Contract Wife of the Mafia King

Betrayal from inside

*Chapter 23: Betrayal From Inside*

Trust is a luxury we couldn’t afford.

But we did anyway.

Luca.

Alessandro’s right hand for 15 years. His brother. His shadow.

He was at Selena’s first birthday. He taught her to say “Uncle”.

So when the leak happened, I didn’t believe it.

Money was missing. 10 million dollars. From a Swiss account.

Only 3 people had access. Me. Alessandro. Luca.

Alessandro didn’t say anything for 3 days.

He just watched Luca. Quiet. Too quiet.

On day four, he called us both to his office. No guards.

“Sit,” he said.

Luca sat. Smiling. “What’s up, Boss?”

“10 million,” Alessandro said. “Gone.”

Luca’s smile dropped. “What? Who—”

“You,” Alessandro said.

Silence.

“What?” Luca stood. “You think I stole from you? After 15 years?”

“Did you?” Alessandro’s voice was ice.

Luca looked at me. “Tell him. Tell him I wouldn’t—”

“I don’t know,” I said. Honest. “But the trail leads to you.”

Luca’s face broke. “It’s a setup. Someone framed me.”

Alessandro stood. Walked to the window. Back to us.

“Why?” he asked. Not angry. Hurt. “Why, fratello?”

Brother. He called him brother.

Luca’s eyes filled. “I didn’t. I swear on Selena’s life.”

That was a mistake.

Alessandro moved fast. He had Luca against the wall in 2 seconds. Gun to his head.

“Don’t say her name,” he said. Low. Deadly.

“Stop!” I yelled. “Alessandro, please!”

He didn’t look at me. “Did you?”

“No,” Luca choked. “I love you. I love her.”

Alessandro’s hand shook. Just once.

Then he lowered the gun.

“Prove it,” he said. “48 hours. Or you’re dead.”

He let Luca go.

Luca ran. Not from us. For us.

He found it in 36 hours.

It was Marco’s cousin. From prison. He hacked our accounts. Framed Luca.

“To break you,” the cousin said on the recording. “From inside.”

Alessandro played it once.

Then he walked to Luca. And hugged him.

“I’m sorry,” he said. Two words. From him.

Luca cried. Like a child. “I thought you were going to kill me.”

“I almost did,” Alessandro said. “That’s on me.”

He turned to me. “You were right to stop me.”

I went to both of them. “Family doesn’t break. Not us.”

That night, we had dinner. All three of us. Selena on Luca’s lap.

“Uncle Luca,” she said. “Papa angry?”

“No, principessa,” Luca said, kissing her head. “Papa learned.”

After she slept, Alessandro poured whiskey. For all of us.

“New rule,” he said. “We talk. We trust. We don’t assume.”

“Deal,” Luca said.

“Deal,” I said.

The betrayal failed.

Because we chose each other over doubt.

A week later, Alessandro gave Luca a new title.

“Consigliere,” he said. “Advisor. Family.”

“Not just right hand anymore?” Luca asked.

“No,” Alessandro said. “Brother.”

Luca nodded. No more words needed.

The cousin in prison? He died. Accident.

Alessandro didn’t order it.

“Someone else did,” Luca said. “We’re not the only ones who protect family.”

I didn’t ask who.

The lesson was clear:

Enemies will try to break you from inside.

But if your inside is strong, they can’t.

We were strong.

Because of trust.

And because of Selena. She was our glue.

That night, Alessandro held me tight.

“No more secrets,” he said.

“None,” I promised.

Betrayal came.

Love stayed.