Chapter 29: Liana
"The Benedettis are gone."
Papa makes the announcement at breakfast like he's commenting on the weather forecast, casual and matter-of-fact.
I look up from my coffee, the cup halfway to my lips. "Gone?"
"Roberto and his family left the city. Their operations are completely dismantled. Warehouses closed and emptied. Contracts dissolved. Suppliers redistributed to other families." He butters his toast carefully. "It's over."
Mama crosses herself with genuine relief. "Thank God. I've been worried sick."
Gia looks at me across the table, raises a knowing eyebrow.
I keep my face carefully neutral, giving nothing away. "Good. That's good news."
"Yes." Papa takes a bite of toast. "Santino Marcello did what needed to be done."
Hearing Papa say it out loud makes it undeniably real.
"He eliminated a threat to this family," Papa continues, his tone carrying grudging respect. "Quickly. Efficiently. Thoroughly. I can respect that kind of execution."
"Very old mafia of him," I mutter into my coffee cup.
"Liana." Mama's voice is soft and reproachful. "You should be grateful."
"I am grateful." I set down my cup with more force than necessary. "Grateful the Benedettis are gone. Grateful I don't have to worry about them coming back for revenge. I have workto do." I leave before anyone can argue or ask more questions I don't want to answer.
My bodyguards are waiting outside the dining room, professional and alert. They fall into step behind me as I head toward the garage.
"The port?" Alessandro asks quietly.
"Yes."
We drive through the morning traffic. I stare out the window, watching the city pass by in a blur. Try not to think about Santino. Try not to think about the fact that he destroyed an entire crime family in less than a week and disappeared from my life.
No calls. No texts. No attempts to see me or explain himself.
Just silence.
Of course, Papa did tell him he wasn’t allowed to see me again, so there’s that. Santino could’ve found a way to contact me though. If he truly wanted to see me again.
Instead, he did his mafia duty. Eliminated the threat that made him look weak. Saved face after his fiancée was kidnapped on his watch.
Can't have people thinking Santino Marcello is weak or incompetent. Can't have other families wondering if he can protect what's his.
He destroyed the Benedettis systematically and brutally. Not for me personally. For his reputation. For his standing in this world.
When we arrive at the port, I head inside, determined to focus on work. But I can’t concentrate. All I can think about is why Santino didn’t fight harder for us.
For me.
I work late, hours past sunset. I’m not afraid since my bodyguards stay posted outside my door. I'm in the middle of reviewing shipping manifests, when there's a knock on my door.
"Come in."
Alessandro enters, carrying a large wicker basket that looks expensive and elegant.
I frown. "What's that?"
