Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask

Ivy’s POV

Returning home from the warehouse confrontation, exhaustion settled into my bones while an aching emptiness consumed my chest from being separated from my children. Max bounded toward me with animated tales of how he had watched over his baby siblings throughout the day, his small chest puffed with pride as he described their peaceful meals and restful sleep.

Despite my bone-deep weariness, sleep remained elusive that night. A relentless pounding hammered behind my temples, and while the babies stayed surprisingly calm with Caleb handling the midnight feedings and diaper changes like a devoted father, my mind churned with unease. Violent nightmares plagued what little rest I managed to steal, leaving me with a suffocating dread that wrapped around my throat like cold fingers.

Dawn arrived with my headache intensified, the previous day’s confrontations having extracted their brutal toll. After checking on the children and finding them sleeping peacefully beside Max, I dragged myself to the kitchen, desperate for coffee to dull the throbbing in my skull before resorting to painkillers.

Carmen and I were reviewing security protocols when a thunderous crash erupted from the living room. Our eyes met in alarm before we rushed to investigate. The sight that greeted me turned my blood to ice in my veins.

Roman stood in the center of our sanctuary, a chrome-plated pistol trained on one of our trusted nannies. His eyes blazed with the wild desperation of a cornered animal.

"Well, well, look what we have here - the little whore who destroyed everything," he snarled, swinging the weapon toward my chest.

I forced steel into my spine despite terror flooding my system. "What do you want from us, Roman?"

His laughter was razor-sharp and bitter. "Isn’t it crystal clear, sweetheart? I want every goddamn thing your bastard husband stole from me. Money, territory, respect. Since that piece of shit Caleb demolished my operations, he’s going to bankroll my disappearance with enough cash to live like a king wherever I choose." His voice dripped with entitlement, as if the world owed him compensation for his failures.

"You’ve completely lost your mind, Roman."

"Have I really?" Venom laced his words. "Let me educate you, princess. I’m not crazy - I’m being strategic."

"Put the gun down, Roman." Caleb’s voice sliced through the tension as he descended the staircase, causing Roman to pivot and aim directly at his heart.

"Look who finally graces us with his royal presence - the almighty Don Caleb Thorne himself." Hatred blazed in Roman’s eyes like hellfire. "You know, I could never understand how you survived that helicopter sabotage. My work was flawless, absolutely perfect. I even had forged documents naming me as your father’s successor. Everything would have passed inspection if you hadn’t somehow crawled out of that wreckage alive. Then I discovered the truth - you only lived because you were fucking this slut in some dark corner during the memorial service." His voice escalated to a roar.

"Lower your weapon and we can negotiate like civilized men," Caleb said, his tone unnaturally calm for someone staring down a gun barrel.

"Oh, we’re absolutely going to negotiate. I’m going to dictate terms, and you’re going to comply immediately, you spoiled prince!" Roman’s composure shattered completely. "Everyone sit on that couch right fucking now."

"This is between you and me, Roman. Release my wife and staff," Caleb attempted to bargain, but I stared at him incredulously. There was no way in hell I was abandoning him to face this madman alone.

"I’m the one calling the shots here, and nobody moves until I say so! Get your asses on that couch immediately!" Roman’s roar shook the room as we complied. Caleb captured my trembling hand, squeezing it with reassurance that did nothing to slow my racing pulse.

"You know what, Caleb? Let me share a fascinating story. Do you know how I first encountered your father?"

"I have no fucking clue, Roman."

"I was working as muscle at this dive bar he frequented," Roman began, his tone taking on a twisted nostalgia. "One night he brought your mother there, and when she stepped out of the limo, some street punk tried to grab her purse. I chased the bastard down and returned it, though he escaped. Your mother was absolutely radiant - classy, graceful, genuinely kind. When I handed back her purse, she thanked me endlessly, and your father gave me his card, told me to call his office. Your grandfather was still running the empire then, ruling with an iron fist. But he offered me a position. I called myself a financial consultant, but really I was just a glorified messenger boy."

"And you murdered the man who gave you that opportunity. What kind of monster does that make you?" Caleb’s voice shook with revulsion.

"Your father was weak, believed people were fundamentally good, completely unfit to control an empire of that magnitude. But I worked my ass off, Caleb, went to business school and earned my credentials. In college, I met that insufferable Patricia. She was always a pain in the ass, but she came from the right bloodline. It was a calculated move that could open doors to valuable connections, and she was refined enough to accompany me to family functions. I started dating her, and since your parents were also together, we occasionally double-dated. Eventually, I fell completely in love with your mother. She was truly extraordinary. I tried everything to capture her attention, but she was utterly devoted to your pathetic father. They married, then I married Patricia."

