At the Heart of the Mafia

nister whispers of the estate remained within. She stood in the foyer, a large room decorated in a way that seemed both sumptuous and cold, dominate

illa, this family, everything about her felt strangely oppressive. She was from another world, a world where the dim lights of the noisy streets and the familiar sou

sing, his features perfectly cut, but what struck her most was the aura of absolute control he gave off. He didn't need to speak for his presence to take over. The Corl

isible position. She knew her role was only temporary, that she was here for a reason, but that reason remained unclear. She was an outsider, a tool in the hands of the powerful men who ruled

e heavy quiet of the roo

gaze swept by a determined glint. "This marriage no longer makes sens

heir commitments, especially not an arranged marriage that had been carefully planned to strengthen the alliance with another crime family. There

by Adriano's decision, but each understood instinctively that this was not a simple sentimental decision. This was a cou

an. It was an empire, a well-oiled machine, and she was just one small part of that machinery. The furtive glances tha

Something that seemed far more person

clenched i

here, in the shadows of this cold and merciless villa, with his p

harder, more marked than in her memories. He still wore that menacing expression that he had when he felt in control, but today, it was not the same thing. He was no longer the na

of his body spoke of a violence she couldn't ignore. He was here for

ached her. But the atmosphere, the tension around her, the icy beauty of the Corleones, everything seemed to keep her

ugh the room, his tone dry and uncompromising. "If you want to get ou

nowing everything and leaving no room for error. He judged her, he knew what she

rose, piercing the s

nk you can escape

s continued their whispers, but to Elvie, everything had become blurred, distant, like background noise in a movie scene. She couldn't hea

inside him seemed to exude suppressed a

escape, but the truth

panicking. This confrontation was inevitable. He had foun

or pity in his gaze. It wasn't his job to save her. Not t

r eyes for a moment, trying to calm her racing heart. She had to find a way out. Sh