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128: CLOSE ENEMY

Author: Bentu
last update Huling Na-update: 2024-12-21 20:54:31

ELLA'S POV.

The light inside that secret café was low, lengthening shadows across the room. In the pit of my stomach, my irritation simmered while my manicured fingers drummed along the wood of the table, but my face didn't reveal anything at all. Anthony slid into the chair opposite me, a look of smugness plastered onto his features. Overconfidence was really an attribute that annoyed me, and again I remained mute.

"What's going on?" I said, my voice cut.

Anthony laughed, oblivious to the irritation in me. "Relax, Ella. All is just going according to plan."

"Really?" I snapped, leaning further forward. "Because where I am sitting, Camilla is very much in the picture and Dante's attachment to her is stronger than ever. You said you'd handle her."

He smiled wryly, playing with his catch. "And I am. Already, Dante thinks I am a spy. He is half-convinced that it was me who kidnapped Jasper. All I have to do is to keep up this act of playing victim to cause dispute between him and Camilla
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  • SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS   129: FAMILY RAGE

    DANTE'S POV.The crunch of gravel beneath the tires as we pulled up to my family house was as recognizable as the weight on my chest. Alex parked, his jaw clamping shut with all the same firmness as mine. Neither one of us said a word; the silence stretched between us, as heavy as lead."This has to go right," Alex finally growled, breaking into the oppressive silence."It will," I said; the words seemed to feel like a lie as they left my lips. Of course, it wasn't going to go over well trying to convince my father, Luca, that Anthony had betrayed us-he trusts Anthony almost as much as he trusts me, maybe more at times.We stepped into this big estate, and in came the smell of wood and leather flinging my mind to my childhood days. Maids running past them with eyes on the ground gave greetings with no courtesy stops, but I seemed to dive into some kind of time warp-damn well, it was just about not allowing myself to become free from the gloom looming all over now.Lucа wаs аlreаdy in

    Huling Na-update : 2024-12-23

  • SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS   130: VULNERABLE PENETRATION

    DANTE'S POVThe lighting in the bar was only dim, and the lights were low to match my churning stomach. My phone lay on the counter next to an untouched shot of whiskey; its screen was flashing-obviously a reminder. I did not need to glance at it to know what it was.Tomorrow was Jasper's second-year birthday. More than two months gone, with only silence to fill the chasm of his disappearance. Not one hint, not one whisper to indicate whether he was alive or dead.I reached for the shot and downed it in one violent gulp. The fire in my throat was a sad substitute for the fire that had been eating a hole in my chest.The bartender hovered close. "Another?"Yeah," I growled, pushing the empty glass over to him.The bar swam while I was waiting. Camilla's face floated into focus within the window of my mind, and the crying excuses for Anthony spiraled into a mantra echoing. They were starting to feel like dousing a low fire. I smacked my fist on the bar."Take it easy," the bartender s

    Huling Na-update : 2024-12-23

  • SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS   Chapter 131

    Ella's POVMorning sunlight cut through the window curtains, slicing apart the comfortable shades of the room. I was the first to stir. Dante grunted at climbing out of bed, seeming tense, rigid in air filled with confusion and afterthoughts."What have I done," he swore, light, under his breath.I opened my eyes and stared back at him, innocence draped over me like a mantle. He whipped toward me; his face contorted between shock, guilt, and anger."What the…what happened?" His words were sharp, pointing accusing, but the doubt in the tone betrayed his vulnerable structure.I sat up, clutching the sheet to my chest. "Dante, I. I didn't mean for this to happen," I stuttered shamefacedly, my voice shaking; I bit into my lip, letting my eyes well with unshed tears.He dragged his hands over his face and groaned. "You didn't mean for this to happen? Ella, you should've stopped this! You knew I was drunk, that I wasn't thinking straight!”"I tried!" I wailed, my voice breaking. "You… you w

