Page 69 of Mafia Don's Twisted Union

Carlito sits across from me, his expression unreadable as he swirls a glass of whiskey in his hand. Finally, he breaks the silence. “She’s stronger than I gave her credit for.”

“She’s always been strong,” I reply softly. “She just needed to find a way to be herself without the weight of all this.” I gesture vaguely around the room, encompassing the legacy, the danger, and the ties that bind us.

Carlito nods, his dark eyes thoughtful. “She’s doing what Dario would’ve wanted. Starting fresh. Away from this world.”

At the mention of Dario, my throat tightens. “She deserves it. After everything she’s lost...”

Carlito leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “We all do, Mia. A chance to start over. To build something better.”

I turn to him, searching his face. “Do you think that’s possible? For us?”

His gaze holds steady, filled with the quiet intensity I’ve come to know so well. “It won’t be easy. But nothing worth having ever is.”

His words settle between us, and for a moment, the silence is comforting, a shared understanding of the journey ahead. I rise from the couch and walk to the large windows, staring out at the city that has been both our battleground and sanctuary.

“We’ve survived so much,” I say quietly. “But sometimes I wonder if the scars will ever fade.”

Carlito stands and joins me, his presence a steady anchor. “Scars don’t fade,” he says, his voice low but sure. “They remind us of what we’ve fought for. What we’ve lost. And what we’ll never lose again.”

His hand brushes against mine, a small but powerful gesture. I glance at him, his dark eyes reflecting the same hope and determination I feel stirring within me.

Before I can respond, the doorbell chimes, cutting through the stillness. Carlito tenses, but I place a hand on his arm. “It’s Leo,” I say, already moving to answer it.

Leo steps inside, his usual stoic demeanor softened by a rare smile. “The property is officially all yours now. The security checks have been done twice and it’s secured for good”

Relief floods me but it’s tempered by the weight of responsibility. “Thank you, Leo,” I say, my voice steady.

He nods, his gaze flickering to Carlito. “You’ve done what no one else could. Now it’s time to focus on what comes next.”

Leo leaves us alone, and I turn back to Carlito. “He’s right. This isn’t just about survival anymore. It’s about living.”

Carlito pulls me close, his hands warm and steady against my back. “Then let’s start now,” he murmurs, his voice a promise.

I nod, feeling the pieces of our lives finally settling into place. Together, we’ve faced the darkness. Now, it’s time to embrace the light.

Carlito leads me to the balcony, the cool evening air carrying a refreshing stillness. Below us, the city glimmers, alive and bustling—a stark contrast to the serene quiet between us. For the first time in weeks, there’s no immediate threat looming, no secrets clawing their way to the surface.

I rest my hands on the railing, looking out at the lights. “Do you think this is what it feels like? To finally start over?”

Carlito steps beside me, his arm brushing mine. “Starting over doesn’t erase the past,” he says, his voice low. “But it gives us the chance to shape something better. For us. For the baby.”

The mention of our child pulls at my heart in a way I didn’t expect. I place a hand over my stomach, a protective instinct rising within me. “I want that more than anything,” I whisper.

Carlito’s hand covers mine, his warmth grounding me. “Then we’ll build it. Together.”

His thumb brushes my cheek, his dark eyes softer than I’ve ever seen them. “You’re incredible, Mia. Stronger than you know.”

I let out a soft laugh, tinged with disbelief. “After everything we’ve been through, I think we both have a new understanding of what strength is.”

Carlito’s lips tug into a faint smile, but his gaze grows more intense. “Strength, yes. But also trust. I didn’t think I could let anyone in the way I’ve let you in, Mia. You’ve changed me.”

I blink back tears, his words hitting me harder than I expect. “You’ve changed me too, Carlito. You made me realize I can be more than just... afraid.”

His hand tightens on mine as he pulls me closer. “You never have to be afraid again. Not with me.”

His kiss takes me by surprise—not rough or desperate, but steady and full of quiet emotion. His lips move against mine as though he’s trying to tell me everything he can’t put into words.

His hands slide up to cradle my face, thumbs brushing my cheeks as the kiss deepens. There’s no urgency, just the quiet, deliberate way he moves, like he’s memorizing the moment. My fingers find their way to his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath my touch. He breaks the kiss just long enough to press his forehead against mine, his breath warm against my lips.

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