The Mafia CEO'S Substitute Bride

rst possibilities. She swallowed, forcing herself to maintain her composur

r wanted to be part of your world, let alone your wife. But now that I am...

rward, resting his elbows on the table, his fingers interlacing in front of him. His face was st

not love me. Hell, I don't expect you to. But in this world, loyalty is everything. Be

an she barely knew, a man she didn't trust? It felt impossible. But she also knew she ha

said, her voice quiet but

nodded once, slowly, but there was no relief in his expression. Instead, th

re?" Bella pressed, sens

he might snap. But he didn't. Instead, he pushed his chair ba

ered, his tone leaving

into the long hallway. Dante led her through the house, past doors that remained firmly shut, past windows that looked out onto the expansive estate beyond. The ai

ced before. Without a word, he opened it and gestured for her to step insid

e asked, her voice

f you," Dante replied, his voice cold

ith shelves of books and documents. At the center of the room was a large desk, scattered with f

roat. She recognized him from the rumors. It was Alessandro De Luca, one of the most fear

?" Bella asked,

ever. "You're about to understand what it means to be my wife," he sai

lled out a photograph. He handed it to Dante, who glanced at it before passing it

a sharp, cruel expression. He was standing in what looked like a warehous

like ice. "He's a rival of ours. And he's respon

confusion deepening. "What d

sion hardened.

rmine Dante for years. He's ruthless, and he'll stop at nothing to take control of the t

nded in her chest

ee the weight of his words before he even spok

p destroy a man? She couldn't believe it. She was just a substitute bri

" she stammered, her voic

e. "Luca Ricci doesn't know you. He doesn't know

felt sick, her mind racing with panic.

hers with a chilling intensity. "I want you to do whatever it takes to get clo

freight train. She was no spy. No assassin. She couldn't betray a man like Luca R

" he said, his voice quieter now. "But you wanted to know what was expected of you. This is it. You're my w

in her chest, her mind racing with fear and doubt. Could she really do th

can," she whispered, h

again, his tone unforgivin

. No way out of this twisted game. She was trapped, caught between two power

int of mercy, any sign that he might change his min

," Dante said, turning toward the door. "B

body trembling with fear and uncertainty. The photo of Luca Ric

whole lot darker. And she ha