    Huling Na-update : 2024-12-23

  • SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS   132: Torn Reflections

    DANTE'S POVThe shower was hot, but that wouldn't burn off the shame sticking to me. My head leaned against the cool tile, my hands were on the wall bracing myself, and the water ran in over me. I needed last night to just leave me alone: Ella in tears confessing, an expression on her face, and how her touch felt so wrong yet so familiar.I gritted my teeth. The memory closed in on me, my body having betrayed me, having betrayed her, yet above it all, it wasn't Ella's name that slipped past my lips.It was Camilla.The soft, warm sound of her laughter still echoed in my head now, as it always had when this life hadn't crushed the souls out of us. She'd always been there no matter how hard I pushed her away. Last night, alcoholic fog and misery consumed me; she was the one flashing before my eyes, and she was the one I reached toward.I slapped my fist onto the tile, the sharp stab of pain grounding me momentarily. What the hell's wrong with me?My head twisted some more, the tortured

    Huling Na-update : 2024-12-23

  • SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS   133: Fractured Loyalties

    Camilla's POVA month. Thirty days since I had walked out of Dante's life. Thirty nights that I had spent tossing and turning, haunted by the echo of his accusations. Thirty mornings of waking up to my father's apartment, the silence around me is a grim reminder of Jasper's absence.I sat at my desk in my office at C-Care Cosmetics and stared blankly at the reports in front of me. The numbers were good, better than expected, but I was not. I extended my hand to reach for the coffee, slightly shaking. It had gone cold again.“Ms. Draven?” my assistant, Clara, cut into my reflections, warning that she was probably wondering if that's what I still wished to be referred to anyway. Only a few people knew about our separation and we aren't even divorced yet. "Yes?" I said, out of the trance."Your meeting with the product development team is in a quarter of an hour."I nodded. "Thank you, Clara. I'll be there.”She stood and went to her door, I leaned back in my chair, shutting my eyes for

    Huling Na-update : 2024-12-24

  • SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS   134: RISING REVENGE

    Tom's POVThe wheels of my chair crunched softly as I rolled over the marble floor of my study. This wasn't the life I'd visualized-not glued to this damn wheelchair, not gutted of the power and presence that had always defined me.But power was only partly in the body. It was in the head, the will, the execution.And I hadn't even begun yet."Sir," my right-hand man, said from the door to break my train of thought. "The latest updates are prepared. Shall I proceed?""Speak," I said sharply.He stepped forward, holding a folder in his hand. "Our sources confirm that Dante Draven and Camilla have separated. She's currently staying at her father's apartment. They are both running their companies. Their son, Jasper, is currently missing for four months now.”I leaned back in my chair, steepling my fingers. "And no leads on the boy?""None," he admitted, his voice hesitant. "But there's speculation.I raised an eyebrow. "Speculation doesn't interest me. I need facts. Keep digging.""Yes,

    Huling Na-update : 2024-12-25

  • SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS   135: WHO CARES?

    Dante's PovI leaned back in my chair and began to survey the towering piles of documents on my desk. It was another night over here in this office, but that did not bother me. The office has been my escape from the taunting memories in the mansion. I found the office mote comforting with every employee gone late at night. The door cracked open. "Still burning the midnight oil?" Her tone was light, and playful, yet the undertone wasn't hard to catch.I looked up. Ella leaned against the doorframe, bright red lips curving into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She held two cups of coffee and strolled over, setting one down in front of me."I didn't ask for this," I said flatly, pushing the cup aside. “And haven't you left yet?” "Consider it a friendly gesture," she said, sliding into the chair across from me. "You look like you could use some company."I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Ella, I'm busy.""And I'm just here to keep you company while you work," she said, crossin

