Lahat ng Kabanata ng My Runaway Mafia Groom Wants Me Back: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

(Asher)“Boss. I need to talk to you,” Bruce says, looking like he’s hoping lightning will strike him down so he doesn’t have to say whatever it is he needs to say.“Did something happen to Jackson or Emmeline?” I ask immediately. He frowns, then shakes his head. “No, they’re both fine. It’s about Caterina.”The way my body immediately relaxes probably doesn’t bode well for my future happiness as Caterina’s husband.“What about her?” I ask. “Is she bothering Emmeline again? If she’s making a pest of herself, don’t let her in the next time she shows up here. Tell her to take it up with me.”Bruce frowns, not looking terribly pleased by my response. I’ve seen the way he looks at Caterina. Like she’s the most adorable little kitten he’s ever laid eyes on. I think he may have a little crush on her.“Boss, it’s serious.” He looks miserable and I sit up straight, paying attention. “I’m listening.”“I heard a rumor. Big Tony was talking to Mikey C and he said Gorgeous George heard at t

(Asher)I have to hand it to Emmeline, she’s much stronger than she looks. My cheek is still glowing from the slap and my ears ringing from the force with which she slammed the door shut.I was so sure that I’m the one holding all the cards. That she betrayed me and I’m the injured party, but she made some very fair points.It would have been nice if I’d been offered the opportunity to respond to some of them, but she stormed out before I could utter a word.My hand is shaking slightly as I pour myself a generous measure of whisky. The last time something genuinely rattled me was when I found out she’d been playing me. Only, she hadn’t. I condemned her without affording her the opportunity to state her case. I’d been the asshole.Of course she wants her brother freed. I don’t know if she would have provided bloody Elias with information that could endanger me. There wasn’t any to be found. So once again, I judged without asking.My life seems to be spinning out of control. M

(Asher)Seeing how much pain Emmeline is in, is all the incentive I need to make up my mind.I intend to smoke out who was responsible for everything that befell her family and make them pay. I don’t care if that means betraying every member of my own.We were forced apart and I missed out on the joy of seeing her belly swell with our child. Holding her hand when he was born. Staring lovingly at them as she breastfed. Not sleeping for the first however many months because we took turns to comfort him when he was fretting.Our future was stolen and I fully intend to take it back. I love her and Jackson, and we belong together.“Boss, you sure about this? If you go through with this plan your brothers will go to jail. All of them. And I’m not sure how the other families will take that,” Bruce tells me worriedly.I shrug, “I don’t care about the other families. I only care about my own. And that’s Emmeline and Jackson. We do what needs to be done in order to make up for some of the

(Asher)You don’t gut an empire with a wrecking ball, you do it with a scalpel. And today, I’m the surgeon.I sit in my study, screen glowing in the dark like the last light in hell. My fingers fly over the keyboard, embedding false intel into the system. An offshore account that doesn’t exist, a warehouse delivery routed through Jersey, a quiet whisper about a shipment of military-grade weapons headed for the docks. All of it bullshit. All of it bait.Enough to make sure that the treacherous bastard working from the shadows to manipulate me, will bite.“We leak the shipment info tonight,” I tell Caterina, who lounges across the armchair like she has nothing to lose. “But not the real location. Just enough detail to see who bites.”Her lips curve. “My father’s dogs will chase anything that smells like blood. Especially if it’s yours.” She lifts her phone with a wink. “I’ll make the call.”“Don’t make it too obvious,” I warn her. She rolls her eyes at me. “Please. Give me some

(Emmeline) We’re gathered in Asher’s study. Elias stands with his arms crossed near the fireplace, scowling like he’d rather be anywhere else. Caterina lounges on the armrest of a leather chair like she’s posing for a Vogue spread, and Asher paces behind the desk, his movements full of simmering tension.“We’ve confirmed the Vescari are behind the hit on Emmeline’s father, as well as several others that have been ascribed to me,” he says, glancing at Elias darkly. “They’re planning something bigger soon. This gala Caterina’s attending is the best shot we’ve got of getting to their leadership.”Caterina flips her blond hair over her shoulder. “While I distract Signora Vescari, Emmeline slips upstairs and finds the office. From what I’ve been able to find out, it’s hidden behind a mirrored panel. That’s where she keeps the real records. Blackmail files. Ledgers. Surveillance footage. If we get our hands on that—”“We blow the whole damn operation wide open,” Elias finishes. “And I