OWNED BY THE MAFIA: His Obsession & His Downfall

Chapter 12

LYRA

I stared at myself in the mirror for a few seconds, hardly recognizing the woman staring back at me.

The deep wine colored evening gown hugged my figure perfectly, flowing down to the floor in soft, elegant folds.

The neckline was simple but flattering, while the fitted waist brought out my curves without making the dress feel uncomfortable.

My red curls had been styled loosely, allowing them to fall around my shoulders in soft, bouncy waves.

I touched one of the curls absentmindedly before sighing.

Tonight was Iris's engagement party.

I still couldn't believe I was actually going.

Two days ago, I had been working my usual shift at the club, and now I was standing in a room that probably cost more than my entire apartment, dressed like I was attending some royal event.

I took one last look at myself before stepping out of the room.

The moment I reached the top of the stairs, I saw Iris standing at the bottom.

And my breath caught.

She looked absolutely beautiful.

Her emerald green gown fell elegantly around her body, the fabric shimmering slightly whenever she moved. Her hair had been styled into a soft updo, leaving a few loose strands framing her face.

She looked nothing like the quiet girl I had met in the garden two days ago.

She looked like a princess.

I slowly walked down the stairs, smiling when her eyes lansed on me.

"Wow," she breathed.

I laughed softly. "That's exactly what I was going to say about you."

She smiled, her eyes travelling over my dress.

"You look beautiful."

"So do you."

She stepped closer and gently touched one of my curls.

"Your hair is so pretty."

I smiled. "And your dress is gorgeous. I love the color."

"Really?"

"Really."

She looked down at herself before smiling shyly. "I wasn't sure about it at first."

"Well, you made the right choice."

For a moment, we simply stood there looking at each other.

It was strange.

We had spent most of our lives apart, yet standing beside her now felt surprisingly natural.

"You two look beautiful."

My mother's voice made us turn.

She stood a few feet away, looking just as elegant in a champagne-colored gown that flowed gracefully to the floor. Her hair was styled neatly, and the soft smile on her face made her look even more beautiful.

"Mom," I smiled.

She walked toward us and gently took both our hands.

"My beautiful girls."

There was something in the way she said it that made my chest tighten.

Girls.

I had never heard her call me that before.

She looked between us, her eyes becoming slightly glassy before she blinked the emotion away.

"You both look perfect."

I smiled at her. "You look beautiful too."

She laughed softly. "Thank you, sweetheart."

I looked around and noticed my father standing a short distance away.

He was dressed in an expensive black suit, his expression as unreadable as ever. His dark hair was neatly styled, and everything about him screamed wealth and authority.

His eyes moved over the three of us before he checked his watch.

"We should leave."

Of course.

Leave it to my father to ruin a perfectly emotional moment.

I rolled my eyes internally but followed everyone toward the entrance.

Outside, several black cars were waiting for us.

Iris walked beside me while Mom and Dad went ahead.

"Are you nervous?" I whispered.

She hesitated.

"A little."

I glanced at her.

"You don't have to be."

She gave me a small smile, but there was something uncertain in her eyes.

"I just wish things were different."

I knew exactly what she meant.

She didn't want this marriage.

She already loved someone else.

But tonight wasn't about what she wanted.

It was about what our father had decided.

We climbed into the car, and I settled beside Iris while our parents sat opposite us.

The drive through Naples was quiet at first.

I watched the city pass through the window, the lights becoming brighter as we moved farther from home.

After about thirty minutes, the car slowed down.

I looked outside.

My eyes widened.

The hotel in front of us was enormous.

Tall glass windows stretched across the elegant building, glowing warmly against the night sky. Rows of expensive cars lined the entrance, while several uniformed staff members stood outside, ready to welcome the guests.

I had heard of this place before.

The Lombardi Grand Hotel.

One of the most luxurious hotels in Naples.

And, according to Iris, one of the most valuable properties owned by our family.

The car stopped directly in front of the entrance.

A staff member immediately opened the door.

Iris stepped out first, followed by Mom.

I took a deep breath before stepping out myself.

The moment my heels touched the pavement, I looked up at the towering hotel.

