Semua Bab The Underboss's Kingdom : Bab 31 - Bab 40

I didn’t want a big celebration. No loud music, no crowds, no spotlight. Just family. Just the people who mattered. So when my aunts, uncles, and Abuela insisted on making dinner to celebrate the marriage, I agreed, on the condition that it stayed small.Small for my family still meant a full table, laughter, and enough food to feed a small army.Gabe sat between my uncles, glowing with happiness. He kept sneaking looks at Salvatore like he couldn’t believe he was allowed to sit next to him. And Salvatore… he looked at me the same way he used to back in college. Like I was the only person in the room.It made my stomach flip in a way I wasn’t ready to admit.Dinner was warm and loud and full of stories. Abuela cried twice. My aunts teased Salvatore about “finally doing something right.” My uncles grilled him about his cars until he finally stood and said, “Come on, I’ll show you.” Gabe practically flew out of his chair to follow them. I stayed behind with the women, sipping coffee and

I didn’t wait for anyone to tell me to leave. I didn’t need to. The humiliation burned hot enough to push me out the front door on my own. My cheek still stung from that slap. That woman, that nobody, had slapped me.Me. Violetta Hale.The one who had been by Salvatore’s side for years. The one everyone assumed would eventually become Mrs. Ricci. The one who had been loyal, present, supportive, everything a mafia wife was supposed to be. And he let her hit me. I stormed down the steps, heels clicking hard against the stone. I didn’t care where I was going. I just needed to get away from that house before I screamed.“Letta!” Roc’s voice boomed behind me.Of course he followed. He always did. But not to comfort me. Not tonight.He caught up fast, grabbing my elbow, not gently. “What the hell was that?”I yanked my arm away. “Don’t touch me.”“Oh, I’ll do more than touch you,” he snapped. “I’ll drag you to the car if I have to. You embarrassed me. You embarrassed Dad. And you disrespect

It had been a week since the Letta incident, and the house had finally settled again. The tension, the shouting, the slap, all of it had faded into something quieter. Something steadier. But the thing that surprised me most wasn’t the Letta melt down. It was Sara.That night, after everything, she let me hold her until she fell asleep. No hesitation. No flinching. No walls. Just her body relaxing against mine, her breathing soft and even, her hand resting over my heart like it belonged there. And now she let me do it every night. I found myself rushing through work just to get home in time for dinner. To hear Gabe tell me about school. To watch Sara laugh with Abuela over the phone. To sit on the couch with them and feel… whole. I hadn’t realized how empty the house had been until they filled it.It was Sunday, and we were getting ready to go to Abuela’s for dinner. Gabe was already dressed, bouncing around the living room like he’d had three espressos. Sara was upstairs finishing her

The next morning came too fast. Gabe had barely finished his cereal before he was grabbing his backpack and running out the door to meet the bus. He yelled “Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!” over his shoulder, and the sound still made something warm bloom in my chest.Salvatore was in the bedroom adjusting his cufflinks when I walked in. He looked unfairly good for someone who’d been up before sunrise. He held out a black card between two fingers. “For today,” he said. “Have fun.”I stared at it. “Salvatore, this is...”“A credit card,” he said, amused. “Use it. That’s what it’s for.”Before I could argue, he leaned in and kissed me. Soft. Quick. Familiar in a way that made my breath catch. “I’ll see you tonight,” he murmured, then headed out the door.I was still staring after him when Roc walked in through the kitchen entrance. “You ready?” he asked, keys in hand.“Yeah,” I said, grabbing my purse. I sent a quick text to Marco: Meet us at the boutique? Need your fashion expertise. Then slipped m

The moment the gala guest list landed in my hands, I knew the universe had finally decided to cooperate with me. A charity gala High‑profile. Public. Perfect. And Salvatore Ricci will be there… with his little wife on his arm. Good. Let everyone see them together. It’ll make what I’m planning even easier.Letta Hale has been quiet since her meltdown, but I know obsession when I see it. That girl still believes Salvatore belongs to her. Still believes she was replaced. All she needs is a little push in the right direction. I tap the edge of the invitation, already picturing her reaction.“Send her a dress,” I tell my men. “Something expensive. Something she’ll think he picked.”I lean back in my chair. “And a ticket. Anonymous delivery.”Letta will do the rest. She always does, but the real prize today isn’t the gala. It’s the photo my men brought me this morning. Roc Hale and Marco, the bartender for Velvet Lace. Kissing. I study the image, tilting my head. “Well, well… the loyal righ