Mag-log inEmilia's POVThe meeting was set for noon at a restaurant in Little Italy, deep in Moretti territory. Angelo drove us there, offering last-minute advice to Axel."Remember," Angelo warned. "You’re Carlo’s son. Act like it. Be confident and strong. These men only respect power.""I’m nothing like my father," Axel snapped."For today, you have to be. At least on the surface."We arrived to find the restaurant closed for a private event. The street was crawling with guards and men in suits, all watching us as we walked inside. Twenty men sat at a long table, the captains and underbosses of the Moretti hierarchy. They stood when Axel entered, though I couldn't tell if it was out of genuine respect or just to size him up."Gentlemen," Angelo announced. "Dante Moretti. Carlo’s son. Your new Don."Silence gripped the room until an older man spoke. It was Captain Ricci, the former second-in-command to Vincent. He had gray hair, sharp eyes, and a dangerous aura."Dante," Ricci said. "We heard
AXEL POVThree weeks of playing Vincent's obedient heir.Three weeks of hell.But Angelo's plan was ready.Marcus and Rafe had arrived in New York two days ago.Vincent's men caught them.Threw them in the basement cells.They thought I killed Marco.Hated me.I couldn't risk telling them the truth.Not with Vincent's surveillance everywhere.Tonight, everything changed.Angelo called at 10 PM."It's happening. FBI moves at midnight. Be ready.""Ready for what?""Chaos. When they raid, get Em and run. East exit. My car will be waiting.""What about Marcus and Rafe?""My inside man releases them during the confusion. They'll find their own way out.""And Vincent?""Isabella's evidence is solid. Financial crimes. RICO charges. Murder conspiracy. He's going away for life.""You're sure?""Positive. Just be ready."He hung up.I found Em in our suite."It's happening.
EMILIA POVAxel talked for an hour.In the bathroom.Shower running.Masking his voice.I couldn't hear everything.Just fragments.", killed your men on Vincent's orders, "", want him dead as much as you, "", need your help, "Finally, he emerged."Well?""He's meeting us. Tomorrow night. Neutral ground.""How do we get out of the mansion?""Isabella's helping. She'll arrange it.""Can we trust her?""No. But we don't have a choice.""What about the guards? The cameras?""She says she can disable them. For thirty minutes. That's our window.""And if it's a trap?""Then we die trying to escape instead of waiting for Vincent to kill us."He had a point.The next day crawled.We played along.Breakfast with Vincent.Smiling. Compliant.He bought it."You seem better today, Dante. More accepting.""I'm trying.""Good. Family is everything. Y
AXEL POVSeven PM.Guards escorted us to the dining room.The entire family waited.Vincent at the head.Isabella beside him.Nikolai. Jax.Captains and underbosses.Twenty people.All watching us."Dante, Emilia. Sit."Two chairs. Center of the table.On display.We sat.Food was served immediately.Elaborate. Expensive.I couldn't eat.Marco was dead.Because of me."Eat, Dante," Vincent said. "You need your strength.""I'm not hungry.""That wasn't a request."I picked up my fork.Forced food down.Tasted like ash."I'd like to make an announcement," Vincent said.Everyone quieted."Dante and Emilia are expecting. A Moretti heir. My great-nephew or niece."Applause.Congratulations.Fake smiles.I wanted to kill them all."This calls for celebration," Vincent continued. "To family. To legacy. To the future.""To famil
EMILIA POVThe door opened.Axel stood there.Bruised. Bloody. Broken.But alive.I ran to him.He caught me."Em, ""Are you okay? What did they do to you?""Doesn't matter. Are you hurt? Did Nikolai, ""Isabella stopped him. I'm fine."We held each other.Both shaking.The door slammed shut.Locked.We were together. But still prisoners."Axel, what happened? Where did Vincent send you?"He pulled back. Wouldn't look at me."Axel?""Marco's dead."The world stopped."What?""Vincent sent me to kill him. I couldn't. Jax did it.""No. No, Marco can't be, ""He is. I watched him die."I collapsed.Axel caught me.We sank to the floor.Both crying."I tried to miss," Axel said. "Tried to save him. But Jax, ""It's not your fault.""It is. I brought us here. Made the deal. Got him killed.""Vincent killed him. Not you.""I
AXEL POVThey dragged Em away.I couldn't stop them.Six guards held me back.Vincent watched, smiling."Let her go!" I roared."Kill Marco," Vincent said calmly. "Then you can have her back.""I won't kill Marco!""Then you won't see Emilia."He nodded to the guards.They dragged me to the basement, the old section where my father used to punish people.Stone walls. Cold. Dark.They threw me in a cell and locked the door.







