Chapter 10 - The Heir Apparent
Both adults froze. Luca’s heart slammed against his ribs with the force of a battering ram. The door pushed open wider, revealing a sturdy, beautiful ten-month-old toddler with a head of thick dark curls and bright, curious gray-brown eyes—eyes that mirrored Luca's own exact reflection staring back from a mirror. The little boy was clutching a plastic toy steering wheel, toddling unsteadily across the concrete floor on chubby legs, wearing a miniature leather jacket that looked absurdly cute. Luca dropped to his knees right there on the stained floor, forgetting his pride, forgetting his mafia title, forgetting every battle he had ever fought. Tears spilled hot and fast down his cheeks as the little boy stopped two feet away, tilting his head with innocent curiosity. "Leo," Luca choked out, his voice barely a whisper. "Come here, son."
The boy looked at his mother for approval. Nina nodded slowly, a single tear cutting a clean path down her dusty cheek as she watched the hardened mafia boss completely unravel before their son. Leo let out a gurgling laugh, dropped his toy steering wheel, and waddled straight into Luca’s open arms. Luca scooped him up against his chest, burying his face in the toddler's neck, sobbing with a pure, unadulterated relief that no amount of power or money could ever buy. Nina walked over, resting her hand gently on the back of Luca’s head, her fingers tangling in his dark hair. "He has your stubborn streak," she whispered with a watery chuckle. Luca looked up, his eyes shining with absolute devotion, and pulled Nina into the embrace with his free arm, holding his entire world tightly against his heart. "I'm retiring, Nina," Luca swore fiercely against her temple. "The syndicates, the shipping wars, the blood money—it's all going to the state trusts. We're leaving tonight. All of us."
