Chapter 10: THE PRESENT

LORENZO’S P.O.V. I was thankful to Isabella for one thing- Leonardo was a very independent child. Excluding the fact that he slept in my bed every night, he didn’t need me around for much. He had been at my place for a week already and I was no closer to finding out where he came from than I was before. Matteo and I tried to find out who the person in the camera was but there was no match anywhere. Whoever it was had gone to lengths to ensure that he was not on any database. My search for Isabella also proved to be more difficult than I had imagined. It was like she had disappeared off the surface of the earth. I knew she was somewhere close. Even if she wasn’t in the city, she was in one nearby because Leonardo drove instead of flying here. I knew that the moment I found her, I was going to strangle her slowly for putting me through this. “Lorenzo,” Matteo’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I realized that were supposed to be having a conversation. “I was saying that the mayor wanted to meet with you today and your father has asked to see you later.” “Tell my father I will go to him by evening. As for the mayor, what time was I supposed to see him today?’ “Noon.” That was in an hour from now. I cursed. Leonardo and Isabella had completely thrown my life upside down. “Keep an eye on the boy while I see the mayor.” Matteo pursed his lips but nodded. I knew he wasn’t happy about the situation but there was no one I could trust with Leonardo more than Matteo. He was basically a brother to me and I knew he would do everything in his power to ensure that my son was well cared for. I drove alone to see the mayor. The meeting was to be held in his office and he was smart enough to clear it out before I arrived. His secretary swallowed deeply when she saw me and I basked in the fear that was evident on her face. “Mr. DeLucia,” she began awkwardly. “The mayor is in a meeting, you cannot just-” I ignored her and pushed the door open. The mayor was in a meeting with the head of one of the leading pharmaceutical companies. I knew him well considering the fact that we did business together and he had asked my help to get rid of competitors and bypass the law a few times. “Lorenzo, I wasn’t expecting you for another ten minutes,” the mayor began. He was a short man with a receding hairline and a pot belly. “I am just rounding up here. If you can wait a few minutes.” “I am a very busy man, Mr. Mayor and you need me more than I need you.” He pursed his lips then turned to his partner and nodded. I could tell they were both displeased with my words but I didn’t care. I didn’t get to where I was by heeding the whims of greedy politicians. I owned them and not the other way around. If I wanted to meet three hours before time then they had to alter their schedules to fit me. I waited until the door clicked shut before I took the empty seat and crossed my arms over my chest. The mayor made a show of closing the blinds and I knew that whatever he wanted to discuss was business. “I have a proposition for you, Lorenzo,” he began and I leaned back in my seat already liking where things were going. “You know I want to run for another term but there have been some unforeseen roadblocks.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He took out a file and slid it over to me. I opened it and immediately I saw the picture, I scoffed. I didn’t know the man by name but I knew him by association and he had ties with the Russians. “You have nothing to worry about. I own this town. The Russians have no sway here and neither does he. Keep doing what you do and I’ll keep doing what I do.” “It can’t work that way right now. I need him gone.” There was a desperate edge to his tone that screamed trouble. I closed the file and looked him square in the eye. “What did you do? The only way he would be this worried is if he had something on the line and I wouldn’t put it past him. When he hesitated before speaking, I knew I was right. “Talk, now or I walk and I will make sure that you lose everything.” “He managed to hack into my laptop. I know it was him. I clicked on a link and everything was copied. I don’t know what he has seen yet but I know what he will see.” I cursed and threw the closest thing which happened to be a glass placeholder and it shattered the moment it hit the wall. If this was any of my men, I would have shot him in the head and been done with it but it wasn’t and I couldn’t leave the mayor bleeding to death on his office floor. Technically, I could but the paperwork would be a nightmare. “Are you fucking insane?” I spat and he at least had the common sense to stay silent. “Why do you even have that shit on your laptop. Always get rid of the evidence you bastard. It is that simple.” “I wasn’t thinking about-” “Exactly, you weren’t thinking. If you used your brain for something other than women and booze then maybe you wouldn’t be in this dilemma,” I was furious. “I have half a mind to leave you here and not help. You caused this on your own.” “You won’t do that,” he looked smug and sure. I had to pause and raise a brow. “I know stuff, I know about the boy. You’re not the only one with informants in this town Lorenzo DeLucia. You have enemies and you need an ally in a place of power. If I lose to that man, I am not the only one with plenty at stake.” I leaned back with an evil smirk. “Is that a threat? You seem to think you are indispensable so let me make one thing clear. The moment you cease to be of use to me, you are dead. I can easily put someone else where I have out you. You do not pull the strings here, I do.” “I was-” “I’m talking now,” I cut him off. “If you ever threaten my son again, I will feed you your tongue and put a bullet in your skull. Is that clear?” “Yes., I apologize.” “Good, now get your laptop to Matteo. He will handle everything.”