Page 30 of Mafia Heir's Broken Vows

"I couldn't risk it. Not with Leo. I can't tell you, Alessandro, he is my son, and it is my job to keep him safe."

"He's our son Serafina, and I can't make sure either of you are safe if you keep secrets like this from me." She has got to stop pushing me away.

The afternoon isa haze of precautions—security tightened, weapons checked, men positioned at every entry point. But none of it matters if Serafina keeps shutting me out.

I have at it with the men who are supposed to keep the place airtight. I want answers. How did he get in here?

"Enzo," I raise my voice because I am angry enough to lose my cool, "This is a fucking fortress. How did he just drive right in and back out? Have you seen the footage? He was literally at my fucking door!"

"Boss, I have been looking into it."

"Look harder, so I know who to fucking kill," I snap, "this is not something I'll let slide. Someone needs to pay for fucking up." I want to kill or fire them all—because I have a traitor in the midst of my most trusted crew.

"We will get to the bottom of it," he says, "Boss. I don't know how he did it, but I can tell you whatever he said to her it upset her enough that she cried." I'll kill him myself—that will solve all my issues with one single bullet.

"I want the traitor, whoever betrayed my trust, and let that man into my home to answer to me. Do you understand?" I rage, slamming my hand down on my desk. Enzo rushes off to do his job, and I am left to pace up and down the study fighting my demons, ignoring my father's relentless calls.

I watch her from the study window. She walks alone in the garden, moving slowly like the weight of the world is on her. She keeps glancing over her shoulder, like someone is following her.

She's pulling away from me, and I don't know how to stop it.

My mind is racing. Marco has pushed her buttons, and if I don't act, I'll lose her. And Leo. I still have to deal with my father—Isabella and this arrangement he has made. People are talking about it like my wedding is next week, and for all I know, it is.

SERAFINA

Marco's threat claws at every corner of my mind, clouding every thought. I can still hear his voice, dripping with venom, threatening to rip Leo away from me. He'd make my son an orphan—or worse, kill all three of us.

Imagining my boy alone in this world makes my heart ache—they'd eat him alive. In the quiet, I sit and think about my life, and what I want it to look like. What would happiness be for Leo and me? This is not what I want my life to be, the fear, and constant threats. Looking over my shoulder even walking around in my own backyard. It's not healthy, or normal—Leo deserves a normal life.

The silence is shattered.

"We need to talk," Alessandro's voice cuts through the stillness interrupting my thoughts, sharp and commanding.

I stop, my breath catching. "Not now." I don't want to face him—and the truth.

"Now." He is mad. "There is no later, now!"

He towers over me as he steps into my personal space. His eyes lock onto mine, burning with a mix of suspicion and frustration. He's losing patience with me, and I can't blame him.

"What are you not telling me, Serafina?" He presses again.

My throat closes, and it's hard to swallow or talk. "I've told you what I can.," I lie, the words bitter on my tongue.

His jaw flexes, and his eyes narrow. "Don't lie to me. You're pulling away. You flinch when I get close. What did Marco say to you?" If I tell him, he will lose his shit and go on a rampage. Leo could get hurt—we all could.

"This isn't about Marco." It's about me making the right choice for my son.

He laughs, but there's no humor in it. "Everything is about Marco right now! He's in our shadows. Fuck! He was in our yard and you—you're acting like I'm the enemy!" He radiates anger, his whole body vibrates with rage.

"Because you are! Your world is dangerous, Alessandro! Leo and I—we don't belong here! Your family is a toxic nightmare, and I want to leave." I have to go—he has to let me go. If he doesn't… God knows what Marco will do. "I don't want to raise my son with the man who killed my brother. I'm not here for you. I want to go."

His face darkens. "You think leaving will be safe? You think Marco will just let you go?" He isn't after me. He wants Alessandro. "He wants something from you. He'll never just allow you to go."

My voice cracks. "I can't live like this. Always looking over my shoulder. He doesn't want me or Leo. He wants you."

Alessandro takes another step forward, and suddenly the air feels too thick, I can't breathe.

"Tell me what he said."

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