LOGINThe words lingered between them long after Gennado finished speaking.The fire in the corner crackled softly, filling the silence that neither of them seemed willing to break.Gennado rested both hands on his cane, his eyes never leaving Lidia’s face.Years of reading people had taught him when someone was fighting a battle inside themselves.Lidia wasn’t simply listening.She was breaking.“When you went missing,” Gennado said quietly, his voice carrying none of the authority that usually commanded an entire underworld, “Bruno lost himself.”Lidia’s fingers tightened around the edge of the chair.“He became reckless.”A bitter smile crossed the old wolf’s lips.“The Bruno the world feared disappeared.”His eyes drifted toward the window as memories resurfaced.“He tore cities apart looking for you.”“He questioned anyone who claimed they had seen you.”“He barely slept.”“He stopped eating properly.”“He even started making mistakes during meetings.”Gennado chuckled softly.“A thing
The following morning, a black luxury Mercedes rolled through the gates of the old wolf’s mansion.The servants had barely finished breakfast preparations when the vehicle stopped in front of the entrance.Lidia stood near the staircase with Tony balanced on her hip while Erika peeked through the large window.“Oh no.”Erika immediately knew who it was.Lidia closed her eyes.Not again.A servant opened the door and accepted several large packages from Bruno’s men.Within minutes, the living room was overflowing with boxes.Some contained toys.Others contained expensive children’s clothes.Several carried famous designer labels.The largest package held the keys to a brand-new Mercedes.Resting on top was a small white envelope.Lidia already knew what it contained.With a sigh, she opened it.Two simple words greeted her.Forgive Me.Lidia almost laughed.Almost.Instead, frustration rose inside her chest.A week.An entire week.Flowers.Jewelry.Designer bags.Shoes.Luxury watche
The office remained silent after Lidia’s cries faded away.Bruno was still kneeling on the floor.Motionless.Broken.The sound of the door opening barely registered in his mind.Gennado stepped inside quietly.His sharp eyes immediately took in the scene.Lidia’s tear-stained face.Bruno kneeling.The despair hanging heavily in the air.For a moment, the old wolf simply stood there.Then he walked forward.Without saying a word, he placed a gentle hand on Bruno’s shoulder.The simple gesture carried more comfort than any speech could have.Bruno lowered his head.His chest tightened painfully.He looked less like the feared king of the underworld and more like a lost child.Gennado squeezed his shoulder briefly before walking toward Lidia.“My dear.”Lidia wiped her face quickly.Trying to regain some composure.But her swollen eyes betrayed her.Gennado reached down and gently helped her stand.“There is enough for today.”His voice was soft.Fatherly.The kind of voice Lidia had wi
The moment Bruno spoke her name, Lidia finally turned.The tears she had been fighting shimmered inside her eyes.Not falling.Not yet.But hanging there stubbornly.Refusing to be hidden any longer.For a second, neither moved.Neither breathed.The morning sunlight pouring through the tall windows illuminated every scar the years had left behind.Bruno’s chest tightened painfully.How many times had he seen those eyes filled with tears?Countless.Yet back then he had looked away.Ignored them.Dismissed them.He had convinced himself they meant nothing.Now each tear felt like a blade sinking into his flesh.“What?” Lidia asked quietly.The trembling in her voice betrayed her calm expression.Her fingers curled tightly against her dress.“What do you want now?”Bruno remained silent.Lidia laughed.A broken sound.Empty.Dangerous.“Have you come to take my son away too?”Her voice cracked.The words echoed through the office.“Just like you took everything else from me?”Bruno’s f
Bruno stared at the message on his phone for a long time after receiving it.The screen had already dimmed twice.Still, he remained seated behind his desk.Silent.Motionless.Dangerously thoughtful.A slow smile eventually appeared on his face.Not the cold smile that terrified enemies.Not the cruel smile that had once made men tremble.This one carried understanding.Because he knew Gennado.Perhaps better than anyone else.The old wolf had likely seen everything.Romano taking Tony’s hair.His unusual interest in the boy.The way his eyes followed Lidia throughout the birthday celebration.Nothing escaped Gennado’s notice.Nothing.Bruno leaned back against his chair and closed his eyes.“So you figured it out.”His voice was barely audible.The room remained silent.For a few moments, he allowed himself to breathe.Tomorrow would change everything.One way or another.His phone vibrated again.This time the message came from Romano.Bruno opened it immediately.A file appeared.
The celebration ended long after midnight.One by one, the luxurious cars disappeared through the massive iron gates of the old wolf’s estate. The music faded. The laughter died away. The grand reception hall that had been overflowing with powerful men and women only hours ago slowly returned to silence.Servants moved quietly through the room collecting empty wine glasses and half-finished plates while security men resumed their normal positions around the mansion.Outside, the night air had turned colder.Inside, however, Lidia felt anything but calm.She stood beside Tony’s crib, watching her son sleep peacefully.His tiny chest rose and fell steadily beneath the blanket.Completely unaware.Completely innocent.And perhaps standing at the center of a storm that was about to explode.Lidia gently brushed a finger through his soft curls.The same curls Bruno had stared at tonight.The same curls that had made her heart nearly stop when Tony ran into Bruno’s arms without hesitation.
The sun rose over Bruno Deluca’s mansion like it had nothing to apologize for.Its golden light spilled across the massive rooftop, soft and warm—an insult to the city of Costa Nosa, which was still bleeding from the night before. Smoke lingered faintly in the air, the scent of ash and burned metal
The first explosion ripped through the night at exactly 11:47 p.m.For one suspended second, Costa Nosa went silent—like the city itself was holding its breath.Then the world shattered.Glass burst from windows in every direction, raining down onto the streets like lethal snow. Car alarms screamed
The Ice King was at war with the city—but losing the battle inside his own heart.Costa Nosa Street6:10 PMThe iron gates of the mansion opened wide with a low mechanical hum, revealing a grand estate bathed in the fading gold of evening. Brown-and-white walls stood tall and proud, framed by perf
“Maybe you should go for a checkup on your loose mouth—and your ears too,” Lidia replied calmly.She brushed past Hanks without waiting for a response, her shoulder grazing hers as she walked away with her head held high, softly humming a tune as though the world hadn’t just tilted beneath her feet







