The Mafia King's Pretend Wife

Estate-Aftermat

glistening on hedges, but inside, the house simmered with tension. Elena walked the halls

half defiance. Her eyes were haunted, scanning each entryway

a whispered. "Yo

raits Elena recognized but wished she hadn't. "Rest..

's arm gently. "True. But trust me-t

t her, tense. "D

't hesitat

tood-not yet. Families weren't built overnight

riefing-Unsp

oom. Screens flickered with maps, blac

ariana's suitcase across the table. "S

I expected surprises. B

ms-she'd slept five h

n choked her. "We protect

arrowed on Mariana.

ce here." Elena's voice trembled, bu

eritance? And loyalty.

hen I don't want blood money. I wan

"Everything here mus

ed over the r

olitude-Love

h sunlight and old books, a safe sanctuary within the fo

events replaying: the gunshots, Luca's

.. Marian

rayal. Family

ar tissue on her ow

an down

d to f

nt-once Dante's mother's. A symbol

rward. If I fai

wiped her che

Home Encounter-

Italy, arrived unexpectedly-jet black

greeted by Esme, Luca, and a

id quietly, ha

a repeated w

orward. "He s

ly at Matteo.

fountain. Moon and sun share

ou know," Matteo began. "Thi

uickened. "What

ut something else-someone wanted

ne with veste

ted. Somebody's watching-someone

d hard. "So no

ou play. But you

d Reconciliation-Vi

ne in the garden. The estate smelled of j

his glove-

t it a moment,

our conv

wai

e wants me. He

fingers. "He tes

head. "No. H

amily is born or

is gaze.

through the garden,

ility, the

forged

nter Strike-Flam

erupted i

loors ablaze. Surveillance confir

in the command room, Ele

r De Luca properties," Esme sai

d. "Show the world: De Luc

w across the map.

"She may be a ghost-but

idn't r

na

ay. To

d. "You'll need p

sta

bring his head here

e st

nod

Ground-F

s-drenched, chaos around her. Sire

at the top

m the windows. Flames

one bodyguard injured

"Get her records, DN

ter Mariana

lders. "Then we make s

rew, ducked past hose strea

ung he

or lay debris, b

llowed

e hall,

swu

od there-

le

yes w

ad. "This shoul

d into

tered when shots e

dove

ice. A car exp

sprinted in

h-Blood on

estate, da

od in th

ded to a firem

d against the

moved hi

ver," he sa

"No. But if I'd died-I'd be

sed he

're

he kitchen, silence brok

Stand-A Siste

l, Mariana

foun

your fault

"They wanted to scare

ed her arm.

ked up. Hur

somewhere," s

ed her che

gue-A New

Dante's

file: Operation

e stood united

ooked a

e sun sets o

losed h

es

er the prob

busine

bout Marian

ryt

open

yes w