Chapter 61

LUCA

I wracked my brain, trying to come up with a command to give Matteo.

I needed to test, to see if I had the mind control power of the Rossis. But how exactly was I supposed to go about doing that? I couldn’t keep from asking myself what the hell I was doing.

If I had access to these powers I could be the most powerful Don out there. They thought I could restore peace between Contis and Rossis and stop a war that had been going on for decades.

Was that possible?

If I were honest with myself, I loved the idea; I was more than capable of ruling. I also thought that Freya would make an amazing Queen Donna. I liked the idea of her ruling by my side. Of having a family, my heirs.

I had known ever since I was young that I was meant to lead, not because of ego but because I just knew it was what I had to do. I had known I would make a good Don and had proven it over the years. But even after I had fought my old Don to death and won, taking on the role myself, I hadn’t been satisfied.

I ~had~ wanted more.

I looked down at the device, urging it to work, then turned to Matteo.

“Quack like a duck,” I told Matteo completely seriously.

Deep down, I hoped nothing would happen. If nothing happened, life would be a whole lot less complicated. It would mean things could go back to normal and I could eventually forget these last few horrible months.

But I already knew that was false hope. Because even deeper down, I knew Francesco was right.

A tingly feeling traveled through me, forcing me to suck in a quick breath.

Then, like a wave of energy, I felt the command travel from me and wrap around Matteo like a blanket. His eyes turned red, and then, just like a duck, he began to quack.

“Quack,” he said, “quack, quack.”

I stared in shock.

I had done it. I had used the mind control power of the Rossis.

After a moment, Minnie laughed from behind me. And then Zefiro, and then Francesco.

The humor of the situation hit me as Matteo continued to quack with a dark scowl on his face.

“Can I—quack—~please~—quack—stop now—~quack~—?”

He obviously wasn’t finding this nearly as amusing as the rest of us.

I finally waved a hand.

“Okay, okay, you can stop.”

Just as before, the command traveled from me and made Matteo stop immediately.

“Really,” he complained, “a ~duck~? You couldn’t have made me do something cool, like jump fifty feet in the air or something?”

I shrugged. “Only thing I could think of.”

Matteo huffed and rolled his eyes. “Right, because that’s the first thing everyone thinks of. Not turn around or say hi or something normal. No, you had to choose ~quack~ like a ~duck~.”

I could only shrug again, joining in on the others’ laughter.

After a moment, the lightheartedness vanished and the room suddenly became much more serious. I had given a command using the power of the Rossis.

~Which could only mean…~

“So it’s true, then,” I said, looking at Francesco. “I’m just like you Rossis now.”

Francesco looked at his father with a worried expression before looking back at me and nodding slowly.

“Yes,” he whispered, distress evident in his tone. “The throne could be yours too.”

My gaze snapped to Zefiro.

“Just like that? You’re giving up your title and the throne without any sort of fight?”

Zefiro’s eyes searched mine for a moment, his thick black brows coming together in thought. He didn’t look upset or threatened like I expected. He just looked pensive.

After a moment, he spoke, “Ever since I learned about DonKing Elio’s desire legacy, I have done everything in my power to resolve the rift between our families. If I was the one to do it, I would have been able to do it for now.” His eyes assessed me darkly. “If it had to be anyone, I can say with sincerity that I’m glad it’s you. You will be a worthy and fair ruler. I have no doubt in my mind that your throne will be one of dignity and strength.”

This all seemed so sudden.

And his confidence in me did not make it less daunting.

“Wait a second,” Matteo broke in, “You’re telling me Don Luca is king now? Like, with a palace and everything?”

We all had those same questions.

“What about the Conti family? What about the Donna?” he said.

Freya’s beautiful face flashed in my mind, making my entire body stiffen painfully.

I needed to find my ~destino~.

“None of this needs to be decided now,” Zefiro said. “You will have time. Take your time, think about it… King Luca.”

Zefiro bowed down, followed by Minnie, and lastly Francesco.

I sucked in a deep breath as realization hit. My brain was going into overdrive, the word running through it like a broken record. ~King.~

How the hell was I supposed to respond to all of this?

How was Freya going to feel?

Thankfully, I didn’t have to think about it for too long.

A sudden pressure filled my head, causing me to stumble backward. I clutched at my head as the pressure increased to the point of throbbing.

It wasn’t painful, but it sure as hell was annoying and invasive.

I groaned, shutting my eyes. What the hell was happening?

“Don,” came Matteo’s voice, “Are you okay?”

“I…” I stopped—speaking only made it worse.

The pressure was becoming more unbearable with every passing second.

I could no longer say it wasn’t painful; it felt like a migraine was splitting my skull in half.

“Don Luca,” I heard Minnie say.

I opened my eyes to see her concerned face right in front of me. She reached out, placing her small hand on my arm.

“What’s wrong?” she said.

I shook my head. The pain was starting to make me panic. I had never felt anything like this.

“It’s Antonio,” Zefiro said as he shook his head. “He’s trying to reach you.”

I wasn’t sure what he was talking about, but the thought of Antonio trying to get into my mind, into any part of me again made me fume.

~Fuck that.~

Rage poured from my insides over the fact that he would even suggest I let Antonio in after all he had done. I braced myself against the wall, starting to lose my balance.

~That fucker is going nowhere near my mind. He’ll never control me again.~

As if reading the thoughts I didn’t have the strength to say aloud, Zefiro reassured me.

“Antonio couldn’t take control of you again even if he tried. That isn’t what’s happening. He’s not trying to take over your body.”

My chest rose and fell with each ragged breath.

“Then what the fuck ~is~ happening?” I groaned.

“No time to explain,” Zefiro said, obvious worry in his tone. “I promise you, nothing bad will happen if you let him into your mind. In fact, it will probably aid in the war to come. Antonio is likely not even aware that you’re immune.”

None of what he was saying made sense. The pain in my mind made my head feel like it was going to explode.

Then, out of nowhere, the pain stopped.

Instead, my phone rang. When I looked at the screen, it was an unknown number.

“That’s probably him,” Zefiro said.

On the other side of the line there was labored breathing. I could almost feel his anger through the line.

“Antonio?” I asked.

Antonio didn’t respond for a moment.

Then he said something that sent a shiver down my spine.

“We are coming.”