4

Meanwhile, Dante had stayed on the island with Camilla the whole time.

The wound on Camilla's arm had healed. She snuggled against him and tested the waters.

"Dante, are you really not going to divorce Elena? As long as she's still around, I'll always be on edge..."

Dante's face darkened, and he pulled his arm away.

"Camilla, I told you from day one. The only Donna of the Cavallaro family is Elena.

"Try to take her place one more time, and you're gone."

Camilla hurried to apologize.

Dante walked out of the room, irritated, and scrolled through his phone.

For seven days, Elena hadn't called or sent a single message.

That would never have happened before.

Dante scoffed. Elena was giving him the silent treatment to make him cave. He was sure of it.

"Tell the Five Families we're throwing a party on the yacht tonight. I'm bringing Camilla."

Nothing got to Elena more than a challenge to her place as Donna.

He didn't believe she could stay quiet if he paraded Camilla on his arm in front of everyone.

That night, the yacht was packed with New York's elite.

A capo came over to toast him and curry favor.

"You're so good to Ms. Rhodes, Don. If you ask me, a woman who can't give you children, like Elena, should've been kicked out a long time ago..."

Before he could finish, Dante drew his gun and pointed it at him.

"Who do you think you are, talking about her? Whatever else she is, she's still my wife. You want to die? I'll be happy to help!"

The capo went white and begged for his life.

Dante put his gun away and kept glancing toward the dock entrance.

Just then, one of his men hurried over and reported in a low voice.

"Don, the Donna isn't here."

Dante frowned.

Then his phone rang. It was the Cavallaro family's law firm.

"Don, Ms. Moretti's unilateral termination has officially taken effect. She's given up all ports and property."

Dante's mind went blank. He roared into the phone.

"Who dared make that official without my signature?"

Gordon answered, trembling.

"It's the addendum the old Don signed five years ago. If there's no heir within five years, the woman has the right to terminate unilaterally."

Dante shoved everyone aside like a madman and drove back to the estate.

The estate was empty.

Everything that belonged to Elena was still there.

It was all covered in dust. No one had touched any of it in seven days.

The wedding ring sat in the middle of the table.

The butler stood with his head bowed, trembling.

"Don, the Donna ran out in the rain a week ago and never came back..."

Dante stumbled back two steps, gripped by a panic unlike any he'd known.

"To the care home!"

He ran more than a dozen red lights, stormed into the care home, and kicked open the door to her father's room.

"Elena! Haven't you made enough of a scene..."

His voice cut off.

The room was empty. Even the bed was gone.

Dr. Hollis, the director, rushed over at the noise, and Dante slammed him against the wall.

"Where's old Moretti? Where did Elena hide him?"

Dr. Hollis cried out in terror.

"Don! What are you talking about? Mr. Moretti passed away a week ago!

"That was the day you had your men take the equipment!

"The Donna had his body cremated that same day and took him with her. She said there was no need to tell you."

Dante broke out in a cold sweat, and his grip on the director's collar went slack.

He was the one who'd given the order to pull the equipment. He'd killed Elena's father.

One of his men came in, white as a sheet.

"Don, the coast guard just came by...

"Seven days ago, someone jumped off the cliffs into the sea. All they found on the rocks was the Donna's coat and an empty urn...

"The water's deep out there. The coast guard says there's no way she survived..."

The man was holding the coat Elena had worn the day she left home.

Dante stared at it. Pain tore through his chest, and he coughed up blood.

He sank to the floor and let out a howl of despair.