Page 23 of Mafia Heir's Broken Vows

“They’re safe,” Enzo replies firmly. “Back at the estate, under heavy guard.”

I exhale, but it’s not enough to dull the sharp edge of fury building inside me. My gaze locks on the car, my mind replayingevery move. Marco wanted me to believe they were in danger. He wanted me to lose control.

“How the hell did they leave without my men?” My voice is low, the question biting.

Enzo shifts, his frustration matching mine. “He knew how to bait you. That picture was all it took.”

It wasn’t just a picture. It was a calculated move—one meant to remind me that Marco’s reach isn’t limited to words. He wanted me to feel the weight of the threat, even if it was hollow.

I clench my jaw, my fists tightening at my sides. “Marco made his move.” I glance at the car, a symbol of the power struggle he ignited. “Now it’s our turn.”

Enzo nods, his stance steady. “What’s the plan?”

I haven't got one—yet. "Also, your father wants to see you," Enzo says. "He sounds extra happy today."

Of course, he does. I roll my eyes. I do not have the time to upset my father right now. I will need to go and see him, to keep the family peace.

SERAFINA

The rain taps against the window as I sit at the edge of the bed, staring at Leo's small, sleeping form. His soft breathing is the only sound in the room, a soothing rhythm that should calm me—but doesn't. My heart feels like it's lodged in my throat.

I've been pacing the last two hours, restless and unable to shake the feeling of being caged. Alessandro's mansion is secure, yes, but it's also suffocating. Guards at every door, cameras tracking every move. It feels like I traded one prison for another.

The sleek black sedan Alessandro "gifted" me sits in the driveway, a constant reminder of how tightly he controls everything. I know he means well—or at least, I'd like to think he does. But I can't live like this. I need to breathe. And Leo—he deserves some semblance of normalcy.

The decision to leave this morning wasn't impulsive, even if Alessandro would see it that way. I'd planned every detail carefully. I told myself it was just a quick trip to one of his businesses to grab supplies and a few personal items I'd left behind—nothing risky. Nothing Alessandro would need to know about. I didn't want another argument. Didn't want him to tell me no.

So I'd waited until the guards were busy with their rotations, dressed Leo quickly, and slipped out. The sedan handled like a dream, its powerful engine humming beneath my hands as I drove through the rain-slick streets. Leo had been excited to get out, chattering about the puddles splashing against the car and how the rain made everything look like it was dancing.

For a while, it felt normal. Like we were just two regular people running errands, not fugitives hiding from a war.

But normalcy is an illusion I should have known better than to trust.

When I pulled into the parking lot, I didn't notice anything unusual at first. The rain was coming down harder, obscuring everything. I parked near the entrance, unbuckled Leo, and held his hand as we ran through the drizzle toward the building. I thought we'd be in and out in minutes.

It wasn't until I came back to the car, Leo in tow, that I saw the message.

The envelope tucked under the windshield wiper was soaked, the ink bleeding into the paper. My heart stopped as I pulled it free, the words smudged but still legible.

TICK TOCK.

I froze, my breath hitching as if the air had been sucked from the world around me. My pulse roared in my ears, drowning out everything but the words etched into my mind.

Leo tugged at my hand, his small fingers grounding me in a moment that felt anything but stable. He was oblivious to the threat looming over us, blissfully unaware of the danger that had just shifted everything.

I didn’t even have time to process the chaos swirling in my chest before a voice cut through the silence behind me—sharp, cold, and far too close.

"Move away from the car, now."

Enzo. His voice was calm but commanding, cutting through the storm in my head. I hadn't even noticed his men arriving, hadn't seen the black SUVs pulling into the lot. Everything became a blur after that—Enzo pulling us back, his men surrounding the car, their weapons drawn. Leo started to cry, clutching my leg, and I had to kneel, whispering soothing words I didn't even believe myself.

Enzo kept me close, his hand on my shoulder, a silent anchor as my world spiraled.

And then Alessandro arrived.

I saw the moment his eyes landed on me and Leo, the way his jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists at his sides. The rage was palpable, radiating off him like a storm ready to break. But he didn't yell. Not there, not in front of Leo.

He waited until we were back at the estate to unleash the fury I knew was coming.

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