Page 60 of Mafia Don's Twisted Union

I sit down, picking up the most recent letter again, my father’s handwriting growing shakier toward the end. He wrote about the ledger as though it were more than just evidence; it was a weapon. Whatever the ledger contains it must have the power to take down Matteo’s empire.

The door creaks open behind me, and I turn quickly to see Carlito standing in the doorway again. His dark eyes take in the spread of papers on the desk before locking onto mine.

“It’s late now Mia, you’ve been in here for hours. What are you doing?” he asks again, his voice measured but edged with suspicion.

I hesitate, the weight of my secret pressing down on me. But something in his expression—a vulnerability beneath his hardened exterior—makes me falter.

“I’m trying to understand,” I admit quietly, gesturing to the letters. “About my father. About why he left all of this behind for me.”

Carlito steps into the room, his presence commanding yet careful, as though he doesn’t want to shatter the fragile calm between us. “Your father was a complicated man,” he says, his voice softening. “He wanted to protect you from this world, but in doing so, he left you vulnerable to it.”

I nod, his words resonating with the letters I’ve read. “He wrote about the ledger,” I say cautiously, watching for his reaction. “About how it could take down Matteo.”

Carlito stiffens slightly, his jaw tightening. “And you believe it’s still there? Hidden on the property?”

“Yes,” I reply, my voice steadier now. “And if Matteo gets it first...”

“I won’t let that happen,” he interrupts, his tone firm. He moves closer, his hand brushing mine as he leans against the desk. “But you need to trust me, Mia. If we’re going to get through this, we have to do it together.”

I want to believe him, but the memory of Dominic’s words lingers:"Matteo isn’t the only threat you need to worry about."

I swallow hard, forcing the doubt from my voice. “I trust you, Carlito. But this ledger... it’s part of my father’s legacy. I need to see it for myself.”

His expression shifts, a mix of frustration and understanding. “I know,” he says after a moment. “And I’ll make sure you do. But not alone.”

Chapter 28

Carlito

The penthouse is eerily quiet as I step into the living room, my footsteps muted against the marble floor. A quick glance at the clock on the wall tells me it’s barely dawn, but something feels off. The air feels charged, a storm brewing just beneath the surface.

Leo’s voice crackles through the living room, cutting into my thoughts. “Carlito, we’ve got a problem.”

The knot in my chest tightens. “What now?” I snap.

“It’s Mia,” Leo says, his tone low but urgent. “She’s gone.”

The words stop me cold. “Gone?” I repeat, disbelief and anger mixing into a volatile cocktail.

“She left sometime during the night. We’ve traced her heading toward the inheritance property.”

Every muscle in my body coils tight, my mind racing. “How the hell did this happen? We have security everywhere!”

“She was careful,” Leo replies grimly. “There’s no sign of forced entry or alarms triggered. Looks like she slipped past us.”

Mia. Her determination is both maddening and admirable, but this time, it’s outright reckless.

I slam my fist onto the desk, the impact rattling the items on it. “Send men after her. Now.”

Leo hesitates. “She’s already got a head start, and Matteo’s forces are mobilizing near the property. We’ll need to act fast.”

“I’ll handle it,” I bark. “Assemble the team and prepare the vehicles. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

The call ends, leaving me in the suffocating silence of my own thoughts.

She left without telling me. Without trusting me.

The anger simmering beneath my skin flares into something sharper, but beneath it lies fear—a fear I can’t shake. If Matteo gets to her before I do...

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