Page 44 of The Mafia's Fake Wife

“You know nothing about what Elena deserves,” I hiss. “You forfeited any right to an opinion when you betrayed her.” I release him, and he slumps against the wall, gasping for air.

“Elena needs to be free,” he croaks, rubbing his throat. Casey’s hands curl into fists, crumpling the envelope slightly. “It’s her choice.”

I lean forward, my voice turning lethal. “She signed a contract. If she wants out, you’ll have to kill me.”

Casey pales further. He’s too stupid to realize Elena could leave anytime. She’s not a prisoner. The contract has provisions for dissolution if she truly wants to end our arrangement, but she hasn’t asked, and I’m enjoying every second of this. “Sit down,” I say, gesturing to the chair across from my desk.

He hesitates, then complies.

I press a button on my desk, activating the digital display on the wall. Our prenuptial agreement appears, with specific clauses highlighted in red. “Do you see this?” I ask, pointing to section 8.4. “Elena is free to leave our marriage at any time, provided certain conditions are met. She’s aware of these terms.”

Casey stares at the document, confusion crossing his face.

“She doesn’t need your rescue, Mr. Harris.” I reach into my desk drawer and pull out a thick file. I open it and turn it towardhim. “What’s more interesting is your relationship with Nikolai Sokolov’s organization, dating back three years before you even met Elena.” I arch my brow. “Would you care to revise your assertion that you only gambled at his establishment, implying it was a recent issue, and desperation rather than precalculated planning drove you to drain Elena’s account?”

His eyes widen, and he starts to sweat profusely.

“You’ve been working for him for quite some time. First as a courier, then handling money. Small jobs. On the side, you met Elena and saw an opportunity.”

I flip through the pages, showing surveillance photos of Casey with known associates of Nikolai. “You’ve done this before,” I continue, pulling out another set of documents. “Angela Jude, 2018. Mary Otterman, 2019. Both women with substantial inheritances and savings. Both women who trusted you, and both women you stole from.”

Casey’s mouth opens and closes, no words coming out.

“Most interesting of all,” I say, pulling out a hospital record, “Is how you met Elena. You were treated in the ER after being beaten by someone’s debt collectors. Elena was the student assigned to your case. You saw her kindness as weakness. An opportunity.”

Casey’s expression shifts from fear to shock. “How did you know about the other women?” he asks, confirming my intelligence is accurate.

“I make it my business to know everything about people who threaten what’s mine,” I say, my voice steady. “And Elena is mine now.”

I close the file and settle back in my chair. “Let me explain your situation clearly. If you interfere with my marriage again, there will be legal consequences. Fraud charges for starters. The evidence I have would put you away for years.” I take another sip of whiskey. “However, your connection to Nikolai elevates this from a personal dispute to something far more serious. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Casey nods slowly, his face ashen.

“Good. Now, I suggest you leave and reconsider your associations. Nikolai is using you, just as you used Elena. The difference is, his games end with people in the ground.” I don’t bother to enlighten the worm yet that I intend to make him long for death as recompense for what he’s done to Elena. I promised her he wouldn’t die but would suffer, and I never go back on my word.

Casey stands on shaky legs. “I just wanted to make things right.”

“No, you wanted to manipulate Elena again. That opportunity is gone.” I nod to my men, who step forward to escort him out. “One more thing,” I say as Casey reaches the door. “I know Nikolai has given you more responsibility now that you’re connected to me through Elena. Tell him I said hello.”

The color drains completely from Casey’s face as he’s led out.

Once he’s gone, I call in Anton. “Continue monitoring him. I want to know every communication he has with Nikolai’s organization. Every meeting, every call, every text, and let me know when there’s an opening to enact my own revenge against him, on Elena’s behalf.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And alert the security team on Elena. If Casey approached our building, he might try to reach her at the hospital.”

Anton nods and leaves to carry out my orders.

That night,I enter the kitchen to find Elena making tea. She looks up as I approach, looking tired from a long shift at the hospital.

“You’re home late,” she says.

I pour us both a glass of vodka instead of tea. “We need to talk.”

She takes the glass, her eyebrows raising at my serious tone. “What happened?”

“Your ex paid me a visit today.”

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