Page 19 of Mafia Don's Twisted Union

Her lips part, and for a brief second, vulnerability flashes across her face. “If you’re referring to—”

“I’m not.” I cut her off, the words harsher than I intend. Her shoulders stiffen, and I hate the way her guard snaps back into place. “I’m referring to the gala. Security needs to be a priority.”

Relief and something akin to disappointment flicker in her eyes. “Of course. I’ll coordinate with your team.”

“Good.” I step back, giving her space.

She nods, her professionalism firmly in place once again. “Well, if there’s nothing else, I should get started on the updates.”

“Mia,” I say again, softer this time.

She pauses at the door, her hand on the knob, waiting.

“Thank you,” I say, the words coming out rougher than intended. “For everything.”

Her gaze softens, and a faint smile tugs at her lips. “You’re welcome, Carlito.”

She slips out the door, leaving me alone in the stillness of the room. I stare after her, the weight of unspoken words pressing heavily on my chest.

This tension between us is becoming harder to ignore.

---

Minutes after Mia leaves, the quiet of the boardroom is interrupted by Leo stepping in, his expression unreadable as always. He shuts the door softly behind him, the faint click grounding me back into reality.

“There’s something you need to see,” Leo says, sliding a tablet across the polished surface of the table. On the screen is a grainy still from security footage—a man, nondescript except for the way he carries himself. Confident, too confident for someone who should be invisible.

“Who is he?” I ask, my tone sharp as I study the image.

“Not sure yet,” Leo replies. “But he’s been spotted hanging around a few of our vendors’ locations. Could be a scout, could be someone testing the waters.”

“Or it could be worse,” I murmur, the implications settling heavily in my chest.

Leo nods, his voice steady. “I’ll dig deeper. But whoever he is, he’s playing close to our orbit. That makes him a problem.”

I lean back in my chair, my gaze fixed on the screen. “Make sure the problem doesn’t become a threat. I want his movements tracked and everything about him uncovered.”

Leo smirks faintly. “Already on it.”

As he leaves the room, my focus shifts back to the image on the tablet. The man is a stranger to me, but the way he carries himself is all too familiar of a Mafia type. He moves like someone with a purpose. Someone who doesn’t plan to leave quietly.

The gala is fast approaching, and with it comes an audience strangers I cannot control.

I set the tablet aside, my thoughts circling back to Mia. She has no idea what kind of life I lead and what kind of world she’s about to be dragged into.

If this stranger is a sign of what’s to come, the path ahead is going to be a whole lot more interesting.

Tomorrow, Mia will face her own challenges, though she has no idea how dangerous they might turn out to be.

Chapter 9

Mia

It’s been two days since the boardroom meeting with Bianca and Carlito. The soft hum of voices and the occasional clatter of cutlery echo through the vendor meeting room in the Venetian. It’s a polished, understated space—elegant without trying too hard. The neutral tones of the walls and the gleaming table at its center reflect the meticulous standards Carlito expects for his gala.

I glance at my notes, running through the vendor proposals again. Today feels heavier than usual, the pressure mounting with every passing day. Carlito’s words from when we were with Bianca ring in my ears:The gala isn’t only about logistics. It’s about perception.

It’s mid-afternoon, and my scheduled meetings have gone smoothly so far. This is where I thrive—coordinating, negotiating, and balancing the complex puzzle of an event asgrand as this one. Yet, for some reason, my skin prickles with unease.

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