The Capo's Deadly Bride is now completed âșïž Thank you for sticking with me on this journey. It's been a blast reading your lovely comments every day - they've sparked my heart and energized me to write more. Now that the book is complete, don't leave the characters hanging â€ïž Send them reviews and gifts as a goodbye gift and catch up on any chapters you might have missed. Follow me on ***,gram and Face,book @Royalmary23 for updates. Thanks again for your supportđ„°â€ïž
The private dining hall of the restaurant was a world apartâsleek, expensive, and eerily silent despite the gathering of powerhouses seated inside. Crystal chandeliers cast golden light on the polished mahogany table stretching across the room. The men and women seated were the most feared, most respected members of the undergroundâCapos, Consiglieri, and a few others whose names alone could make hearts stop.At the head of the table, a sharply dressed man in his sixties stoodâthe chairperson for the evening. His voice was steady, yet commanding."As we all know," he began, "the organization is entering a new era. Weâve survived brutal wars, betrayals, and shifts in power. But survival isnât enough. We must grow. And for that⊠we need a leader. A new Don."Murmurs followed, quickly fading into silence as he continued."There are a few names on the list. Men capable of leading us forward. Men who have proven their loyalty. Men who have spilled blood, cleaned the dirt off our empire,
Delilah stepped out of her black car with ease and elegance, dressed in tailored black trousers and a cream fitted blouse that complimented the curve of her waist. Her heels clicked against the cobblestone driveway of Elder Donatoâs mansion. A warm afternoon sun lit the air, but the mood was anything but sunny.Behind her, one of her bodyguards followed closely, holding a modest cake box with white frosting designs and a subtle satin ribbon. To the unsuspecting eye, it looked like a simple gesture. But this was Delilahânothing she did was simple.Inside the mansion, she walked through the entrance like she owned the place, her steps unhurried, her smile steady. She entered the dining room where Elder Donato sat at the head of a long mahogany table, slicing a piece of veal with slow accuracy. His white hair was neatly combed, and his gold ring caught the light with every motion.Delilahâs smile widened when she approached. "It's so good to see you again, Nonno," she said with sweet af
Days blurred into weeks, weeks into months. Delilah had become something of a legend in the shadows. The Krono wasnât just a tool nowâit was a throne, and she ruled from it, faceless but feared. She slipped into the lives of powerful men and women with blackmail so accurate they never saw her coming. Whispers of her haunted the boardrooms and political suites. They didnât know her name, but they felt her presence. And it gave her everythingâmoney, power, control.From the spoils of her secrecy, she built something legitimate: a real organization to help trafficked women. Ginoâs paycheck doubled. Marco was making clean, sharp money in real estate. Even Aunt Mary had a new apartment uptown, one with sunlight and a working elevator. Ruby and Helen had cried when they received a cake box stuffed with thick bundles of hundred-dollar bills, hidden under the frosting.But even with all the glamor and goodness, Marco stayed watchful. The Krono was too dangerous. Too much attention and the
Delilah was back at the mansion.Mrs. Hayden had already been given instructionsâto assist Delilah at all times, no questions asked. And the older woman did just that, preparing what was necessary and retreating when needed. Delilah had asked to be left alone in the library, and Mrs. Hayden, like a loyal servant, obeyed.The mansion was silent. The late afternoon had melted into evening. Golden streaks of sunlight slanted across the dark shelves of the library.Marco was still at the office.Delilah sat in one of the chairs, her fingers moving with smooth accuracy. She took the new laptopâthe one she had ordered Gino to getâand set it on the table before her. After a brief pause, she pulled out the USB.Letâs see what secrets the Krono holds, she thought.Click.She inserted the drive, and a folder appeared. No password protection. No decoy files. Just a single, cryptic label.She opened it.Rows of names greeted her. Important men. Influential women. Politicians. Judges. All neatly f
Marco covered the pot with its lid and muttered under his breath, disappointment etched in his voice, "Sure, all it took was to be distracted."A crooked smirk tugged at his lips a second later. "Well, at least I got a compliment."The compliment had lingered in his mind far longer than the ruined soup. She had said he looked handsome. Devilishly handsome. And the way her gaze had lingered on him? Heâd felt it â not just seen it. Felt it sliding over his skin like a warm current, deliberate, and far from innocent.Before he could get lost in the thought again, Delilahâs voice carried from the living room. "The delivery is here."He stepped out of the kitchen. The aroma of the delivered chicken soup replaced the burnt smell from earlier. It wasnât the meal he planned to make, but it would do. They dined quietly, the silence between them no longer awkward but easy, almost intimate. When they finished, they retreated into the bedroom.Delilah changed into a loose-fitting nightgown, soft
Marco had finally released Delilah from his arms, the warmth of her still lingering in his hold. She had called a cab through an app, adamantly refusing to trouble Gino for a ride."Iâll just grab a few things from the apartment and come back to the mansion," sheâd said.Marco didnât argue. He knew better than to push her when sheâd made up her mind. Still, that didnât stop him from escorting her to the hotel entrance.The cab was already waiting.Marco opened the passenger door for her and Delilah slid in. Maybe it was the brush of her body against his arm, or the way her fingers briefly brushed his as she settled inâbut Marcoâs gut clenched.He watched as the cab drove off, disappearing into the traffic. A second later, his phone rang.---Delilah had received a message from Mary earlier, saying she would be at the hospital for treatment and wouldn't be at the apartment. Now, Delilah found the key where Mary had said it would beâin the flower vase just by the apartment door. She un