Chapter 11

The negotiation in Blacksand was far more perilous than anticipated.In that abandoned port warehouse, I spent six grueling days in a standoff with Salazar and his dozen gunmen.On several occasions, I had gun barrels pointed directly at my forehead.Finally, just as I used my final piece of leverage to force his signature, rival gangs in the town turned on each other, and a fierce firefight erupted.The bodyguards who came with me fell one by one, covering my retreat. I hid behind a solid concrete barrier. Flying shrapnel sliced open my arm, the blood quickly staining my trench coat crimson.Leaning against the freezing wall, I booted my encrypted device, took a photo of the signed treaty, and sent it to San Celano.As the progress bar crept forward, bullets rattled fiercely against the tin roof, and muzzle flashes flickered violently through the bullet holes.In that moment, a flood of memories surged over me.The hallway light in the orphanage that was never fixed on cold winter nig

Chapter 12

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a plush velvet bed back at the San Celano estate.Outside the window was the familiar olive grove, the morning light creeping inch by inch up the walls.Vittorio sat in the old leather chair by the bed. He looked like he hadn't slept a wink all night, the bags under his eyes were a bruised, sickly gray."You're awake?" His voice held a rare tremor. "You stubborn girl... You're just as reckless with your life as your father was."I opened my mouth, but my throat burned fiercely. I couldn't make a sound."Don't speak." He leaned forward and tucked the blanket around me. "The bullet grazed your collarbone. The doctor said you were lucky. It was a miracle."He paused."The treaty got through. The next morning, the Commission unanimously voted to approve it. The northern smuggling routes are secure for the next ten years."He pulled a narrow, dark green velvet box from his suit's inner pocket and slowly opened it.Resting inside the box was a soli

Chapter 13

Three years passed in the blink of an eye. I became the youngest member of the Family Commission and the only female Chief Consigliere in the history of the Five Families.At the solemn annual high-level summit, in front of all the Capos, Vittorio personally bowed his head to me.Thunderous applause erupted from both sides of the long table as all the mob bosses raised their glasses in submission.It was already evening by the time the summit dispersed.A fine, steady drizzle fell outside, blanketing the cobblestone streets of the old city.I drove alone to the Family cemetery on the outskirts of the city. The gold iris pin on my lapel glinted faintly in the rainy light.I laid a bouquet of white roses in front of my parents' grave."Papa, Mamma," I knelt down, my voice soft. "I brought back the Family's honor and rules.""From now on, I will guard the rules of this coast for you."The cold rain drifted down, and the ivy on the walls rustled in the wind, as if in silent reply.As I ope

All Chapters of Too Late, My Capo, Your Love Means Nothing: Chapter 11 - Chapter 13

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13