Page 73

Story: Dark Mafia Crown

“Zoom in on the license plate,” I order, my voice unnaturally calm considering the rage burning inside me.

Nicolo obliges. The plate comes into focus.

“We ran it already,” he says. “It’s registered to a shell company owned by Fabrizio D’Angelo.”

The name hits me like a physical blow. D’Angelo. The loan shark who believes I married Chiara to nullify his debt. The man who blames her for how I found out he was running loans in my territory. The man who thinks it’s her fault I shut down his operations. The man I warned was dangerous despite lacking my direct power. The man who now has my wife.

“Why would he—” I start, then freeze as understanding crashes through me. “He knows.”

Nicolo nods grimly. “Our sources say he’s been asking questions about the DeLucas. Someone’s been stirring that pot, boss. Looking into old feuds, old families.”

Chiara. It has to be. Her digging has led D’Angelo straight to Aria, god damn it.I told her. Told them.

And now, my worst fears have been confirmed.

“Get me everything on D’Angelo’s current locations. Properties, warehouses, anywhere he might take her.”

“Already working on it,” Nicolo assures me. “But there’s more. We intercepted a call to one of your father’s lieutenants an hour ago. D’Angelo’s people reached out to him, trying to arrange a meeting.”

Ice water replaces the blood in my veins. If D’Angelo connects with my father, if he tells him who Aria really is, who he believes I married…

My phone vibrates again. Unknown number. I snatch it up, putting it on speaker.

“Bianchi.” My voice gives nothing away.

“Marco, my friend.” Fabrizio’s oily voice slithers through the speaker. “I think I have something that belongs to you.”

Every muscle in my body tenses. “If you’ve harmed her?—”

“Relax,” he interrupts with a chuckle. “Your lovely wife is perfectly intact. For now.”

“What do you want?” I grit out.

“A conversation. Face to face. You’ve been avoiding me since our little financial disagreement.”

“Name the place.”

“So eager,” Fabrizio mocks. “But I’m not ready for our reunion yet. First, I want you to sweat a little. To think about all the things I could do to this beautiful creature.”

“If you touch her—” My teeth grind together so hard I taste enamel.

“You’ll what? Kill me? Then you’ll never find her.” He pauses, and I hear the rustle of movement. “Say hello to your husband, sweetheart.”

“Marco,” Aria’s voice trembles, but there’s steel beneath it. “Don’t give him what he?—”

A sharp sound cuts her off, and rage surges through me so violently my vision blurs.

“That wasn’t very nice,” Fabrizio chides, back on the line. “You know, it’s strange. Everyone thinks you married ChiaraDeLuca to settle her debt. But this isn’t Chiara, is it? This is Aria. Her twin.”

The air leaves my lungs in a rush. “How did you?—”

“Please,” he scoffs. “You think you’re the only one with eyes and ears in this city? People talk, Marco. Especially when someone starts asking questions about the DeLuca massacre. About forgotten heirs.”

My free hand clenches so tight I feel blood where my nails dig into my palm. “What do you want?”

“Originally? Just to squeeze you for the money you stole from me by taking my debtors.” His voice drops lower. “But now? Now I have something far more valuable. The heir to the DeLuca empire, wedded to the son of the man who destroyed her family. That’s quite a story.”

“A fairy tale,” I snarl. “Nothing more.”