I was furious about my phone, but Lev gave me little time to vent about his actions. He forced me back to the table and made me take part in the conversations. When I didn’t, he gave me a harsh look. Creed and Matteo were watching some documentary on the TV in the livingroom and I was seething with anger still. Lev’s hand was on my thigh, holding me in the chair. I could do damage to him if I really wanted to, but I didn’t. 

I liked Lev. I didn’t want to hurt him.

But he was pushing it and I was worried I was going to do the unthinkable and snap at him, too. Matteo had been right, though, and that was the thing that got under my skin. I had abandoned all my responsibilities. And I had placed all that on him, and that was wrong. I had two choices, one far easier to do than the other. 

I didn’t know what one was the right choice. It was a lot to think about. 

I couldn’t even use my phone to call my mother to tell her what I was thinking, or even my choices. I wanted my freedom, but what cost would it be to get my freedom? My little brother’s freedom. As much as I thought I could be ok with forcing the position on him, he pushed doubt into me. I wasn’t ok with having his freedom stripped from him because I wanted to be selfish.

“Dad, let me borrow your phone.”

“Alright, but—-nevermind, I don’t want to know.” He said, Sliding the phone across the table at me. 

Opening his phone, it surprised me to find he had my mother’s number in his contacts, and it was respectful. Just labelled Alessio’s mother. I hit the phone and brought it to my ear; It was later in the evening there, but she picked up almost immediately. 

“Andrei, what do you need, did something—-”

“Mom, It’s me. I had to use dad’s phone, mine had an accident. I think we should talk about my position with our family and my birthright.”

“Alessio we—-”

“Before you say anything else, I’m going to step up as the Don. But on my own terms, and you will not like them. But I would rather Matteo have his freedom.”

“Alessio. I didn’t want this for you.” She said, anger lacing her tone, but not yelling at me.

“I don’t want this for Matteo.” I said, not backing down from her.

“Alessio, we should talk about this some other time. You can’t just decide—-”

“I only thought to call you and let you know that I have every intention of taking over our family.”

“And what about the medical career you worked so hard on?” She screamed, and I had to pull the phone away from my ear.

“That’s what you wanted for me, mom. I didn’t want that, but I won’t leave Maddox in the dark. I’ll do both, even if I run myself thin. Those are my responsibilities, after all.”

“Alessio! You will work yourself to death! Think clearly about this!” My mother screamed again.

“If it’s what I must do, then so be it.”

“Alessio, don’t be like that. You know you don’t have to do this.” My mom whispered. Trying her caring voice to reason with me, but I was used to that from her. It didn’t work on me anymore. 

“You know I need to. We both know it. I don’t see why you don’t just see the truth, mom. You can’t take this position over and hope to do it for another few years. They were pushing for me to take the position from the beginning. As soon as grandfather passed, the underbosses wanted me to take the position. You know this.”

“Alessio, it is more work than I want you to have to shoulder, but I understand. You have your mind made up. Let me speak with your father.”

I passed the phone back to my father and let my head hit the table with a very loud thunk. There was no going back now. It was done. I needed to make Maddox aware of this situation, but I really didn’t know how to bring it up without fearing he might toss me out. 

“You still shock me with some of your actions, even now.” Alexi said, setting his hand on the back of my head and ruffling my hair. I let out a deep sigh. 

“I don’t know what I’m about to do now. I have told her I will take over and I know what it entails, but I’m not sure I’m cut out for this or even moving the family’s primary base here.” 

“You will figure it out, Alessio.” Lev said, softly, reminding me he had been witness to that conversation. 

“I know I will, but it’s the in-between I’m worried about, if I’m being honest.” I muttered into the tabletop. 

“Only thing I can suggest is to speak to Maddox. He is the best one to speak with about this. He knows the most about this subject.” Alexi said again, removing his hand from the back of my head, where he had been ruffling my hair to comfort me. 

“I’ll figure it—-I can’t tell him about this yet. What if things don’t go well and Maddox gets pissed about this?” I groaned. 

“I don’t see this not going well. This is the biggest chance for us to have another family close enough to us. To be there, thick or thin.” Alexi declared, making it sound like an adventure. 

“And if this goes wrong, I might lose everything my grandfather has ever built, and that is a heavy feeling.” I hissed. 

“Sio. You’re worrying too much. This is the best thing for our family and you know it. Mother is too invested in the old world to understand we need more than that to make it. We are barely meeting our goals for cash and investments, that’s why we sold the clubs.” Matteo said, before going back to his tv show. I hated how much this kid knew about the family business for his age. But at least if something happened to me, he was just as versed in the family as I was and would make a suitable replacement. 

My father returned, and he looked more stressed out than he had been when he left the room. His hair was messy, and he had definitely pulled his hand through it several times while they spoke. He set his phone on the tabletop, his eyes locking onto mine now that I wasn’t face down on the table. 

“Are you sure this is what you want, Alessio? I will support whatever choice you make.”

“I have to give it a shot. For my brothers, for my grandfather’s legacy, and for the Concetta family.” I said, almost confidently. 

“I will go with you when you tell Maddox your plans.”

“I think—I need to do this on my own.” I said, convincing myself of this. Standing up, I took a deep breath. Looking at Matteo one more time, before being set on my choice. This was for the betterment of my family. 

“Alessio! Where are you going?” My father yelled, moving from his seat.

“To speak to Maddox, no reason to delay this any further.”

I didn’t wait for anyone to talk me out of this. I needed to do it right now before I turned into a chicken and ran for the hills. Walking down the hall and towards Maddox’s office, I had a cold sweat on my skin. I was actually terrified that he would not be pleased with the fact I had just welcomed my family into his territory without asking. 

I raised my hand up to knock on the closed door, but it opened, and Maddox stood there, slightly confused. 

“Hey Alessio, What can I do for you?”

“You’re not busy, are you?”

“No, I was, but I’m free now. What’s up?”

I sighed, and my shoulders sagged, and Maddox looked more concerned now than before. 

“Come in and close the door and tell me what this is about. You look almost scared of me there for a moment, Alessio.”

I walked further into his office and closed the door, unsure if this was still a smart thing to do. Maddox sat down and gestured his hand to the other free chair on the other side of his desk. I pulled it back and sat down. 

“Alright tell me what is causing this.”

“I’ve decided I will take over the family as Don, even if it’s only for long enough for Matteo to realize this is what he wants. Though I doubt it.”

“Celebration is in order, then.”

“Hardly. I’ve decided to move the family here. Not right here in your home, or even your city, but close by, enough that I can still keep up with my work here and still see my dad and—-”

“Alessio, you’re going to spread yourself thin quickly.”

“I know, but I have little choice.”

“You are welcome to move your family into the city, hell you’re welcome to the other half of this property, but it needs a lot of work. A lot of it is still forested. But I will make this work as long as you will. I think there are many benefits from this.”

“Are you not worried my family may cause problems?”

“Oh, there is that worry, but I know you will not allow that and I trust your judgment and having two different families in proximity has its benefits. We are going to all be far safer.”

“I think you’re behaving calmly for this to be the first time you’re hearing about this. Who told you? My father?”

“No, your mother rather, she was on the phone with me until a few moments before you arrived. She filled me in on your plan and I agreed that moving your family here will have many more benefits. Not just for me, but for you as well.”

“I should have figured she would have called you. It seems like the right thing to do.”

“Indeed.”

Maddox pulled out a glass bottle and two glasses. He poured a small shot into each glass and slid one towards me. He paused before picking his glass up and speaking.

“To our future partnership.”