All Chapters of TIED TO THE MAFIA MAN: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Gabriella exhaled softly as she stepped outside. The event had left her feeling a bit emotional, not from the music or the crowd or even the brilliant speech that was made. It was the feeling of seeing Alejandro again. The tightness in her chest returned the moment she saw him. She shook her head, unlocked her car, and got in. This wasn't the time to get worked up. She had another stop to make, before heading home.On her way to the police station, Gabriella made a quick detour to a small shop not far from where the event held. The place smelled really nice. She smiled as she took in the smell of scented candles. She quickly looked over the shelves where soaps, mugs, cheese boards...were neatly arranged. Then she spotted a small section tucked to the side that looked like a modest wine corner."Perfect." She exclaimed quietly to herself.Among some other fancy drinks, there was a sleek bottle of non-alcoholic red wine. It was classy enough to feel like a real thank-you gift, but saf

Gabriella unlocked her door and stepped into her quiet apartment. She dropped her keys into the bowl by the door, kicked off her shoes, and walked further inside.Rachel was already in the kitchen, holding a mug. "I thought I heard the door," she said, pouring another cup of tea. "How did it go?"Gabriella managed a tired smile. "It went."Rachel handed her a mug and pointed to the couch. "That good, huh?"They sat down together. Gabriella held the warm mug for a moment before speaking. "The event was really impressive. It was very fancy. A bit grander than I expected."Rachel raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound like the problem."Gabriella paused, then added quietly, "Alejandro was there."Rachel blinked. "Oh.""He gave a speech," Gabriella said, her voice steady. "Right before he started speaking, he looked around the room. His eyes landed on me."Rachel watched her carefully. "And?"Gabriella stared into her tea. "It was just a moment. He didn't pause, but I knew he saw me.""An

Alejandro arrived at exactly noon. The car ride had been quiet, as his mind was focused. As he stepped out onto the walkway leading to the private gallery attached to Sofia Winston's residence, he straightened his jacket and adjusted his cufflinks. He wasn’t here for small talk.The door opened before he could knock. Her assistant greeted him with a polite nod and stepped aside, letting him into a softly lit foyer that led into the gallery room. Sofia was already waiting inside."Mr. Hernandez," she said simply, with a smooth tone."Ms. Winston," he replied with a nod.The gallery space was understated but curated with intention. The lighting was warm, the floors were polished, and a few select pieces hung along the walls, but one stood out immediately. "Corte Notturna." It was place at the center, set to draw attention, it dominated the room.Alejandro took a step closer, saying nothing. He stared at the painting. His gaze scanned the lines, the colors, the texture he had committed

The old chapel stood quietly at the edge of the cemetery. Its weathered stone walls bore witness to Alfonso Meraz's funeral. He was a man who had brought peace to rival families in the city during a time of fragile balance.He hadn't been a boss himself, but his influence had kept blood off the streets more than once. His passing had drawn a complicated crowd. Men in black suits arrived in silence. Some came out of respect, others came out of strategy.Don Alessandro Hernandez sat in the back row, with his hat in his lap. It was a gesture of old-school reverence. He watched the proceedings with the stillness of a predator. At his late fifties, he moved slowly, but no one doubted that his mind was sharp. One of his men stood quietly behind him, with his hands folded, and his eyes sweeping the room.A few pews to the left and two rows ahead sat Don Ricardo Lorca. He was equally still, equally composed. The last time they had shared a room had been years ago, and even then, words between

Don Ricardo Lorca stood on the balcony of his penthouse suite, overlooking the city, as he took a slow sip of his scotch. The weight of his thoughts had become increasingly heavy.The meeting with Don Alessandro had not gone as expected. No matter how much he tried to plan for every scenario, his old rival always seemed to be one step ahead, but it wasn’t just the usual power play between two Mafia families. Tonight, something else had taken him by surprise."Sofia Winston." He didn’t expect her name to come up, certainly not in the context of the Hernandez family. He didn’t know what to make of it yet, but he knew it was no coincidence. His men had been shadowing Victor for weeks now, ever since the failed abduction of the other girl. They were tracking his every move after the fallout from that humiliating encounter.The news of Sofia’s name, uttered so casually by Alessandro in their last meeting, rang louder than anything else that had been said. It had been a subtle reference, b