Page 75 of Dark Mafia Bride

I drown myself in work, hoping to distract myself from the tumult of thoughts swirling in my mind. It’s late evening when Luca finally calls.

“Tell me you’ve got something,” I growl as soon as I pick up.

His voice is tense. “I’ve gone through everything—talked to the electricians who did the last repairs, checked the wiring history, even looked into recent disturbances in the grid. So far...it looks clean. It’s just an old wire that went faulty.”

I grind my teeth, irritation spiking through me. If Abruzzi didn’t engineer this, then why had he been there “saving” Mirabella at the exact moment she needed help? If my enemies hadn’t orchestrated this, then why had the old wire chosen that precise moment to ignite when my marriage to Mirabella had become public?

“Keep looking,” I hiss.

There’s a pause, then Luca’s curt reply, “Understood.”

During the course of the week, Luca returns every day with nothing more than the same answer.

Faulty wiring.

It still doesn’t sit well with me. There’s no hard proof, no clear link to anyone, but an innocent accident seems too convenient, especially given everything else that’s been going on.

And even if this fire was nothing more than a mishap, that doesn’t explain why Abruzzi feels so entitled to meddle in my life, my marriage. His presence, his interference, it’s all too much.

I’ve been patient. Too patient, actually.

I summon Luca to my office, and he’s there in minutes, a stoic figure in the doorway.

“Handle something for me with Abruzzi,” I begin, keeping my tone neutral. “I want it to cause a stir, but nothing too obvious. Make sure it gets attention—enough that it won’t be easy to ignore, but clean enough to be overlooked.”

Luca doesn’t miss a beat. “Something...discreet?”

I give him a sharp look. He knows what I mean.

“Exactly. You know what to do.”

He stands there for a moment, that familiar glint in his eyes like he’s already savoring the task. I don’t have to say much else. We think alike.

“Leave it to me,” he says, the words quiet but full of meaning.

He pauses at the door. I call after him, my voice colder now. “And Luca…make sure it doesn’t come back to us. No loose ends.”

He nods without turning, the door clicking shut behind him, leaving me with a quiet sense of satisfaction.

The sun streamsinto my bedroom, bright and warm, casting a golden glow across the marble floor. The space beside me on the bed is empty. Ever since Mirabella’s parents moved in, she spends most of her nights with them in the east wing of the house. It took me a few days to admit it, but I miss having her close.

Even when we don’t touch, just knowing she’s near is enough to calm me. But she almost lost her family. Now, they’re under the same roof, and I understand why she wants to be with them all the time. Still, it doesn’t stop me from craving her presence.

I reach for my burner phone in the bedside drawer and dial the city’s police department.

“There’s a problem you might want to investigate,” I say as soon as the line clicks. “Matteo Abruzzi. He runs illegal loan houses in the slums, exploiting innocent people with shady contracts. And that’s not all. He’s also hiding...well, drugs.”

The voice on the other end hesitates before responding.

“How certain are you of this information?” A woman’s voice asks.

“Certain enough...”

“How can we confirm this isn’t just a prank?” she presses.

I exhale sharply, irritation bubbling up inside me. I could easily call one of my contacts in the department and file a formal report, but I don’t want any of this mess tied back to me. I’m trying to go clean, after all.

“Because I was one of his victims. I’ve been to the place. You know what?” I scoff, the frustration creeping into my tone. “I’ve done my part by telling you. Do with it what you will.”

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