All Chapters of THE MAFIA KING'S FORBIDDEN BRIDE: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The black rose slipped from Aria's fingers.It landed silently on the floor.For several seconds, she simply stared at it.THE BLACK CROWN WAS NEVER THE REAL ENEMY.THE PHOENIX IS COMING.Her heart was beating too fast.The Crown was supposed to be dead.Richard was dead.Matteo had disappeared.Isabella was missing.And yet the nightmare was beginning again.Lorenzo entered the room."Aria?"She quickly folded the message.He noticed."What happened?""Nothing."He frowned."You've never been good at lying."Aria sighed and handed him the paper.He read it.His expression hardened."The Phoenix.""You know what it means?""No."He looked at the black rose."But I know someone who might."They found Seraphina in the courtyard.She stood alone beneath an old tree, watching the first light of morning spread across Paris.Aria approached."Grandmother."Seraphina turned.The moment she saw the paper in Aria's hand, her expression changed."Where did you get that?""It was left in my room

Lorenzo stared at the photograph.His own face stared back at him.Same dark eyes.Same sharp jaw.Same scar above the left eyebrow.But the expression was different.Colder.More dangerous.Aria looked at Elena."You knew."Elena shook her head."I knew there was a possibility.""That's not the same thing.""I was told Adrian died.""Who told you?"Elena hesitated."Marco."Lorenzo stepped toward her."My father?""Yes.""And you believed him?""I had no reason not to."Lorenzo laughed bitterly."Apparently none of us ever had a reason to believe anyone."Daniel studied the photograph."Adrian isn't simply alive.""What do you mean?" Aria asked."Look at the symbol."A small black circle was visible on Adrian's collar."The Eclipse."Daniel's expression hardened."He's not working for them.""He's one of them."Lorenzo turned away.He couldn't breathe.For twenty-five years, he had believed he was an only child.He had grown up believing his father had abandoned him.Believing his fa

The plane descended through the clouds.Below them, Rome glittered beneath the moonlight.For Aria, the sight of the city brought back memories she had tried to bury.The underground chamber.The throne.The Crown.Richard.The blood.The betrayal.And now Marco was alive.Alexander was alive.And they were waiting for them.Lorenzo sat beside her, staring through the window."You haven't said a word for an hour."Aria looked at him."I'm thinking.""About?""How many secrets can one family possibly have?"Lorenzo smiled faintly."Apparently, we're trying to break a record."Aria laughed softly.Then her expression became serious."Are you ready?""For Rome?""For your father."Lorenzo looked down at the silver pendant around his neck."No."Aria took his hand."Neither am I.""But we'll go.""Together."He squeezed her hand."Always."Across the aisle, Adrian watched them.For the first time, he didn't look jealous.He looked relieved.His brother had found someone who could keep him

For three seconds, Lorenzo couldn't move.Aria stood in front of him, but something about her was different.Her eyes carried an unnatural glow.The symbol on her palm pulsed like a living heartbeat.And when she spoke, her voice sounded distant.Mechanical.Empty."SYSTEM CONTROL ESTABLISHED.""Aria?"Lorenzo stepped closer.She looked at him."IDENTIFY."His heart sank."It's me.""IDENTIFY.""Lorenzo."The glow in her eyes intensified."LORENZO DE LUCA. CROWN BLOODLINE. PROTECTOR CLASS."Lorenzo stared at her."She knows me."Mira shook her head."No.""That's not Aria."Evelyn rushed toward the control panel."Everyone back!"She began typing rapidly.Daniel grabbed her arm."What is happening?""The Core has completely awakened.""Then shut it down.""I can't.""You created it!""Twenty-seven years ago.""And I never expected anyone to activate it."Mira looked at her mother."How do we save Aria?"Evelyn stopped typing."There may be only one way.""What?""She has to choose.""

The sea was unusually calm.That was the first thing Aria noticed.For hours, their aircraft had flown over nothing but endless blue water. No ships. No islands. No signs of civilization.Yet somewhere beneath that ocean was the place that had controlled their lives for generations.The House of Seven.Aria sat beside the window, staring into the darkness below.The silver key rested in her palm.She had barely spoken since leaving Rome.Lorenzo sat across from her."You've been quiet.""I'm thinking.""That's dangerous."She smiled faintly."Why?""Because every time you think too much, we end up discovering another secret."Aria looked at him."And you don't want to know the truth?""I do.""Even if it's ugly?""Especially then."She looked back through the window."Seraphina said not to trust Marco."Lorenzo's expression changed."I know.""Do you believe her?""I don't know.""He's your father.""Exactly."He leaned forward."But being my father doesn't automatically make him inno