His Mafia Prince
Chapter 22: Hello Family

Chapter 22: Hello Family

(TYLER)

Sasha laughs gruffly and then focuses on my face again. "Of course not. The bruising should be gone by the time of the wedding. If not, I suppose Mother has some make-up that will help hide them away." He frowns. "But that burst lip will be much harder to hide."

"Maybe you should just put a bag over my head and get it over with.

"No," he says with a serious face. "I reserve that treatment for executions."

"Good Lord!" I shiver, wondering what it is about me that attracted this vile monster.

"You’re hungry?" he suddenly changes the subject as he turns to walk down the hall.

I hurry fast behind him. "Yes." My shoes muffle on the thick carpet beneath.

"I can tell. You look like you’re starving." He mocks. "That’s what happens when you don’t eat."

The way he hesitates makes me think he is waiting for some sort of response from me. When it doesn’t come, he continues. "That baby is probably sucking all the nutrients you take in for itself.

I circle my belly. "Probably."

"You still want to get rid of that pregnancy? Do you honestly not care about the baby?"

"No." I jerk back immediately. He doesn’t know the reason why I want to get rid of it. He just thinks I’m being coldhearted. Even if I wanted a baby at this time, which I don’t, I wouldn’t carry the baby of an alpha who tried to kill me. "I don’t want it."

"Oh, I know. You don’t want to lose your hourglass figure?"

I sigh. "No. It’s more complicated than you think."

"I thought you didn’t want it because you didn’t have money to raise it." He gazes at me. "I suspect though that that isn’t the reason."

"No."

"Whatever you decide to do," he shrugs. "It’s your choice anyway. Follow me."

I obey and walk behind him on a descending staircase that leads out to the foyer. He takes a turn to another door and I follow. When we get into the massive room, I spot an alpha just about my age sitting at the far end of the long table. Across from him sat another lithe blonde woman. They at talking as soon as we enter the room.

The woman stands up. Then I notice a striking semblance between her and Sasha, especially through their facial features. But she seems warmer. She pushes back her chair and walks towards me with a smile on her face. "You must be Tyler. It’s nice to finally meet you." She leans in and hugs me.

The hug finds me off guard, and I’m not sure how to respond. My face suddenly feels warm. The hug would have felt more authentic if I hadn’t been blackmailed into coming here. Sasha had told me earlier that his family knew about our arrangement. I wonder if they know he forced me here, or if they know he sent goons after me. Do they think I’m doing this for money? My mind is racing with all manner of questions.

I don’t know why she’s being strangely nice to me. I’m just glad that at least I won’t have to pretend to be in love with her son.

"How are you, Mrs. Adonis?" I force a smile.

"Please, call me Lucia." She says, studying my face keenly. She winces. "Sasha, you want to tell me what happened to Tyler’s face?"

"How would I know, Mama?" Sasha shrugs as he walks to the buffet to serve himself some food.

Lucia squints at him. "Are you sure you don’t know what happened to his face?"

"No, of course not."

He is so smooth that if I didn’t know the truth, I too would believe him. I need to remember how good a liar he is.

"Sasha," she crosses her arms over her chest. "You better not be lying to me."

I take a keen look at her. She is half Sasha’s size and behaves completely differently from how I’d expected her to. She is soft-spoken and seems gentle.

"I’m alright." I finally say. "I was just a little clumsy. These marks will fade in no time." I try to sound as sober as possible. The last thing I want is them fighting over me. I’m already rattled by the situation as it is.

"See, he’s okay," Sasha says without looking up. "No harm done."

Lucia’s concerned stare returns to me. My stomach rumbles loudly and distracts her. "Poor dear, you’re hungry, let’s get you something to eat." She takes my hand and leads me to the buffet.

I’m glad that the attention is finally off me and my bruised face. I take the plate she hands me and walk behind her. There’s so much food, it literally feels like heaven. It’s been forever since I saw this much food in front of me. I help myself to potato wedges, crispy bacon and scrambled eggs. I serve enough to feed an army because I’m so hungry I literally don’t care about my manners now.

I don’t know the last time I had fresh hot food. Once I’ve filled my plate with food, I head to sit beside Lucia, and Sasha and his brother sit across from us.

Sasha’s brother smiles at me. He looks so much like Sasha, same dark hair and gorgeous brown eyes, except that Sasha’s are more glazed. Honey pool-like. He holds out his hand. "I’m Jericho."

"Tyler." I shake his hand.

"I know who you are." He smirks. "Sasha mentioned me?"

"I believe he did, in passing." I lie. He was too busy tormenting me to introduce his family.

"I guessed. He pretends I don’t exist because I’m the hotter, smarter brother."

"No, he’s the dumb one," Sasha says drolly.

Lucia laughs. "I thought you two would be on your best behaviour in front of Tyler."

"Good behaviour is overrated." Says Jericho.

"Who says so?" Lucia grins.

I thought Sasha’s family would be cold. That’s probably because he’d been a raging asshole since we met. But his mother and brother seem normal. If I didn’t know, I wouldn’t have guessed this family was involved with the Triple Triad Syndicates.