Chapter 5

The leader of the masked gunmen slowly stepped forward.

As he emerged from the shadows, the guests gasped.

A jagged scar stretched from his temple to the corner of his mouth, twisting his grin into something monstrous.

Even after all these years... I recognized him immediately.

Viktor Moreau.

Once, he had ruled one of the largest crime syndicates in the eastern territories.

Now...

He was a ghost that the underworld believed to be dead.

Viktor laughed, his voice echoing through the auction hall. "Don Alessandro De Luca..."

"It's been a long time."

"I bet you never imagined the man whose empire you destroyed would be standing in front of you again."

Alessandro's expression darkened.

Years ago, before I married him, Viktor's syndicate had been De Lucas' greatest rival.

Then my father, Don Lorenzo Morentti, allied with De Lucas through our marriage.

The Morentti Mafia supplied soldiers, money, weapons, and intelligence.

With our support...

The De Luca Syndicate crushed every rival. And so Viktor. His casinos burned. His ports were seized.

His men either surrendered...

Or disappeared forever.

Today...

He had returned to collect his debt.

Alessandro's elite bodyguards immediately surrounded us, forming a protective circle.

Guns were drawn. Safety catches clicked. The atmosphere grew suffocating.

I finally allowed myself to breathe.

Then...

A violent shove struck my back.

Selena.

She had pushed me with all her strength.

Instinctively, I grabbed her wrist to stop her from falling.

Instead...

Both of us stumbled outside the ring of protection.

Everything happened in seconds. Viktor lunged forward. One arm wrapped around Selena. The other seized me by the throat.

He laughed. "What incredible luck."

"I've captured both women." His cold eyes shifted toward Alessandro.

"I heard your guests whispering." He nodded toward Selena. "Your pregnant wife."

Then his gaze moved to me. "And your beautiful Consigliere." "They say you're quite attached to her."

The hall remained deathly silent. Viktor's smile slowly faded.

"I remember the day I begged you."

His voice became hollow. "I knelt before you." "I offered every casino." "Every warehouse." "Everything I owned." "I begged for mercy."

His eyes burned with hatred. "And you looked down at me..." "...like I was garbage." "You destroyed my empire." "You slaughtered my men." "You left me with nothing." He slowly exhaled.

"So today..." "I'm taking something from you." He tightened his grip around our arms. "I don't want your money." "I don't want your territory." "I want your suffering."

His rifle lifted. Pointing directly at Alessandro.

"Choose." "You only get one." "You save one woman." "The other stays with me."

Selena broke into hysterical sobs. "Alessandro!"

She clutched her stomach desperately. "Our baby!" "Please!" "Save me!"

Then she pointed directly at me. "Sophia pushed me!" "Please don't let our son die!"

Alessandro shut his eyes. His jaw clenched so tightly I thought it might break. The auction hall waited. Every mafia boss watched silently. Waiting for the Don's decision. I lowered my head. I already knew the answer. Not because I believed he loved me. But because I finally understood who he truly loved.

Still... Against all reason... A tiny part of me hoped. When I looked up...

Alessandro slowly raised his hand. His finger pointed...

At me.

My heartbeat stopped. Viktor burst into laughter. "So..." "You choose the Consigliere?"

He shoved Selena violently toward the De Luca bodyguards.

She stumbled into Alessandro's waiting arms.

Viktor looked back at me. "Interesting." "So, this is the woman your heart belongs to."

"And yet..." He glanced toward Selena.

"You abandoned your pregnant lover without hesitation." "What a fascinating man."

His scar stretched into another cruel smile. "Very well." "I'll keep this one."

He grabbed my hair. Forcing my face upward.

"But don't worry." "I'm feeling generous." "I won't kill her." "I'll simply make sure..." "You never forget today."

The first slap exploded across my face. My lip split open instantly. Warm blood filled my mouth.

Across the room...

Alessandro flinched. But he didn't move. His arms remained around Selena. Shielding her. That's when everything became clear. He hadn't chosen me... Because he loved me.

He had chosen me... Because Viktor believed I was precious to him.

If Viktor thought I mattered... Then keeping me would hurt Alessandro more.

While the woman he truly wanted...

Selena would remain safe in his embrace.

I closed my eyes.

My heart... Finally died.

Viktor struck me again. Then again. Each blow echoed through the silent auction hall. No one dared intervene. Not even the most powerful mafia families challenged a desperate man holding hostages.

Blood dripped onto the marble floor. My vision blurred.

Still... I refused to scream. Viktor frowned. "You've got spirit." He snapped his fingers.

Several men pinned my arms behind my back. He slowly tore the shoulder of my gown. Silk ripped apart. Cold air brushed against my exposed skin. Fear finally crawled into my chest. Viktor leaned close enough for me to smell whiskey on his breath. "This isn't personal, sweetheart." He smiled. "I'm simply giving your Don..." "A memory." He ripped the fabric lower.

Across the room... Alessandro finally lost his composure. "Enough!" His roar shook the hall. "I'll give you everything!" "My casinos." "My ports." "A billion dollars." "My territory." "Take it all!" "Just let her go!"

Viktor laughed harder.

The desperation in Alessandro's voice only entertained him.

He reached for the remaining fabric...

Boom!

The auction hall doors exploded inward. Gunfire erupted. Black-clad operators stormed inside from every entrance. Suppressors hissed.

Within seconds...

Viktor's men fell one after another.

The De Luca Syndicate's elite tactical unit had arrived.

Viktor barely had time to react before a sniper's bullet pierced his shoulder. He stumbled backward.

His remaining men were overwhelmed. The attack ended almost as quickly as it began. The hall fell silent once more. Alessandro sprinted toward me.

Without hesitation, he removed his tailored suit jacket and wrapped it around my trembling body.

His hands shook. "I'm sorry..." His voice cracked. "I'm so sorry, Sophia."

He gently lifted me into his arms. For the first time in years... He looked terrified of losing me.

But I felt nothing.

Not anger.

Not relief.

Nothing at all.

I stared blankly ahead. The woman who had loved him... No longer existed. He rushed toward the exit.

"Prepare the convoy!" "Call the syndicate doctors!"

"Move!"

Then— A piercing scream echoed behind us.

"Alessandro!"

Selena collapsed onto the marble floor. Blood spread beneath her expensive gown.

One of Viktor's stray bullets had grazed her abdomen.

"My baby..." She cried weakly. "Our baby..." Alessandro stopped.

Time seemed to freeze. His arms tightened around me. For one brief moment...

I wondered if this time...

He would choose differently. Then he gently set me down.

Except...

There was nothing gentle about it. My weakened body crashed onto the marble. A sharp crack echoed through my shoulder. Pain exploded down my arm. I couldn't stop the cry that escaped my lips.

Alessandro knelt beside me. His eyes were filled with conflict.

"Sophia..." "This is life or death." "You're awake." "You can still move." "You'll be alright." "I'll send someone back for you."

Then...

Without waiting for my answer... He picked Selena up in his arms. And ran.

I watched the man I had once called my husband disappear through the auction hall doors.

Wrapped in his jacket... Lying alone on the cold marble floor... I finally understood something.

The warmth of his coat... Could never compare... To the coldness of his choice. And somewhere beyond the shattered windows of the auction house... Hidden among the rooftops... A sniper lowered his rifle.

He pressed a finger to the silver wolf emblem engraved on his weapon and quietly spoke into his earpiece.

"Our young mistress has made her decision."

"Notify the Don."

"In six days..."

"The Queen of the Morentti Mafia is coming home."