Chapter 4

Dante Moretti POV

Elena turned to the Capos, her smile radiant yet entirely artificial.

"Gentlemen," she began, her voice smooth. "Thank you for coming. As you know, Dante has agreed to step down. He is weary. He desires a quiet life."

She cast a sharp glance at me, her eyes daring me to contradict the narrative.

"Please," she continued, gesturing broadly. "Pledge your loyalty to the new administration. To me. And to Julian, my acting Underboss."

The room fell into a heavy silence.

One of the Capos, Salvatore-a man who had sacrificed an eye fighting for my father-stepped forward. He looked at Elena. Then he looked at Julian. Finally, his one good eye landed on me.

"We pledge loyalty to the Boss," Salvatore rasped, his voice like gravel.

Elena clapped her hands together, the sound sharp in the quiet room. "Excellent! You see, Dante? It's done."

"They said 'The Boss'," I noted calmly. "They didn't say your name."

"I am the Boss!" Elena shrieked, her porcelain composure cracking. "I have the papers! I have the money!"

"Money runs out," I said, leaning back. "Respect lasts forever."

Julian marched up to Salvatore. He was a full foot shorter than the grizzled captain.

"Hey, old man," Julian barked, puffing his chest. "Say it properly. Say 'Boss Elena'. And show some respect to your acting Underboss."

Salvatore didn't move. He looked at Julian like he was a stain on the carpet.

"I was fighting in the trenches while you were still wetting the bed," Salvatore said, his tone dangerously calm.

Julian's face turned a deep, ugly red. He raised his hand to slap Salvatore.

"Don't," I commanded, my voice low but lethal.

Julian froze. He looked at me, then back at Salvatore. He lowered his hand, but his ego was visibly bruised.

"You see?" Julian said to Elena, spinning around. "They don't respect us. We need to clean house. Fire them all. We'll bring in new guys. Younger guys."

"We can't fire everyone, Julian," Elena whispered, her eyes darting nervously. "We need them to hold the streets."

"I can run the streets!" Julian insisted. He turned back to me. "You're a fallen king, Dante. Nobody wants you here. Just sign the damn paper."

"Why are you so eager?" I asked, studying them. "Is there a deadline I don't know about?"

Elena placed a hand on her stomach. The gesture was small, instinctively protective.

My eyes narrowed. I focused on her hand.

"Tell him," Julian said, a cruel smirk spreading across his face. "Tell him why we need the house and the money immediately."

Elena took a shaky breath. She looked at me with a mixture of defiance and pity.

"I'm pregnant, Dante."

The axis of my world stopped spinning for a second.

"It's Julian's," she added quickly. "We're going to be a family. A real family. Something you never gave me."

I felt a sharp pain in my chest, like a knife twisting between my ribs. I had wanted children. She had always claimed she wasn't ready. She said this life was too dangerous.

But for him? For this parasite? She was ready.

"You're carrying his child," I said, my voice devoid of emotion. "While still married to me."

"Yes," she said. "So you see, you have to leave. I need to protect my baby. I need the Moretti name for him."

"You intend to give my name to a bastard?" I asked.

"It's just a name!" she yelled. "Sign the papers!"

I stood up, the chair scraping violently against the floor.

"You have crossed a line, Elena," I said. "You didn't just break my heart. You insulted my blood."