Chapter 59

As I hear Mico laugh, I look up again and see Alexi smiling genuinely towards him, amused over something and utterly unconcerned about what took place. His relaxed features and dimples on full show, oblivious to my watching him. Mico says something, and Alexi nods, shoves him in the shoulder playfully and then taps the bar with his thumbs in a weirdly casual gesture as though playing an invisible drum, pulling his feet up to the rung of the seat so he can hunch forward and lean on the bar like any average guy. He looks so far removed from Mafia Boss right now.

Joanne has done one, bolted back upstairs in humility instead of bringing the file to me, thankfully, and I cannot tear my eyes or mind away from him.

Alexi is acting differently, treating me differently. Yet, he is still the same as he always was to everyone else. Seeing glimpses of him like this is seeing glimpses into the person he is around Mico and his family when no one is around to be Mafia King for. The per