The Mafia Boss Came Home Early—Then His Maid Grabbed His Arm and Whispered, “Don’t Make a Sound”

Isabella stood paralyzed in the doorway, staring at the husband she had condemned to death.

"Lorenzo," she gasped, taking a stumbling step backward. Her eyes darted frantically around the foyer, searching for Julian, searching for the army of hitmen she had paid for. All she saw were the smears of blood on the pristine marble and the imposing, untouched figure of the Don.

"You look beautiful in black, Isabella," Lorenzo said, his voice terrifyingly calm as he slowly walked toward her. "Very appropriate for the occasion. Though, I must admit, I didn't think I'd be attending my own funeral."

"Lorenzo, I... I can explain," she stammered, tears springing to her eyes—real tears this time, born of pure, primal terror. "Julian took me hostage! He forced me to give him the codes! He said he would kill me if I didn't help him!"

A slow, hollow laugh escaped Lorenzo’s lips. It was a sound entirely devoid of joy.

He stopped a few feet away from her. "I heard the phone call, Isabella. From the bunker. 'If he survives the night, we are both dead. He will peel the skin from our bones.' Do you remember saying that?"

Her mouth opened, but no words came out. The lie had died in her throat. She collapsed to her knees on the marble, clasping her hands together in a desperate plea for mercy.

"Please," she sobbed, crawling toward him. "I was greedy. I was stupid. I didn't want to lose the lifestyle, Lorenzo. The rumors... they said you were going to retire. That you were going to give it all away. I panicked!"

"I was going to retire for you," Lorenzo said softly, looking down at the woman he had loved. "I bought an estate in Tuscany. I was going to hand the business to Julian and walk away so we could live the rest of our lives in peace."

Isabella choked on a sob, realizing the absolute, catastrophic magnitude of her mistake. She had orchestrated a bloody coup to protect an empire her husband had been perfectly willing to walk away from.

"Where is Julian?" she whispered, looking up at him with ruined makeup.