All Chapters of THE VIKING MAFIA (…And Mary, the Mother of God): Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

(Maria’s POV)The mansion was steeped in a tense atmosphere that penetrated every corner. Conversations were hushed, movements were highly calculated, and the very air felt heavy. After the confrontation with Pietro last night and the wavering chill from Dante’s cold demeanor, I felt trapped in a world of shadows, secrets, and whispers. I couldn't even slept I kept thinking about what was to happen. It was so ironic that the world I had tried so hard to run away from did find its way right back to me.As I wandered aimlessly through the vast halls, my mind replayed Pietro’s cryptic words alongside Dante’s relentless accusations. When I passed by Dante’s study, I could hear voices drifting through the partially open door.“Dinner isn’t about formalities” Dante’s voice was sharp and authoritative. “This meeting has to send a message—to both allies and enemies.”“Understood,” Vincenzo replied, his tone subdued and weary, as if he had seen too much. “But you’re walking a dangerous line, D

(Maria’s POV)The dinner had left me on edge, the tension between Dante and my father hanging over us like a looming storm cloud, thick and oppressive. I could feel it in Dante’s grip on my arm as we stood to leave the table—a tightness that spoke volumes. His silence wrapped around me, heavy and suffocating, far more impactful than anything he might have said.The moon hung high in the sky, casting its cold light over the sprawling grounds of my family’s estate. I stared out of the window of Dante’s car as we drove away, the gentle buzz of the engine doing little to calm the dread clawing at my chest. Something was wrong—I could feel it.“Dante,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “What are you planning?”His sharp profile remained stoic, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. He didn’t answer, and his silence felt like a noose tightening around my neck.The memories came unbidden as we entered the city, each familiar landmark pulling me back to my childhood. I remembered running through th

(Maria’s POV)The days following the massacre bled together, each one heavier than the last. Dante’s revelation had shattered something deep inside me—something that could never be repaired. The world felt wrong now, the air thicker, the shadows darker. Every corner of the Vincenzo mansion seemed to whisper reminders of his words, his deeds, and the lives lost in his wake. The stare of my dad as he breathed his last.I barely left my room, the pressure of grief and betrayal anchoring me to the bed. My thoughts were a storm, memories clashing with the harsh truths Dante had forced upon me. My father… was gone, their blood on Dante’s hands. And yet, the man who had stolen my innocence years ago and deprived me of the joy of becoming a Nun—the man I’d thought was a nameless, faceless monster—was the same man who now claimed ownership over me and there was nothing I could do about it.The knot of betrayal in my chest tightened every time I closed my eyes, the echoes of his words reverber

(Dante’s POV / Maria’s POV)Dante’s POVThe dreams came more often now, fragments of a life I couldn’t fully remember. They pulled me into the past like shadows creeping through the cracks of my mind, unsettling and relentless.This time, I was in a sunlit field, the kind of place that felt almost too perfect to be real. Laughter filled the air, bright and carefree. Mine, yes—but not just mine.“Carlo, wait up!”The voice was my own, younger and higher-pitched, full of boyish excitement. I was running through tall grass, chasing after a boy who turned just as I reached him. His face was clear now—dark hair, bright eyes, a smile that mirrored my own.“Catch me if you can!” he yelled, darting away.I felt the rush of happiness, the warmth of innocence. But then, like all dreams, it shifted. The colors dimmed, the laughter faded, and the world became darker.The field was gone. We were in a small room now, huddled together as the sound of gunfire erupted outside. Carlo’s hand was in mine