The Mafia Boss' Betrayal

Wihplash

Gia POV

“Leo, let go,” Gia laughed, “I need to get cleaned up.” Leo smiled, kissing her lips, before his arms slipped from around her, letting her get out of bed to go to the bathroom.

Gia closed the door behind her and let out a deep breath, closing her eyes to ground herself for just a minute.

They’d had a nice day today. Leo had taken a day off for them all to go to the Zoo. After that, they’d had a nice family dinner in a nice family restaurant. Leo normally didn’t allow Luca to come along, saying that restaurants were not place for children.

It had been a nice change—Leo had been keeping a watchful eye on her since she’d seen Dante.

Gia closed her eyes and pushed her thoughts of Dante away—reminding herself that he had betrayed her in the worst possible way.

She’d even felt guilty just now making love to her husband, as if she were betraying him somehow. Seeing him had brought up a lot, even though she’d slid on her mask of indifference, she’d felt it, deep inside of her.

She snapped out of her thoughts, realizing she’d been too slow. What if Leo came in? She quickly got onto her knees and reached into the bathroom drawer, her fingers grazing the tape she’d put at the top. She quickly peeled it away, pulling out the birth control strip, taking one and taping it back.

She couldn’t get pregnant. Not now, not ever. Not only had her first pregnancy traumatized her, making her vulnerable in a way she never wanted to feel again… but if she got pregnant, she would be trapped with Leo forever.

Some days, she dreamed of him dying in some Mafia feud. Other days… she hated herself for still loving him. He was a complex man that brought out complex feelings inside of her.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror for a moment, hoping Leo was telling the truth about using protection with his other women. Yes, it hurt her when he cheated, deeply, reopening the Dante wound, but at least he was being careful.

At least he had never hid who he was. Not that she approved, no… but you didn’t say no to someone like Leo without a price.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Gia had luckily taken her pill and cleaned up.

“Is everything alright, amore?” He asked in a sugary sweet voice.

“Yes, everything is fine,” Gia said, pulling open the door with a smile.

“Come back to bed,” Leo said, pulling her along. Oh, how easy it would have ben to love this man and be happy with him, but the way he treated her when he was feeling bad… the way he manipulated her and… abused her, it killed the family they could have had together.

“I love you,” he whispered, his hands cupping her face as he kissed her. “I can just feel it in my bones, this time… it worked. And you’re carrying my son.” He placed his hands on her stomach.

“What if it’s a girl,” she chuckled. That was the wrong thing to say. His smile dropped off of his face as if she’d just insulted him.

“Don’t say silly things like that, amore. Don’t taunt me,”

“I—I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking,” Gia said, her body starting to tremble on it’s own accord. Leo must have noticed, because his face softened.

“I’m sorry, let’s not ruin the mood. It has been such a lovely day,” he smiled again. His mood swings were like an emotional whiplash.

“Come, let’s cuddle in bed.” He said, before getting in and patting his chest. Gia obeyed, getting into bed next to him.

Leo’s arm wrapped tighter around her, pulling her snug against his chest. Gia lay stiffly, listening to the rhythmic beat of his heart, trying to match her breathing to his so he wouldn't sense her spiraling thoughts.

“You’re going to make a beautiful mother again,” Leo murmured, his voice low and thick with satisfaction. His fingers stroked lazy patterns along her bare arm. “A real family. A son to carry my name.”

Gia forced a small, noncommittal hum in response, praying he wouldn’t hear the tremor in her throat.

“You always were perfect,” he added, kissing the crown of her head. “Even if you needed a little… shaping.”

Gia squeezed her eyes shut. Shaping. That’s what he called it. The punishments, the isolation, the way he’d slowly stripped away every layer of independence she once had.

Leo shifted, propping his head up with one hand so he could look down at her.

“You’ll quit that little charity once you start showing, of course,” he said casually, as if discussing a minor errand.

“I—” Gia licked her lips. “I love working there, Leo. It’s important to me.”

His fingers trailed down her cheek almost tenderly, but his eyes hardened.

“You’ll love being a mother even more,” he said smoothly. “No more distractions. No more pretending to be something you’re not.”

Gia swallowed thickly and nodded, knowing any protest would only draw out the conversation—and his temper.

For a moment, silence stretched between them.

Then Leo chuckled, the sound low and mocking. “And here I was, worried you might have caught feelings again for your old flame.” Gia’s stomach dropped.

She kept her face carefully blank as Leo continued, voice syrupy sweet.

“Funny seeing you with Mancini again after all these years,” he mused, as if he were commenting on the weather. Gia forced a laugh. “Ancient history.”

She didn’t even need to guess if Marco was taking pictures of her and sending them to Leo. Now she was sure.

Leo studied her, his smile sharp and cutting. “Good. Because if you ever embarrassed me again, Gia…” He leaned in, his breath hot against her ear. “I wouldn’t be so forgiving.”

She held perfectly still, every muscle locked tight until he finally pulled back, seemingly satisfied.

Leo kissed her temple one last time and settled in beside her.

Gia curled into herself, facing away from him, staring at the dark window across the room.

The room felt too small. Too dark.

She remembered once, years ago, falling asleep wrapped in Dante’s arms, feeling safe, weightless—like she could dream about anything and maybe even make it real.

Now, she slept beside a man who claimed to love her—and kept whores hidden in every shadow. Gia closed her eyes and pretended to fall asleep as Leo’s breathing evened out.

She stayed perfectly still for a long time.

But inside, one thought echoed louder than all the others.

You have to get out.

Before there’s nothing left of you to save