Page 21 of Ivory Sins
“Do that and she's dead,” Nova says, his knife cutting deeper into my flesh.
“It's over. You've lost. We've raided your server room and your entire network of blackmail is destroyed,” Matteo says.
“Maybe.” Nova shrugs. “But tell me this, Don Bellanti. Do you really believe that she has been working with me this entire time?” he asks, planting a seed of doubt in my brother's heart.
My eyes shift to Matteo, and our gazes meet in a fleeting moment. I can see the hesitation—it's glaring as day that he's actually considering the possibility.
It breaks my heart that he entertains such an allegation against me even for a fraction of a second.
Nova smirks, seeing the doubt in my brother's eyes. “That's right, I didn't think so,” he brags.
I wince at the pain as his knife cuts much deeper than before. Just then, a gunshot rings out and I freeze. My breath hitched in my throat.
Silence falls for a moment, and it's like time itself stands still.
I'm still trying to process what happened when I feel Nova's grip loosen around me, and soon, his body thuds to the floor.
It was Marco—he fired the gun.
I'm not sure how he armed himself with one, but I'm grateful that he did. Free from my captor, I sprint toward Marco, my heart racing in my chest.
Matteo tries to hold me but I shove him away. “Don't touch me. How could you even consider that I'd betray my blood?” I glare at him.
As he's about to respond, another gunfire interrupts our conversation, prompting me to look in the direction it was fired.
Marco finishes Nova off with another bullet. This time he'd gone for his head. Apparently, the first shot only wounded Nova, and he'd tried to reach for a discarded gun on the floor.
Now, he is dead. For real this time.
I run into Marco's embrace, my hands flying around his neck.
“Are you okay?” he asks, his voice dripping with concern.
I nod, my eyes filled with tears. “Your wound.” My eyes dart to his bleeding abdomen.
“I’ll live,” he says, framing my face in his hands.
Marco reaches for my lips and seals them with a tender, passionate kiss. I can hear my brothers grumbling. But I don't give a shit and soon, their voices fade into the background.
At that moment, nothing else matters but me and Marco.
12
Epilogue
Marco
~ One month later
I wrap my arms around Olivia as we stand outside, watching the fire crackling, the last copy of the incriminating video burning in the trash can. The flames dance across her face, highlighting the curve of her cheekbones and the gold flecks in her eyes.
It’s been a month since the truth about Enzo’s death came to light. The DiMartinos received evidence from an anonymous source about what happened that night seven years ago. The footage only incriminated Nova and had nothing to do with Olivia or her family—thanks to Petrov’s manipulation.
Everything’s finally falling into place. Olivia stepped down as her family’s consigliere and founded her own legitimate law firmwith her father’s full support. She’s thriving, and it shows in the way she carries herself these days—lighter, freer.
The Bratva and the Bellanti alliance grow stronger each day. Matteo’s keeping Viktor Petrov in check, his reputation as Don of the Bellanti syndicate spreading far and wide.
My fingers drift to the small velvet box in my pocket. I’ve carried it everywhere for a week, waiting for the perfect moment.
