Mafia Girl's Journey

Chapter 22:Shadowed Loyalties

Matteo Vitale’s POV:

My brother has always been the one with a fire burning inside him—a fire that drove him to take risks, to play with the edges of danger like it was a game. I used to think I understood him, that we were cut from the same cloth. But lately, something has changed. I see it in the way he moves, in the way his thoughts seem to drift when they should be razor-sharp. I see it in the way he looks at her.

Amara Rossi.

It’s a problem—one I can’t ignore any longer. The bond between our families is supposed to be one of convenience, a strategic alliance forged in blood and money. Love, passion, any of that sentimental bullshit—there’s no room for it in our world. It complicates things, makes us vulnerable. And right now, Marco can’t afford to be vulnerable. None of us can.

I’ve been watching him closely, picking up on the subtle shifts in his demeanor. He’s still the same brother I’ve always known, but there’s something else beneath the surface, something deeper that’s pulling him away from the mission at hand. It worries me, but it also pisses me off. We’re in the middle of a war, and he’s letting himself be distracted by a girl. No matter who she is, no matter how much he thinks he needs her, she’s a liability.

As I move through the corridors of our home, I consider my options. Marco isn’t one to listen to reason when his mind is set on something, and if I push him too hard, I risk driving a wedge between us. But I can’t sit by and watch him throw everything away for some misguided notion of love.

I enter my study and pour myself a drink, the amber liquid swirling in the glass like liquid gold. The taste is sharp on my tongue, a reminder of the cold, hard realities we face every day. There’s no room for weakness in our world, and I’ll be damned if I let my brother fall prey to it.

There’s a knock on the door, and I turn to see one of our men standing in the doorway. “Boss, we’ve received word that the Russians are making another move. We need to be ready.”

I nod, already shifting gears. “Tell the men to gear up. We’re not letting them take another inch of our territory.”

As the door closes behind him, I down the rest of my drink and set the glass aside. There’s no time to dwell on Marco’s distractions. We have a war to win, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure we come out on top. Even if it means reminding my brother where his loyalties truly lie.

Don Angelo Rossi’s POV:

The weight of responsibility has always rested heavily on my shoulders, a mantle passed down through generations of men who understood the cost of power. In our world, power is everything—more valuable than money, more permanent than loyalty. It’s the only currency that truly matters.

And now, as I watch my daughters navigate the complexities of the life they’ve been born into, I feel that weight grow heavier with each passing day. Amara, my eldest, has always been the strong one, the one I could rely on to uphold the family’s legacy. But lately, I’ve sensed something in her—a restlessness, a longing for something more than the life we’ve built.

It worries me. I’ve seen what love can do to people in our world. It’s a poison that weakens the will, that clouds the mind with illusions of freedom and escape. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that there’s no escape from the world we inhabit. Not for people like us.

As I sit in my office, the walls lined with the relics of our family’s history, I think about the future. The alliance with the Vitale family was meant to secure our position, to solidify our power base and ensure our continued dominance. But now, with whispers of something more between Amara and Marco, I can’t help but wonder if we’ve made a mistake.

My door opens, and it’s Enzo, my most trusted advisor, stepping inside. “Don Angelo, we’ve received reports that the Vitale brothers are mobilizing their forces. It seems the Russians are making another push.”

I nod, leaning back in my chair. “They’re testing us, Enzo. They want to see if we’re as strong as we appear.”

Enzo’s expression is as unreadable as ever. “And what will we do?”

“We’ll do what we’ve always done. We’ll show them that we’re not to be underestimated.” I stand, the decision clear in my mind. “Reach out to Matteo Vitale. Let him know that we stand ready to support them. This alliance is still valuable, and we need to make sure they understand that.”

As Enzo turns to leave, I stop him. “And Enzo… keep an eye on Amara. Discreetly.”

He nods, understanding the unspoken command. As he exits the room, I stare out the window, my thoughts a storm of conflicting emotions. I’ve sacrificed too much to let anything threaten the legacy of the Rossi family. If Marco Vitale becomes a problem, I’ll deal with it. And if Amara allows herself to be led astray by her heart, I’ll remind her where her true loyalties lie.

In our world, love is a luxury we can’t afford. And I’ll make sure my family remembers that.