Page 49 of Mafia Don's Twisted Union

She pulls back, her tear-streaked face filled with a painful mixture of love and determination. “Maybe I need to learn to protect myself.”

Her suitcase wheels squeak against the marble as she turns to leave. The sound of the front door closing behind her echoes through the penthouse, leaving an emptiness that feels too vast to fill.

Leo enters the study a moment later, his eyes scanning the room as if sensing the tension. “Dominic’s activity near the property is ramping up,” he says, breaking the silence.

“Tell the men to prepare,” I say, my voice cold now, all traces of vulnerability locked away. “If Dominic makes a move, I want him stopped before he gets anywhere close.”

Leo nods and leaves, his departure leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I turn to the window, the city lights sprawling below. The view is as breathtaking as ever, but tonight, it feels like a battlefield I’m losing control of.

The stillness of the penthouse is unsettling, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside me. Every decision I’ve made feels like a double-edged sword, cutting as much as it protects.

Bianca’s departure weighs heavily on me, her final words echoing in my mind. She’s not wrong about the chaos my world brings, but letting her go feels like a failure. For all my power, I couldn’t give my daughter the one thing she craved most—peace.

I turn back to the desk, my eyes scanning the dossier Leo left behind. Dominic’s presence near the inheritance property isn’t just a move; it’s a message. Matteo knows the value of that land—what it represents—and he’s leveraging Dominic to strike where it hurts most.

A sharp knock on the study door snaps me from my thoughts. Leo steps in, his expression as grim as ever. “We’ve confirmed Dominic’s team has scouted the property multiple times today. He’s not being subtle about it.”

“Good,” I say, my tone cold and calculated. “If he’s being bold, he’s making mistakes. I want every patrol reinforced. No gaps, no blind spots. If Dominic steps onto that land, I want him taken down before he knows what hit him.”

Leo nods but hesitates, something unspoken lingering in his posture. “Carlito,” he begins carefully, “this isn’t just about the property, is it? Matteo’s pushing harder because he knows Mia’s tied to it. This isn’t a typical play for territory. He’s aiming for her.”

His words ignite a fury I’ve been holding back all day. “Then Matteo just signed his death warrant,” I growl, slamming the dossier shut.

But even as the words leave my mouth, a sliver of doubt creeps in. Matteo isn’t just any rival—he’s my equal in ruthlessness and strategy. If he’s targeting Mia, he’s prepared for whatever retaliation I bring.

The thought tightens my chest. Mia’s safety is my priority, but the truth is, I’ve brought her into a war she didn’t choose. And now, with Dominic circling closer, the stakes have never been higher.

“I’ll handle it,” I say, more to myself than to Leo.

He nods and leaves the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

For a moment, the silence hangs heavy between us, pressing down like a weight I can’t lift. Then I hear soft footsteps, and Mia steps into the study. She pauses in the doorway, her hazel eyes searching mine.

“We need to talk,” she says, her voice steady but carrying an edge that wasn’t there before.

I nod, gesturing toward the chair across from me. “I’ll tell you what I can,” I say, though I already know she won’t be satisfied with that.

She doesn’t sit. Instead, she stands firm, her gaze narrowing. “Where’s Bianca?” she asks abruptly.

The question takes me off guard. For a moment, I hesitate, unsure how to soften the blow. “She’s gone,” I say finally. “She left earlier this evening.”

Her brows knit together, a flicker of disbelief crossing her face. “She left?”

“She needed space,” I explain, keeping my tone calm. “After everything with Dario, she couldn’t stay here any longer.”

Mia shakes her head, stepping back as if the words physically hit her. “You just let her go?”

“She made her choice,” I reply evenly. “I couldn’t stop her, Mia. And I won’t try to control you, either.”

Her lips part as if to argue, but she closes them again, pressing her fingers to her temple instead. Without another word, she turns and walks away.

A few moments later, I hear the soft click of the sliding balcony door. Mia must be trying to get some fresh air.

I decide not to follow her and instead make my way deeper into the penthouse.

The news about Bianca isn’t anything I can fix with words.

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