The Mafia Boss' Betrayal

Bomb

Dante POV

Dante leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling of his office. Another useless meeting. Another day pretending like his world wasn’t falling apart.

He should have been thinking about shipments, about alliances. Instead, all he could see was Gia’s face.

The way she’d looked at him at the beach house, broken and furious all at once. The way she’d said ‘take me home’ with her voice cracking. Home. The word hurt him. Her home should have been with him and he screwed that up.

God, he was losing his mind.

There was a knock on his door. Sharp, urgent.

"Busy," he growled.

But the door creaked open anyway. Fabio’s head poked through. "Mrs. Ricci is here. She says it's important."

Dante froze. He hadn’t seen Sophia in years—only a handful of times after his wedding and nothing more after that. It must be important. "Send her in."

Fabio opened the door wider and Sophia strode in, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

“What’s wrong? Did something happened to Alessandro? One of the children? What’s—” Dante rambled—his heart hammering in his chest.

"You have five minutes," she said coldly.

"Five minutes for what?" Dante asked.

Before he could even finish the question, Gia slipped in behind Sophia, her body tense, her face pale. She refused to meet his eyes.

Sophia glared at Dante one last time, then jerked her thumb at Fabio, who was still lingering in the hall. "Come on. Help me with… paperwork."

Fabio’s brows knitted together in confusion, but he followed her without arguing. The door clicked shut behind them.

And just like that, they were alone.

Gia stood frozen near the door, as if debating whether to run. Dante rose slowly from his chair. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t dare. He was afraid if he spoke, he’d scare her off.

Finally, Gia broke the silence. "This was a mistake."

"Gia—"

"I don't even know why I came." She crossed her arms, hugging herself.

Dante stepped around his desk, closing the distance between them. Not too close. Just enough so she had to look at him.

"Because you miss me," he said softly. "Because you miss us."

Gia laughed, but it was brittle. "You’re unbelievable."

"Tell me I’m wrong."

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her chin trembled.

"I think about you every second of every damn day," Dante said, his voice rough. "And every time I close my eyes, all I see is the life we should’ve had."

Gia turned her face away, blinking rapidly. “I—it didn’t feel right—the way things ended yesterday and I just wanted to talk a little.”

“Okay, that’s great,” Dante said, feeling like he was grasping at straws.

“Dante—I’m sorry about what I said. I—You hurt me,” Gia softly spoke.

“I know. And I have been regretting it every day since,” he whispered, stepping even closer.

“They were almost chest to chest now, and he could see the moment Gia noticed. Her eyes widened, she shook her head and backed towards the door, "This was a mistake."

She fumbled with the doorknob, but Dante didn’t stop her. He didn’t want to scare her off, but she suddenly turned, surprising him.

“I do miss you,” she whispered. Dante couldn’t help himself and leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers.

“We can’t do this,” she continued. They both had their eyes closed, slightly panting. “we both have families. This is wrong…”

“Then why does it feel so right?” Dante said, before gently pressing his lips to hers. Gia didn’t push him away, but instead, gave in—there lips molding together. It felt so f*****g right.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. “Times up!” Sophia’s voice sounded through the door.

Gia and Dante shared a heated look, before she put her palms on his chest, gently pushing him away.

“Come on, Gia, we’re leaving,” Sophia was getting impatient.

“Wait,” Dante said, desperately grabbing her wrist, “when will I see you again?”

“I—I don’t know,” Gia shook her head.

Just when Sophia knocked again…

BAM.

The building shook with what sounded like a bomb going off.

"Sir!" Fabio’s voice barked from the hallway. "You… you need to see this."

Dante’s instincts kicked in immediately. He brushed past Gia, heart pounding, and stalked toward the front doors of the building.

Sophia and Fabio were already outside, standing rigid. Sophia with a hand clamped over her mouth. Car sirens were going off outside side, as a cloud of smoke hung in the air—debris everywhere.

Dante’s blood ran cold as he saw his car—it was ruined. Exploded to pieces. Only the wheels and half of the inside were left.

“Sir,” Fabio said, coming up to him with a white folded paper, “This was sticking to the building entrance,”

STAY AWAY FROM WHAT’S MINE.

Dante felt Gia come to a halt behind him. He didn’t even need to look at her to know she was shaking.

His jaw clenched so hard it hurt.

Fabio stepped up beside him, his hand already hovering near his gun. "You want me to—"

"No warnings," Dante said coldly. "Find out who did this. Find out who they work for."

Fabio nodded sharply and disappeared into the crowd gathering across the street. Dante stood there for a moment longer, staring at the letters until they blurred.

Gia was breathing heavily behind him, and he turned, catching her pale face.

Dante caught Gia's wrist before she could step fully outside, his voice low and commanding. "Stay inside."

Gia froze, her wide, terrified eyes locking onto his. He softened his grip immediately, but didn't let go. "Please," he added, quieter.

Gia hesitated. She leaned slightly, catching a glimpse of the wreckage, the billowing smoke, the crumpled wheels still smoldering. Her face paled so fast it scared him. She didn’t say a word — just took a slow, shaky step back into the building, hiding in the shadow of the doorway.

Dante turned back toward the chaos.He clenched the note in his hand — Stay away from what’s mine.

His mind whirled, trying to place it. Another family? A broken deal? Someone trying to make a move on Mancini territory? It wouldn't be the first time.

Behind him, he heard the soft, uneven breathing Gia couldn't hide. He glanced over his shoulder just once — her arms wrapped tight around herself, trembling — before forcing himself to look away. Not now. He couldn't afford to be distracted now.

Fabio barked orders to the men, already clearing the street, checking security footage, tracking who had been near the building.

Sophia slipped back inside, putting herself firmly between Gia and the shattered windows.

Gia barely noticed. She was staring at the wreckage like it had reached through the glass and grabbed her by the throat.

Dante ground his teeth together. Someone wanted to scare him. Congratulations, asshole. It worked. But not for the reason they thought.

It wasn’t the car. It wasn’t the message. It was Gia. Gia standing there, looking like she was about to shatter into a thousand pieces. Gia, who didn’t belong in this world, caught in the crossfire anyway.

And he still didn’t even know what the hell was going on.

He turned and stalked back inside, shutting the door with a solid click. Gia flinched. Dante swore under his breath and raked a hand through his hair.

"I'll find out who did this," he said roughly. "I'll handle it."

Gia just shook her head, her braid swinging. "Don't," she whispered. "Please, Dante. Just... let it go."

The plea in her voice nearly undid him.

But before he could ask anything — before he could touch her, calm her — she bolted. Gia darted past him, grabbing the door handle before he could stop her.

"Gia—"

"I have to go," she said in a rush, her voice breaking. "I can't—"

And she was gone.

Dante stood there, staring at the door she’d disappeared through, his heart hammering against his ribs. The burned-out shell of his car smoldered behind him, but the only thing he could feel was the hollow ache inside his chest.

Something was wrong. Badly wrong.

And no matter what it cost him — no matter how many rules he had to break — he was going to figure out what it was.