The Mafia CEO'S Substitute Bride

stared blankly at the photo of Luca Ricci, trying to imagine herself infiltrating the life of a man like him.

n it. There was no escape. And yet, she couldn't just accept this role Dante was forcing on he

ed time. Time to think, time to plan, time to figure out how to su

ed back into the room, his eyes cold and unreadable. He closed the

low and authoritative. "Dante doesn't make idle threats. If

nt to be involved in this," she said, her voice trembling w

s asked for this life. But we're in it now. And t

ew he was right. This wasn't a game. It was life o

sked, her voice barely a whisper. "Is

n't quite place. "It's about power," he said quietly. "Control

ore. It was about maintaining Dante's iron grip on his empire. And she was

id, her voice barely audible. "I'm

ou might surprise yourself. People do things they nev

n a corner now, and there was no way out. If she refused to help

o betray him?" she asked, her voice b

hesitate. "Without

ut hearing it said so plainly made it real. She wa

" she whispered, her v

ay the part. Make Luca trust you. And when the tim

her. Her mind raced with fear and doubt, but deep inside, a small voice reminded her that s

. "Fine," she said, her voice strong

satisfied with her answer.

no other choice. And as much as she hated the man she had married, she

th her thoughts. She stood there for a long time, staring at the phot

had to stay alive. That was

t

opened, and one of the household staff-a young woman wi

this, Mrs. Moretti," the girl said s

smell of the tea did nothing to soothe her frayed nerves. She felt numb, as though

ping it slowly. She needed a plan, something more than just following Dante's orde

Bella strained to hear, her curiosity piqued. She recognized Dante's v

and moved toward the door, pres

liar voice was saying. "She's an o

voice was cold, cutting

wisted. They were

e, Dante. You always think you have control. But that girl?

spoke again, his voice darker, more d

me, she'll wis

r wanted to pull away from the door, but she

d. "Let's hope it d

unded in her chest. She backed away from the door, trembling wit

d if she made one wrong mo

more careful than she'

breath. This was her life now, and she had to p

orld, survival wa