    Huling Na-update : 2024-12-25

  • SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS   136: HARD TO ADMIT

    Camilla's PovThe hum of the refrigerator was basically the only sound in my dad's apartment. I huddled onto the couch, my phone clutched tightly in my hand with Kate's name highlighted on my screen. For what had to be the hundredth time that day, I pressed "call."It was ringing at first, but as always, I already knew how this was going to turn out."Hello, this is Kate! I'm not able to come to the phone right now, but leave me a message and I'll get back to you."Beep.I swallowed the lump in my throat as I made myself speak, "Kate, it's Camilla. Please, I have to talk with you. It's urgent. Can you call me back the moment you can?”I hung up and flung the phone onto the couch beside me. My chest was tight, frustration knotting my breath. It wasn't right, how she could ignore me, how Anthony could ignore me.Precise questions, or rather unforthcoming answers, were whirling around my brain as some sort of unending storm. Every voicemail that was left for Kate, every call for Anthony-

    Huling Na-update : 2024-12-26

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  • SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS   Chapter 171: A Second Chance

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    Dante's POVThe air hung heavy in the room. Ella sat on the ground at the center of the dimly lit basement, her face a mask of defiance though bruises colored her pale skin. I was leaning casually against the table with Ella's phone in my hand, observing her."You're going to prove stubborn to the end, aren't you?" I said icily.She sneered, her swollen lip curling in defiance. "You'll get nothing from me, Dante."Alex was leaning against the doorframe, his arms folded over his chest as he regarded Ella. "We've tried every method. She's either too loyal or too scared."I clenched my fist. The image of Anthony pulling strings behind her seemed seared into my brain. "Or both," I muttered.The phone buzzed on the desk, and I sprang up, and picked it up-the flashing unknown number danced across the screen. Alex took another step closer, taut."Answer it," he said.I nodded and took it to my ear but didn't say anything. The other line was silent too. And then I just waited. The silence hun

  • SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS   169: THE RELATION

    Camilla's POV"Dante, you need to sit down for this," Alex said. His voice came out measured, and I could feel the weight of it. Even Dante's eyes seemed to fill with tension though he leaned against the pillows, he looked much better than this morning, but the body still wasn't up and working just yet.I sat on the edge of the chair beside him, watching as the flicker of every emotion crossed his face. My heart could be pounding against my chest, and I wasn't about to show evidence of it."What's wrong?" Dante asked more like jabbed.Alex gave a quick glance my way before he turned back to him. "Ella faked her pregnancy."His face contorted further, a scrunched-up mess as his gaze soured into an accusing scowl. "What?”"She bribed the doctors," I said. "Also the one that diagnosed and confirmed your condition the first time, the doctor knew about the poisoning but gave us a wrong diagnosis on purpose.” The silent seconds ticked over before Dante's hands actually fisted. "Why? What

  • SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS   168: RE-LIVING FATE

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  • SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS   167: POISONOUS OBSESSION

    Camilla's POV My breath caught as I watched Dante slumped against the headboard, hacking into his lungs. A bit of blood trickled from between his lips and onto his palm and down his hand, spilling onto the sheets. My heart boomed in my chest loud enough to block everything else."Dante!" I shrieked, scrambling onto the bed beside him. "What's going on?”His head swung once in a poor attempt at shaking. "I. I don't know," he spoke in low tones.I grabbed a towel, pressing it to his mouth in hopes of halting the stream of blood while my hands violently shook. "Don't speak. Just breathe. I'm going to call Alex," I said, reaching for my phone.It rang once, and then Alex answered."Camilla? What's going on?""Get here! Now!" I ordered. "Get a doctor, the one that knows what he's doing. Dante is coughing out blood!""What? Is it-""As soon as possible, Alex!" I cut him off, hooking the disconnect button.Dante's hand clutched mine weakly, his eyes searching for mine. "Camilla. I'm fine,"

  • SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS   166: The Ominous Signs

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  • SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS   165: THE FATE REMINDER

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  • SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS   164: BETRAYED HEARTS

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  • SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS   163: REVENGE VICTORY

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