All Chapters of BURNING WITH THE MAFIA PRINCE : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Adeline's POVThe challenge came during the next family dinner.Two days before Antonio's return to the mansion. Two days before I had to make my final decision.The dining room was full. Extended family. Associates. Everyone gathered for Russio's weekly mandatory dinner.I sat beside Kayden, playing my role. Until Russio decided to test me."Adeline," he said, voice carrying through the room. Conversations died. "I've been reviewing your waterfront strategy. Walk me through it again. Specifically, explain why you think the Maronis will negotiate in good faith."The question was designed to expose weakness. To make me look naive.Everyone watched. Waiting to see if I'd crumble.Kayden's hand found mine under the table. Squeezed once."The Maronis are in a vulnerable position," I said carefully. "Their legal troubles aren't going away. They're hemorrhaging money on lawyer fees. On settlements.""And you know this how?""Public records. Court filings. It's all available if you know wher

Adeline’s POV The sun rose pale and weak, leaking through the curtains like light filtered through dirty glass. For a second, I forgot what I’d done. Then I smelled espresso on my skin. Memory returned like a bruise pressed too hard. I rolled out of bed before Kayden stirred. My body felt light and heavy all at once. An odd, floating calm that came only after a clean job. The kind where no blood, no sound, no struggle existed to cling to your conscience. He was dead. Antonio Russo. The poison worked the way Stardust said it would, slow, silent, indistinguishable from nature. A heart failure, nothing more. No traces, no witnesses, no questions. It was perfect. Too perfect. And perfection always came with a price. I slipped into a silk robe and crossed the room. Kayden was awake now, half propped on one elbow, watching me with eyes still storm-grey but quieter than usual. “You were gone last night.” The words weren’t sharp, but they were a test. I didn’

Adeline's POVDetective Sarah Morrison arrived at exactly ten AM.I watched from the upstairs window as her unmarked sedan pulled through the gates. Mid-forties, in her sharp suit. The kind of walk that said she'd seen every lie and knew how to dismantle them.She wasn't alone. A younger detective followed. Male, notebook already out."They're here," I said.Kayden adjusted his tie in the mirror. "Remember what we discussed. Brief answers. No volunteering information. If you're uncomfortable with a question, look at the lawyer. He'll handle it.""I know.""And Adeline?" He turned to face me. "Whatever happens in that room, I'm with you. Okay?"I nodded. Though we both knew that wasn't entirely true.In that room, I'd be alone with my lies.The library had been converted into an interview space. Neutral. Professional. Russio's idea to maintain the appearance of cooperation.Detective Morrison stood when we entered. Extended her hand."Mrs. Gravano. Thank you for speaking with us.""O

Adeline's POVI spent two days crafting the perfect anonymous message.It had to be believable. Specific enough to be credible but vague enough to be untraceable. I had to give Morrison something concrete to investigate, without revealing how I'd obtained the information.Most importantly, it had to redirect her attention away from me and toward something she cared about more than Antonio Russo's death.Her daughter.I sat in Kayden's study at three AM, the house silent around me. He was asleep upstairs. He didn't know what I was doing, at least not yet.The email was ready. Routed through six proxy servers and sent from a burner account that would self-delete after transmission.It was untraceable.I read through it one more time.Detective Morrison,Five years ago, your daughter Emma disappeared after attending a charity event at the Riverside Hotel. You've been searching for answers ever since.I have information that might help.Emma was seen talking to someone that night. Someon

Adeline's POVI couldn't sleep.The photos from the warehouse haunted me. The faces of those girls, the terror in their eyes.Emma Morrison wasn't an isolated incident, she was part of a pattern.Beside me, Kayden shifted in his sleep, reaching for me unconsciously.How much did he know?He'd said his father had done terrible things. But had he known about the warehouse? About the girls?Or was he truly ignorant?I needed to know. Because I was about to make decisions that would destroy his family.The next morning, I found Kayden in his study."We need to talk," I said, closing the door.He looked up from his laptop. "About?""About what I found. About your father. About how much you actually know."His expression shifted and became guarded. "Sit down."I sat.He was quiet for a moment. "What do you want to know?""Everything. How much you knew. How long you've known it.""My mother died when I was ten. Official story was an accident. Pills and alcohol.""I know.""What I didn't tell