"Of course my mother would never look twice at scum like you! My father was an honorable man, and you’re nothing but a parasite!" Caleb’s fury was building.

"Your father was pathetic, Caleb. But I continued cultivating his friendship, positioning myself closer to the family business for better advancement opportunities. And it worked beautifully. I gained his complete trust and became financial director. Your grandfather was aging and would eventually step down, leaving the organization to your spineless father. I saw my opening and began planning how to become his right hand and secure the underboss position. But your grandfather never retired, and when he died, your father decided to make his young son his heir apparent. And you were just a pampered rich boy who knew absolutely nothing."

"The family business was always bloodline, Roman! When my father offered me leadership training, I initially refused, but he insisted it was necessary preparation for my inheritance," Caleb shot back.

"He fed me the same bullshit!" Roman’s laughter was venomous. "But you and your father were always obstacles blocking my path. That’s when I realized I’d never achieve what I deserved in that organization. So I began skimming profits and developed the brilliant plan to establish my own operation. Everything was proceeding flawlessly - I would have left you completely bankrupt."

"All those years of stealing from us, Roman, and look what your greed accomplished - it transformed you into a killer, a thief, a kidnapper. You destroyed your own existence and, after murdering your wife, you landed your daughter in federal prison!" Caleb was losing control, which terrified me.

"Little Yara is a moron! Takes after her mother completely. She would have been nothing but dead weight. And I have zero patience for her stupidity. She can survive on her own now. Look at her - she couldn’t even give you an heir, while this little whore you married has already produced five! You two breed like fucking animals!"

"Show my wife respect, Roman. She has nothing to do with your failures!" Caleb’s rage was reaching dangerous levels.

"She has everything to do with this!" Roman’s voice rose dangerously. "If this little whore hadn’t entered your life, you’d be dead by now. And if she hadn’t joined the organization, you would have married my Yara, and I would have destroyed you financially, left you completely dependent on me, you spoiled brat!"

"I would never have married your psychotic daughter, Roman!"

"Yes, you absolutely would have." Roman pressed closer. "But you know what? I gave you a second chance, and you threw it away. When your father was eliminated, you should have promoted me to underboss, but instead you brought in that little friend of yours for the position. Another insufferable prick! From that moment, my dear Caleb Thorne, you sealed your own fate. And everything was progressing according to plan until you orchestrated that secret audit trap, which I discovered was this bitch’s brilliant idea. See how she’s involved in this, how she sabotaged my plans! She’s going to pay severely for her interference."

"Just tell me what you want, Roman." Caleb’s patience was evaporating.

"First, I want money, mountains of it, because your federal friends tightened security too effectively, managed to freeze all my accounts, destroy my network, and arrest all my trusted soldiers. So, you spoiled prince, I want cash and I want transportation out of this country. That’s just the beginning." Roman’s laughter was chilling.

"How exactly do we accomplish this, Roman?"

"We’ll start by restraining these bitches." Roman dropped his duffel bag and ordered the nanny to retrieve ropes and secure Carmen and me, sealing our mouths with duct tape. Then he forced Caleb to do the same to the nanny. "Now, Caleb, you’re going to take your phone and put it on speaker. You’re going to dismiss your security detail."

"Roman..." Caleb tried to object.

"NOW!" Roman’s bellow filled the room.

Caleb complied with Roman’s demand. Justin, our head of security, didn’t even question the unusual dismissal. He simply acknowledged that he would grant everyone leave time. My heart plummeted in despair. What an incompetent security chief - this couldn’t be happening!

"Excellent! Now you’re going to call your pilot and tell him to prepare that magnificent private jet of yours, the one you use for international family trips. Tell him you’re leaving the country with your household and you’ll provide the destination upon arrival, but everything must be ready very soon." Roman instructed, and Caleb followed his commands precisely.

The pilot clearly found the request suspicious and questioned Caleb about the destination to file the flight plan. Caleb impatiently told him to follow orders and that it would likely be somewhere in South America.

"Perfect! See how beautifully we’re cooperating!" Roman mocked. "Now you’re going to retrieve your laptop and transfer two billion dollars to various accounts whose numbers I’ll provide."

"Roman, that’s an astronomical amount of money. I won’t be able to transfer it all within such a short timeframe," Caleb objected.

"You want to be free of me and protect your family, don’t you? Then start making those transfers. And for each delay you cause, I’ll execute one of your children. Look, you have five, so I think you have enough time to end up childless!" Roman’s threat sent ice through my veins.

"Let’s go to my office, the computer is there." Caleb struggled to contain his murderous rage.

"Not so fast! First, I have a little gift for you." Roman produced handcuffs from his pocket. "Extend your arms." Caleb complied and was shackled.