Forced To Be The Mafia King's Bride novel Chapter 32

Dante's POV

Gianna walked out of my office, completely unaware she was a pawn in a long game of revenge.

I rose from my seat and let my eyes scan the pictures, files, maps, lists, everything I had scattered across my desk.

One picture set my blood boiling, and my gaze fixed on it.

Augusto Vitale.

I snatched it up, jaw tightening, and grabbed the red marker that always sat on my desk. With one violent stroke, I carved a thick X across his smug face.

Gianna had confirmed what I already suspected. Augusto was the traitor among the seated clans. He had been the one who helped Lorenzo steal my crown. Now there was no doubt.

And now, I was coming for all of them.

A familiar knock broke through my haze of rage.

“Come in, Bruno,” I called.

The door opened and my right hand stepped in with a grin stretched across his face. That cocky grin told me exactly what I needed to know he had good news.

“Don,” Bruno said, excitement in his voice, “Phase Two has been successfully completed. I just finished meeting with the leaders of the two weaker clan families at the table. They’ve decided to back you.”

I nodded, letting the words settle.

From the night we raided Lorenzo’s house, we didn’t go away empty-handed. We brought in our best men, cracked open his safe, and what we found was worth more than gold: recordings, ledgers, blackmail, evidence on every clan member, every shady deal, every betrayal, except Augusto. Lorenzo had used that leverage to control them, forcing them to do his bidding.

But now the leverage was mine.

I’d already forced three families into alignment. Alignment was a generous word for it. They hadn’t agreed out of loyalty. They agreed because I’d left them no choice. In this life, betrayal left no room for mercy: bend the knee or burn.

The smaller clans didn’t stand a chance in wars like these, they dissolved into my empire.

That left two.

The Luto family, the only ones who never betrayed me even when the others bowed to Lorenzo. They were too small to fight alone, but they endured, and their loyalty would not go unrewarded.

Everything was falling into place faster than I’d anticipated.

I finally lifted my gaze to Bruno, who was still grinning. “Great job, Bruno. That means we’re on track to move to the next phase.” I paused, the words tasting like victory.

“Phase Three?” Bruno asked, a spark of excitement in his eyes.

“Phase Three, taking back my crown.”

Bruno’s grin widened. “Seems like that’s going to happen earlier than we planned.”

I raised a brow, confusion etched across my face. “How so?”

Bruno leaned forward slightly, savoring the news. “One of the clans, the Orthegas, mentioned a date has been chosen for the annual clan meeting.”

“Fuck,” I growled. My blood boiled as the pieces locked into place.

I straightened, then slammed my palms against the desk. “But it’s not supposed to happen until months from now.”

Bruno’s tone didn’t waver. “They moved up the date. The Ortegas said it was an emergency meeting, scheduled just last night.”

Unable to stay in place, I pushed off the desk and leaned back against it, jaw tight. Those slimy bastards wanted to move ahead of me, take the crown before I was ready. But thanks to Bruno, always keeping me one step ahead, they wouldn’t blindside me.

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