The Mafia Prince's obsession (MM)

Elijah

FEW WEEKS LATER

The estate is warmer now.

Not in temperature—but in energy.
There are fewer shadows....fewer secrets.

I'm standing on the marble balcony, watching the sun dip low behind the trees, casting long, golden rays over the land that stretch for miles. A soft breeze rustles in the garden below, where Maya and Valarie are sat on the bench, talking quietly with a couple of Visconti advisors.

It still amazes me how everything has changed.

Only weeks ago, our world had nearly gone up in flames. Now everything was settling. Slowly. Carefully.

The war was over.

The Visconti Assembly dismantled.

And Vincenzo Visconti—the wildcard, who was concerded the "Bastard son" is now the new head of yhe Viscontis. He honored his deal with Dante, stepping into the leadership with firm but legitimate hand, cutting out the corruption that defined his father's reign.

And in exchange?

PEACE.

Real peace.

And business. Lots of it!!.

Maya and Valerie's relationship has become the unexpected glue holding an alliance together. A bridge between houses between houses that once sworn to destroy each other. I still remember the shock on my father's face when it all came out.

He had paced for hours, cursing under his breath—not because Maya was in love with a woman, but because she'd vanished right under his nose.

Still....he came around. The entire family is actually, even though some are a bit reluctant about my and Dante's marriage.

It doesn't fully sit well with them that a leader is married to another man.

The business is doing well though. Great, actually. The emotional healing? Well......that might take longer.

But we are working on it.

A knock on the door behind me pulls me out of my thoughts.

I turn around, just as Luca and Luke pot their heads in.

"You ready?" Luke asks, adjusting his suit jacket. "The old man is about to pass the crown.

I blink. "It's today?"

Luca snorts. "You've only been hearing about it everyday for the past two weeks."

I smile faintly as I get ready and follow them to the hall.

All eyes are in the center.

Roman Markov, aged but still sharp-eyed, is standing before a long table filled with the family members ,all high-ranking men from the Markov bloodline.

Besides him, Dante stands tall in an all  black suit, hands clasped behind his back,eyes fixed on his father with controlled emotion.

Roman raises a glass.

"My son's have all made me proud. But today, one of them steps forward-not just as a soldier or a strategist......but as a leader," His eyes land on Dante. "As the new head of the Markov family."

There is a beat of silence, and then the room erupts into applause, some loud,  some restrained.

Roman turns around and removes the Markov crest ring from his finger –thick, gold with a blood-red stone, and slides it into Dante's.

"Lead with strength. Lead with honor." He says quietly. "But never forget—love can be a weapon or a shield. Choose wisely."

Dante nods."I will,"

I watch from the side, chest tightening.

LATER THAT NIGHT.

The house is quiet again. The stars are out.

I'm sitting on the bed, brushing through my hair when my husband walks in and leans against the doorframe.

"You looked good today," I murmur.

He smirks. "You mean powerful?"

"I mean both"

He steps in, shrugging out of his jacket. "You didn't say much."

"I was just watching, " I say softly.  "Taking it in. You really did it."

"I told you I would," He approaches me, eyes darker now but soft. "Everything I said.....I meant it."

My gaze meets his, heart pounding.

"I know."

There is silence between us, the kind that holds meaning, not distance.

And I decide to say it—the words I've thought a hundred times but swallowed"

"I love you, Dante."

He freezes.

Then something shifts in his expression —not surprise, not even relief.

Just raw, soul-deep joy.

He drops to his knees in front of me and presses his forehead to my stomach.

"I love you too," He whispers. "So much, it fucken terrifies me."

I slide my hands into his hair, fingers threading gently. "Then hold on to me. We'll be scared together."