Page 61 of Mafia Don's Twisted Union

I shake the thought away and head toward the bedroom. The bed is neatly made, the faintest trace of her perfume lingering in the air. On the nightstand, I spot a folded note. My stomach sinks as I pick it up, unfolding the paper to reveal Mia’s delicate handwriting:

“I’m sorry, Carlito. I have to do this. Trust me.”

The words blur as a thousand emotions collide within me. She’s brave, I’ll give her that. But bravery without caution is a death sentence.

I crumple the note in my hand, the paper biting into my palm as I leave the room.

---

In the vehicle, Leo sits across from me, his expression tight. “Matteo’s forces are scattered but closing in near the property. We estimate they’ll make their move within the next few hours.”

I nod, staring out the window as the cityscape blurs into the horizon beyond. The roads ahead are empty, but the weight in my chest feels anything but.

Mia’s resolve reminds me of her father’s. Bold, unyielding, and dangerously reckless. It’s what made him both a formidable ally and a challenging adversary.

But she’s not her father. She’s mine to protect. Mine to keep safe.

“Contact our men at the property,” I say, my voice cold and sharp. “Tell them to hold their ground until I get there.”

Leo nods, but there’s a flicker of unease in his eyes. “And Mia?”

I meet his gaze, my own unflinching. “She’s not going anywhere. Not while I’m alive.”

The car speeds down the empty road, the rising sun casting long shadows over the horizon. Each mile brings me closer to the property—and closer to whatever fate awaits us there.

The desert stretches endlessly, the barren landscape offering no solace. My thoughts churn as the car hums beneath me, each second ticking away like a bomb ready to explode.

“She’s smart,” Leo says, breaking the silence. “If Mia’s gone there, it’s because she thinks she can help.”

“Help?” I bite out the word like it’s poison. “Walking into Matteo’s crosshairs isn’t helping—it’s suicide.”

Leo leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “She knows about the ledger now. If she thinks she can get to it before Matteo, maybe she’s trying to end this her way.”

“That’s exactly the problem,” I snap. “She’s trying to do it alone. If Matteo finds her—”

I don’t finish the thought. The very idea twists in my chest, leaving a sharp ache behind.

“She doesn’t understand what he’s capable of,” I continue, more to myself than to Leo. “Matteo doesn’t negotiate. He takes what he wants, and he leaves destruction behind.”

“And you think she doesn’t see that?” Leo challenges gently. “She’s not blind, Carlito. She’s fighting for what she believes in, just like you.”

---

The convoy of black SUVs comes into view as we approach the property’s perimeter. Armed guards stand at attention, their faces grim under the early morning light.

I step out of the car, the desert air cool against my skin. Leo follows, a clipboard in hand as he begins coordinating with the men.

“Any signs of Matteo’s forces?” I ask one of the guards, my voice cutting through the hum of activity.

“Scouts spotted movement about three miles west,” the guard replies. “We’re tracking them, but they’re holding position for now.”

“They’re waiting for something,” I mutter.

Leo steps up beside me. “Or someone.”

My jaw tightens as I scan the horizon, the faint outlines of hills and scrubland offering little comfort. Somewhere out there, Mia is walking straight into danger, and every second she’s ahead feels like an eternity.

“Double the patrols,” I order. “I want eyes on every possible approach. If they make a move, we hit them hard and fast.”

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