Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask

Chapter 423: Chapter 19 Heart Over Heritage

Daniel’s POV

Nothing could dampen my spirits today. Last night with my little one had been absolute perfection. What an extraordinary woman! Every curve of her body, every soft moan that escaped her lips, every gentle touch—she astounded me in ways I never thought possible, especially for someone raised in the sterile world of mafia politics.

Despite our intimate connection, she remained endearingly shy about certain aspects of our relationship. This morning, when she spotted the evidence of her virginity on the sheets, her face flushed crimson, as though all her blood had rushed to her cheeks at once. It wasn’t until I pulled her onto my lap, covering her with tender kisses and whispering how honored I felt to be her first, that she finally relaxed. And I meant every word—if I had my way, I would be her only. She was a precious jewel I had no intention of sharing with anyone else, especially not with the vultures circling the Sullivan family fortune.

On my drive to the precinct, I made a detour to an exclusive florist that specialized in discreet deliveries for high-profile clients and arranged for a beautiful bouquet to be sent to her. I needed her to understand how special she was, how extraordinary our night together had been.

I arrived at work with an uncontrollable grin plastered across my face, cheerfully greeting everything in sight, including the bulletproof doors. Adler immediately picked up on my elevated mood and made his way to my office, closing the door behind him—a habit we’d developed for sensitive conversations in our line of work.

”Looks like someone had a restful night,” he remarked, settling into the reinforced chair across from my desk.

”If I’m being honest, Chief, rest was the last thing on my mind,” I replied, my smile widening impossibly further.

”And that’s the reason behind this unusual cheerfulness? Because normally after dealing with organized crime cases, you look like you want to punch someone.”

”I’m smiling because of my little one—she’s absolutely spectacular! The most beautiful, most incredible, most adorable woman in the entire underworld.”

”Well, well, my young colleague has fallen head over heels! And here I thought Martinez family men only married for territorial expansion.”

”Chief, I think it goes beyond that. This woman has completely transformed my existence. She makes me want to be better than the legacy I inherited.”

”That’s fantastic news! Just remember to keep your personal life separate from our operations. The last thing we need is the Martinez name complicating our cases.”

”It truly is. But we should focus on work now—I’m hoping to leave early today, plus I have that federal courthouse hearing to attend regarding the Thorne family’s recent... complications.”

Shortly afterward, my encrypted phone lit up with a message from her, expressing gratitude for the flowers and confirming that our night together had been just as meaningful for her. That validation filled me with joy. I was relieved to know I’d handled her first time with the care and tenderness it deserved, considering the brutal world she’d grown up navigating in the Sullivan household.

The day progressed rapidly; the demanding caseload involving money laundering operations and territorial disputes kept me thoroughly occupied. Still, I couldn’t stop thinking about her, eagerly anticipating the moment I could lose myself in her embrace again, away from the cold calculations of family politics.

But as the saying goes, all good things must face interruption—my secure line rang, and my mother’s name flashed on the screen. The Martinez family network had already discovered my relocation to the high-security apartment building, so I took a deep breath, preparing myself for Mrs. Martinez’s theatrical performance.

”Mom, how are you?” I answered with deliberate calmness, fully aware that my tranquility was about to be shattered.

”Ungrateful son,” she sniffled dramatically. ”How dare you move away from the family compound without even informing the inner circle?”

”Mom, I left a coded message with our usual intermediary explaining that I didn’t have time for proper farewells. Everything happened incredibly fast with the Thorne situation.”

”Is that really the case, Daniel? Or were you simply running away from your responsibilities to the Martinez operations?” Her voice quivered with fabricated tears, but I recognized her manipulative tactics, designed to make me crawl back with guilt.

”Mom, it was time for me to establish my own territory. An opportunity arose in law enforcement that I simply couldn’t pass up.”

”Son, why do you insist on pursuing this profession that keeps me awake with worry? You don’t need this badge, Daniel—our family enterprises are thriving. The legitimate businesses need oversight.”

”Mom, this is my chosen path. We’ve discussed this repeatedly, and you promised to respect my decision to work within the system rather than outside it. Besides, I’m a grown man.”

”But son, I’m terrified knowing you could be targeted by rival families at any moment.”

”Mom, let me point something out—anyone in our circle could be eliminated at any moment. In fact, you’re more likely to be targeted attending those charity galas where half the attendees have contracts on each other than I am as a detective.”

”Don’t you care about my feelings, Daniel? Don’t you see how this hurts the family’s reputation?”

”Mom, you’re my mother—of course I care about you. But my career choice serves our interests in ways you don’t understand. I’m not a child needing supervision anymore. You raised me well, so well that I can make strategic decisions. Now continue being a good mother and trust those decisions.”

”So you won’t return to the compound?” The tearful act vanished, replaced by the firm tone of the proud matriarch I knew her to be.

”Not to live there under family oversight, no.”

”Your father won’t be pleased about this. He had plans for you in the legitimate businesses.”

”He’ll hear exactly what I’ve told you. It’s my life, my strategic position. Either respect that or step back from my operations.”

”He’ll be calling you.”

”I expect he will,” I sighed, already exhausted by the conversation. ”Mom, I need to go. We’ll talk later.”

She hung up without a farewell—typical behavior for someone trained in the old-school power dynamics. She and my father were perfectly matched in their proud, calculating, even ruthless demeanor—and their shared passion for controlling their children’s alliances.

Shortly after, my phone rang again. Seeing the caller ID, I smiled genuinely.

”Sybilla, please don’t tell me you’re calling to complain about my strategic withdrawal?” I joked, knowing my sister would never fall for family manipulation.

”Little brother, you should know me better by now. I’m calling to congratulate you and warn you not to fall for Mom’s emotional warfare. You know how she operates in negotiations.”

”Were you monitoring the family communications again, Sybilla?”

”Absolutely!” She laughed heartily. ”So, when do I get clearance to visit your new fortress?”

”Whenever you want, sis. You’re always welcome in my territory.”

”I’ll come once our parents finish their damage control meetings. Dad’s furious and planning to make you return to oversee the port operations.”

”I figured as much, but he won’t succeed. How are you holding up under the increased scrutiny?”

”Terribly! Now that the problematic heir has established independence, they have all the time in the world to focus on my marriage prospects. Mom has suddenly decided I need a strategic alliance. Can you believe that?”

”I was wondering when that negotiation would begin. Does she have someone in mind?”

”That insufferable Grant Barlow from the shipping consortium.”

”But she knows you can’t stand his money laundering methods.”

”He’s the heir to Dad’s East Coast partners. You know how they think. Or have you forgotten about the Willow Conrad arrangement they tried to force on you?”

”I’d rather not revisit that political disaster.”

”We were both born into the wrong generation of this family, little brother! Only Gregory lucked out—he loves the infrastructure business and fell for the most strategically advantageous woman possible.”

”True, Gregory fits perfectly into our parents’ expansion plans, making us the independent thinkers. But don’t worry, little sis, they can’t force you into any alliance without your consent.”

”I know, brother, but the pressure from the family council is relentless.”

”Let me offer my standard advice: establish your own operations!” Sybilla burst into laughter—I’d been giving her this suggestion since she was a teenager, when she wanted to study international law but our parents forced her to continue the etiquette training she despised.

”I’m seriously considering it. Maybe I’ll find my own territory like you did. Gotta go, brother! Talk later. Love you.”

My sister was truly remarkable—brilliant, fierce, and strategically minded. She was the best part of our family legacy. Setting aside thoughts of Martinez family politics, I refocused on my cases, counting every second until I could race back into my little one’s arms.