For a moment, I simply stood there.

The entrance was already crowded with guests arriving in expensive cars, while several staff members moved around the entrance, welcoming everyone with polite smiles.

My father was already walking ahead, with my mother and Iris following closely behind.

I quickly caught up with them.

The moment we stepped inside, I understood why my father had chosen this place.

The hotel was breathtaking.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting a warm golden glow across the enormous lobby.

Marble floors stretched beneath our feet, polished so perfectly that I could almost see my reflection in them.

There were flowers everywhere, arranged in enormous vases, while soft music played somewhere in the background.

And the people...

There were so many of them.

Guests had already started arriving, and from the way everyone was dressed, this wasn't just some ordinary engagement party.

Men in expensive suits stood in small groups, speaking quietly while women dressed in elegant gowns moved around them.

I recognized a few faces from television and magazines, but most of them were complete strangers to me.

I leaned slightly toward Iris.

"Are all these people here for your engagement?"

She gave me a nervous smile.

"Unfortunately."

I laughed softly.

"Why unfortunately?"

"Because I don't know half of them."

"Neither do I."

She giggled quietly, and for a moment, the nervousness on her face disappeared.

Mom looked back at us and smiled.

"Stay close. There will be a lot of people tonight."

I nodded.

My father continued walking ahead, greeting a few men who approached him.

I followed my mother and Iris into the main ballroom.

The moment we stepped through the doors, I nearly stopped walking.

It was even more beautiful than the lobby.

The entire room had been decorated in gold and white. Huge crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, while round tables covered in white linen were scattered throughout the room.

A large stage stood at the far end, decorated with flowers and elegant arrangements.

People filled almost every table.

I could hear conversations in different languages around me, and I quickly realized just how many influential people had been invited.

Businessmen.

Politicians.

Foreign investors.

People whose names I had probably heard without even realizing who they were.

This wasn't just an engagement party.

It was a gathering of powerful people.

I suddenly felt very out of place.

"Relax," Iris whispered beside me.

I looked at her.

"You look like you're about to run."

"Maybe I am."

She laughed.

Before I could say anything else, my father called Iris over to introduce her to a group of guests.

I watched her walk away with our mother before turning around.

I needed a drink.

Not alcohol.

Just something to keep my hands busy.

I was about to look for one of the servers when the conversations around me suddenly died down.

One by one, people stopped talking.

The music seemed quieter.

Even the people who had been laughing moments ago turned toward the entrance.

I frowned, "What happened?"

No one answered me.

I slowly turned around to see what everyone was staring at.

And my heart stopped, I knew that face.

Those emerald eyes, that dark hair.

That unmistakable presence.

Dante.

My mouth fell slightly open.

What the hell was he doing here?

He walked into the ballroom like he owned the entire place, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that made him look even more intimidating than the last time I'd seen him.

He wasn't alone.

Matteo walked beside him, his expression as serious as ever.

Another man followed closely behind them. I didn't recognize him, but judging by the way he carried himself, he clearly wasn't just some random guest.

And then I noticed the little boy walking beside Dante.

I blinked.

Once. Twice.

My eyes moved between them.

The little boy had dark hair, the same sharp features, the same emerald eyes and even the same serious expression.

He looked like a tiny version of Dante.

I stared at them in disbelief.

"Is that his son?" I whispered to myself.

Dante stopped for a moment, greeting a few people who approached him.

The little boy stayed close to his side, looking around the crowded room with curiosity.

I couldn't stop staring.

This was the same man who had shown up bleeding at my apartment.

The same man who had threatened me, annoyed me, and somehow managed to get under my skin in less than twenty-four hours.

And now he was standing in the middle of my family's engagement party.

How the hell did he know mu family?

My brows furrowed.

Then Dante's eyes suddenly lifted.

Across the crowded ballroom, his gaze found mine.

Everything around me seemed to disappear.

His expression changed slightly the moment he recognized me.

A slow, almost amused smile appeared on his lips.

Oh, no.

Not that smile.

I swallowed hard.

And judging by the way he started walking in my direction, he had absolutely no intention of pretending he hadn't.