I feel the weight of both of them.
The answer is right there in front of me. In the shape of the boy’s eyes. In that birthmark behind his ear.
But saying it out loud changes everything.
And right now the world is already shifting under our feet.
So I don’t answer. Just ruffle his hair as I pass and try not to let it fucking break me.
“I’ll see you later,” I say to both of them.
Then, I walk out on my son and the only woman I’ve ever loved.
The club is alreadyalive when I arrive.
Music pulses through the walls. Colored lights flash across the dance floor. Bodies move, drink, laugh.
To anyone else, it looks normal.
To me, it smells wrong.
Leone meets me near the bar.
“You feel it too,” he says.
I nod.
Too many unfamiliar faces. Too many men standing still. Watching. Not drinking.
“Security sweep?” I ask.
“Done once already.”
“Do it again.”
He signals two of the men.
They melt into the crowd.
I walk through the club slowly, scanning everything. Management hovers nearby like nervous birds.
“Anything unusual?” I ask the floor manager.
He shakes his head quickly. “No, Mr. Neri. Everything’s fine.”
It isn’t.
Leone joins me again near the hallway leading to the VIP rooms.
“We confirmed something,” he says quietly.
“What.”
“Two Pavlov guys were here earlier this week. Came pretending to be cops, but our guys ain’t that dumb.”
My jaw tightens. “What did they want?”
“To see our security footage.”
