Page 64 of Mafia Don's Twisted Union

Carlito stiffens, his body tense with recognition. “Stay behind me,” he commands, his voice a deadly whisper.

Matteo smiles, a predator circling his prey. “You’ve fought well, Carlito,” he says, his tone mocking. “But it ends here.”

The ledger feels heavier in my grasp, its secrets burning against my skin. As the enemy closes in, I realize there’s no turning back.

This is it. The fight for everything.

Carlito shifts his stance, his entire body braced like a shield. “If you think I’ll let you win, you’re more delusional than I thought,” he snarls at Matteo, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.

Matteo’s smirk widens, his gun still trained on us. “You’ve already lost, Carlito. That ledger belongs to me, just like everything your pathetic empire once touched.”

Before Carlito can respond, a deafening explosion erupts from the far side of the property, sending dirt and debris flying into the air. The ground trembles beneath us, and I clutch the envelope tighter, my knuckles white against its edges.

“Leo!” Carlito shouts, his voice barely audible over the roar.

Leo appears through the haze, blood streaking his temple but his stance unyielding. “We’ve got reinforcements coming,” he says breathlessly. “But Matteo’s pushing harder than we expected.”

Carlito’s jaw tightens, and his eyes flick toward me. “Mia, now’s your chance. Get to the house. Lock yourself in and don’t come out until I get you.”

“No,” I say fiercely, stepping closer to him. “I’m not running.”

“Mia—” His voice breaks, the fear beneath his frustration flashing in his dark eyes.

“Carlito, I’m not leaving you,” I insist, my grip tightening on his arm.

Before he can argue further, a gunshot whizzes past us, embedding into the side of the SUV. Matteo’s men are closing in, their advance relentless.

Carlito pulls me into a crouch, his eyes blazing with frustration and fear. “Stay low,” he orders, his tone leaving no room for debate.

As the battle intensifies, I watch Carlito command his men with precision and authority, his presence a beacon amid the chaos. His every move is calculated, his determination unwavering.

But Matteo isn’t backing down. He steps closer, his men flanking him like a wall of muscle and firepower.

“You can’t win this, Carlito,” Matteo sneers, his voice laced with venom. “Hand over the ledger, and I might consider letting you crawl away with your life.”

Carlito lets out a sharp, humorless laugh. “You don’t get to make demands, Matteo. Not here. Not ever.”

The tension between them is electric, the weight of their rivalry palpable. I can feel the history between them, the years of hatred and betrayal simmering to the surface.

Suddenly, a familiar figure emerges from the shadows, his presence cutting through the smoke like a ghost. Dominic.

My breath catches as he strides forward, his expression grim and resolute. He holds a weapon at his side, his movements deliberate but measured.

“Dominic,” Matteo growls, his eyes narrowing. “What the hell are you doing?”

Dominic doesn’t answer immediately. His gaze flickers to me, then to Carlito, before finally settling on Matteo.

“What I should have done a long time ago,” he says, his voice low but firm.

Matteo’s face contorts with fury, his gun shifting toward Dominic. “You dare betray me?”

Dominic doesn’t flinch. Instead, he raises his weapon, his aim steady. “You’ll never get the ledger,” he says, his tone filled with finality.

The tension snaps like a taut wire, and the air erupts in gunfire once more. Dominic moves with precision, placing himself between us and Matteo’s men, his actions speaking louder than any words ever could.

I cling to Carlito as the battle rages on, the weight of the ledger pressing against my chest like a lifeline. For the first time, I see Dominic for what he truly is—not just a brother, but a man searching for redemption.

And in this moment, he’s risking everything to protect us.

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