Sold To The Mafia Don-Chapter 194 - 4 ~ Jace

The air in New York didn’t feel like home anymore.

It hadn’t for a long time.

The Romano estate still looked the same — sprawling stone walls, dark iron gates, manicured lawns that demanded respect — but something about it felt distant now. Like a memory I’d outgrown.

Or maybe I’d just gotten used to the warmth of LA.

I was used to the sunlight, the quiet and even the way Mira’s voice filled every room we lived in.

Now everything here felt cold.

I stepped out of the black town car and adjusted my coat. The late afternoon wind cut through me, sharp enough to make the trees along the driveway tremble.

Donna had asked me to come.

Which meant I was obligated to show up.

But being here didn’t sit right in my chest. Not anymore. It felt very different.

The front door opened before I reached it.

And there he was.

Alejandro Valencia.

Tall. Too at ease. Wearing a fancy coat I was sure my mother got for him, like he had earned the right to. His hand was resting casually on Donna’s waist like it belonged there.

I had to breathe through my nose to keep from wiping the expression off his face.

"Jace," my mother said warmly, stepping forward to kiss my cheek. "I’ve missed you."

I softened immediately. "I missed you too."

She looked good. too good. Her recovery had gone well. Her color was back, her energy was back, and unfortunately so was her sharp tongue. It wasn’t like it ever left.

Alejandro lingered behind her like a shadow that believed it was welcome.

I looked at him once, short, clipped.

He lifted his chin slightly. "Romano."

"Valencia."

Nothing more. No handshake.No fake cordiality.

Donna sighed as if we were two toddlers refusing to share toys.

"Come in," she said, pulling my hand lightly. " The chef made some really good lunch."

We walked inside. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Alejandro stayed one step behind us, and I was painfully aware of every breath he took.

I didn’t trust him.

Not because of who he was now but because of who he used to be.

Old ties. Old families. Old blood.

Enemies didn’t disappear. They just changed clothes.

I had dug deep enough to find out about his lineage and it did not sit well with me. But I knew my mother wouldn’t listen.

The dining room was bright —sunlight catching the crystal chandelier, bouncing off marble. The table was set with white dishes and gold-rimmed glasses. But it was the way Donna leaned into Alejandro when she sat that made something mean twist in my stomach.

She looked... happy.

And I hated that he was the reason.

"Where’s Mira?" she asked, spooning soup into a bowl for me the way she always did.

"Home," I replied, loosening the top button of my shirt. "She had her check-up yesterday. Everything is fine."

I didn’t realize I was smiling until she stared at me like I’d been caught doing something adorable.

"You look different," she said quietly.

Alejandro answered for her.

"He’s in love."

The muscle in my jaw ticked. No one asked for his opinion.

Donna’s lips curved. "Yes. He is."

I didn’t look at either of them.

I just reached for my phone under the table and typed:

Jace: Did you nap?

It took only a second.

Mira: Yes. Stop checking on me. I’m not going to break.

I exhaled.

She said it every time.

It never worked.

Jace: Drink water.

Her reply was immediate.

Mira: Bossy.

I smiled. Couldn’t help it.

When I looked up, Alejandro was watching me.

Not with disgust. Not with jealousy. He stared with understanding.

And that somehow irritated me more.

"You’re lucky," he said simply.

My mom looked between us and I didn’t respond.

Acknowledging anything he said felt like losing ground.

Instead I took a slow sip of wine and asked, "How are things here?"

Donna’s face shifted just slightly. It was controlled softness she used when she didn’t want to worry me.

"Quiet," she said.

"That means something’s wrong," I said. It wasn’t a question. It was a statement of fact.

Alejandro glanced at her and I saw her jaw tighten.

There it was.

I leaned back in my chair. "Say it."

Donna sighed. "There’s talk."

"From where?"

Alejandro answered this time. "South Italy. Old ties. The ones Massimo tried to leverage before he died."

My fingers stilled around the glass.

"And?"

"They want to test the waters," he continued. "To see if the Romano power is still... unified."

I almost laughed.

People always mistook silence for weakness.

"They can test whatever they want," I said calmly. "But they should be prepared to drown."

Alejandro nodded once. "I’ve already sent word."

I didn’t have to like him.

As long as he was loyal to Donna, he was loyal to me by default.

But tension hummed between us, invisible but sharp.

Donna placed her hand over mine.

"Don’t let this steal your peace," she said quietly. "Focus on your family. On your wife. On your daughter."

The words landed deep.

I swallowed, nodding.

She had never told me to retreat before. At least not in this manner.

Which meant she was worried.

Which meant I would prepare anyway.

Later that evening, I walked the estate alone. I walked past the garden and the stone yard.

Everything looked the same, but nothing felt the same.

My phone buzzed.

Mira: The baby has been kicking a lot. She’s active tonight.

My chest warmed.

Jace: Read to her. She likes your voice.

A pause.

Mira: Come home soon.

There it was.

The only thing that mattered.

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair.

Jace: I’m on my way.

I didn’t even say goodbye to New York.

I just turned around, coat sweeping behind me as I headed for the car.

Because this city had ghosts.

Old shadows.

Old wars that never really died.

But LA had Mira.

And she was the only place I wanted to be.

As the driver opened the door, my phone buzzed again — a private encrypted line I rarely used anymore.

The message was short.

No sender.

Just six words:

"We haven’t forgotten your throne."

I stared at it, jaw slowly tightening.

War was coming.

But it was going to have to go through me, first.

And this time, I had two things to lose.

Which made me more dangerous than ever.