Alle Kapitel von Godfather, Your Wife Is Done Waiting: Kapitel 11 – Kapitel 20

Viola’s POVThe other end went quiet.“Has he hurt you?”My father did not ask why first.That nearly brought me to tears.“Dad, don’t worry about me right now. Take Mom back to her room. Ask a nurse to contact the hospital’s original transport team. I’m coming.”“Don’t.”His voice suddenly hardened.“If his people are looking for you, coming here will put you right in their hands.”I closed my eyes for a moment.I was so used to shielding my parents from trouble that I had almost forgotten they would protect me, too.“I’ll send my lawyer to get you.”After hanging up, I called Mr. Benedetto.He said he would leave immediately.I sat on the edge of the bed, listening to unfamiliar footsteps in the hallway.For the first time, I understood.Leaving the estate meant only that I had walked out of its gates.It did not mean Dante had let me go.Dante’s POV“Who stopped the Morettis?”I put the call on speaker.The hospital staff said the family security office had taken over the transfer a

Dante’s POVHalfway through the port meeting, I received a photograph from the rehabilitation hospital.Viola stood outside the entrance, carrying a paper bag.She had lost weight.The bandage on her forehead had been replaced by a small piece of gauze, but she still looked unwell.“Sir?”The shipping manager across from me stopped speaking.I placed my phone facedown on the table.“Continue.”But for the next ten minutes, I did not hear a word.News of the attack had already spread through the underworld.Some were testing the limits of Vitale power.Others were waiting to see how I would respond.My wife leaving at a time like this was enough to complicate any negotiation.At least, that was what I kept telling myself.After the meeting, Enzo handed me an envelope.“From Benedetto.”Inside was a brief notice.Viola required all future communication concerning the marriage and her personal assets to go through her lawyer.At the bottom was one more sentence.Please stop interfering wi

Viola’s POVI did not walk over.Dante got out first.People on the sidewalk recognized him and moved aside.He stopped two steps away, his gaze passing over the papers in my hand.“Who did you come to see?”“That isn’t something I need to report to you.”His jaw tightened.“Someone shot at your car the other night.”“And?”“And this is not the time for you to wander around alone.”I looked at him.“That night, I was in an armored car, with the driver you assigned, on the route your men had approved.”Dante said nothing.“I already did what you told me.”“Viola—”“Not here.”I lowered my voice.Behind the café windows, people were looking over.I did not want the opportunity the professor had just given me to be swallowed by my marriage.Dante followed my gaze.After a moment, he opened the car door.“Let’s find somewhere to talk.”“Let Enzo stay. You get back in the car.”His eyes turned cold.“You’d rather talk to my second-in-command than to me?”“Because at least he’ll let me finis

Viola’s POVThe professor waited in the corridor.“How did it feel?”“There were a few parts I didn’t do well.”She smiled.“At least you’re finally talking about what you did, rather than what someone arranged for you.”Before I could answer, the receptionist hurried over.“Professor De Luca, someone has delivered a shipment of equipment downstairs. They say it’s a designated donation for the new project.”She looked at me.“The donor has requested that Miss Moretti take part in accepting it.”I stood motionless.The small peace that had belonged to me was broken open by a familiar surname.Dante had not come himself.But the people delivering the equipment brought his business card.Vitale Holdings.Tucked behind the donation inventory was a proposed position drafted specifically for me.Project Coordination Consultant.The salary was enough to remove any concern about living expenses.The work itself had little to do with research.I handed the document back.“I never agreed to this

Dante’s POVAfter the funeral, I went to Luca’s mother’s home.She did not make coffee.She did not call me Godfather the way others did.A photograph of Luca as a child stood on the table.A missing front tooth. A foolish, happy grin.For the first time, I sat there without knowing where to begin.In the end, she spoke first.“He said that if he worked for you, we wouldn’t have to worry.”I lowered my eyes.“I failed to protect him.”Those words were harder to say than anything in a port negotiation.She watched me for a long time.“That young woman has been here three times.”I looked up.“Every time, she stood at the door and asked what we needed. Her own injuries hadn’t even healed.”I said nothing.She slowly put away the compensation papers.“Sir, I don’t understand your business.”“But if you truly want to make something up to someone, at least stop leaving her to stand outside alone.”It was dark by the time I left.I got into the car and saw Viola’s number still pinned at the