All Chapters of Owned by the Mafia Boss : Chapter 51 - Chapter 53

“The Devil’s Terms”AntonioShe didn’t move, not when I stood, not even after I offered her retribution in place of her loyalty, even when I told her I’d help bury the people who ruined her life.She just stood there, breathing like she had just ran through hell. I could see she was in so much pain, and I wanted to reach for her, to hold her to me, but I didn’t.I couldn’t. Not now, not when I was the reason her world had collapsed.“I mean what I'm saying,” I said quietly.She laughed, low and bitter. “Of course you do.”The distance between us felt colder than any silence we’d ever shared. The girl who’d once tried to kill me, now looked like she’d been gutted and I’d held the knife.“You are offering me revenge?” she asked, her arms folding across her chest like armor. “Why? Is it because I’m suddenly useful in a different way?”I didn’t answer, not right away.The truth wasn't as simple as she thought, because there were pieces of me at war with each other, my name, my duty, and m

"The Ghost We Feed"AntonioThe air in Bari reeked of salt, sharp enough to cut through the exhaustion weighing down on me. I hadn’t slept since we left Sicily, not because of the distance, but because sleeping was a luxury I couldn’t afford, not when there was so much going on.Villa Santoro sat abandoned on the outskirts of a failing olive grove. Formerly a Romano property, now Officially, it barely existed, and that was the point. There were no cameras, no checkpoints, no visible guards, it was all just overgrown vines on stones, rusted gates, and men who were professionals at staying under cover. Vittore the capo on duty met me by entrance, there was no handshake, no unnecessary greeting, just a flick of his chin and he grunted "Inside." This was standard procedure around the area, It was a place where you kept your eyes open and mouths shut. The air inside was thick with oil and old wood, I followed the tight hallway down to the cellar, Rocco was already waiting.Rocco l