In the Shadows of the Mafia Lord

sol

ell was I

ng to spill. My father's handwriting was so familiar, so painfully intimate, it was like a ghost reaching ou

nd this," Rafael's voice cut t

ch had he seen? My fingers tightened around the lett

ling but defiant. "Why does my father writ

slipping just enough to show the cracks. "Becau

fuck did

distance between us, his hand reaching for

"You don't get to demand answers when you'

lash out. Instead, he did something worse. He smiled a

ruth?" he said softly. "You have

rust him.

slipped out of his office. My pulse raced as I navigated the club's labyr

unge, her face pale and drawn. "We need

r eyes darting a

lub muffled behind closed doors. "What the hell is goi

ng into things you don't understand, Marisol

ped. "Because right now, it fee

slammed open, and there he was Rafa

take," he growled, h

back, stepping in front o

he might lose control. Instead, he grabbed my wrist, pulli

ol?" he hissed. "Fine. But don

s on high alert. If I was going to find out the truth, I needed to get closer to

Rafael's right-hand man. He was nursing a drin

eliberate. "Rough night?" I asked, my voice lace

is expression guarded.

ly," I continued, swirling

off. But then he leaned in, his voice low. "There's troubl

at a w

attention. I turned to see Rafael standing in the middle of the club

the mood for small talk," Mate

n't shake the feeling that

back to my room. Once inside, I locked the door and

es, you mustn't trust him, Marisol.

a faint watermark on the paper. Holding it up to the li

the

utskirts of town. Inside, I found a box filled with

ing this, Marisol, it means I didn't make it. Rafael... he's the reason our family

und of footsteps echoed behind me. I spu

as R

e it alone, could you?"

manded, holding up the tape.

thing in his eyes that looked like regret. "This changes nothing

ldn't ignore the spark of defiance that flared

threatened to crush me. My father's voice, Rafael's thr

t just fighting for the truth an