how beautiful she looked, the black designer dress fit her perfectly, her curly hair perfectly styled.
Her smile accentuated everything.

"Are you gonna keep staring at me?"
I smirked sheepishly, bridging the distance between us.... Our eyes locked on each other.
"I don't think I'll be able to stop." I closed in to kiss her, and just then Allegra came in the way.
I shut my eyes and Leilani burst into laughter.
"Give her to me." I put her down and she walked with Leilani who handed her over to her caretaker.

"Lucciano..." She turned back to me. I couldn't hold back my grin.
"You haven't called me that in ages."
"I'm not mad at you anymore." She smiled.
I held her hand pulling her in, my hands firmly gripping her waist.
I planted my lips on hers, devouring them like a hungry man. Her hands tightly gripped my hair and with my hands I took time to explore her body, pulling her closer.

I trailed kisses down to her neck, and she cocked her head back, her breathing soft but heavy.

"Lu-Lucciano..." I pulled back, slowly. "I'll have to redo my makeup if we go on." She joked pulling away.
"I wouldn't mind." I smirked.
She shook her head, a small smile on her face as she took a few steps back.

"Lucciano, I'm not comfortable." She said after a moment of silence.
"With?"
"This dress... I understand that I chose it but I can't go out with this...." She raised her arm reveling the Castillo reapers mark. "I don't like it." She sighed, turing away.

"Ordinary people won't understand it, besides it's in a concealed area the only way people would see it is if you raised your hand or a actually showed it to them." I took a few steps forward. "I want you to be able to wear whatever you want, regardless of it's style or any mark." She smiled a little wrapping her arms around my torso, her head on my chest.

"So you know what it is.." she mumble beneath her breath but I heard.
"I do but we'll talk about that some other time, we need to go."
" What about Allegra? I can't leave her alone how will she sleep?"
"Allegra will be fine, Valerie is with her and security is always present."
"I don't know Christoph, part of me is afraid to leave her." She looked up to me, her eyes tearing up.
"Nothing can go wrong, she'll be okay, I'll make sure they report to me every hour, okay?"
She nodded and I planted a kiss on her forehead.
"Good, you can finish getting ready, I will too."

A/N
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