All Chapters of The Mafia Don's Redemption : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Valentina.I was out of there before anyone found me.When it was time for lunch, the room was quieter than it had been that morning, though the air felt thick with unspoken words and restless energy.Isabella had finally drifted off, her steady breaths filling the silence. Marco was out, and for the first time in a while, I was alone with Reed.The Reed who had a crush on me.The weight of what I overheard earlier lingered in my chest, Reed’s feelings toward me becoming a tangled thread in the mess that was my life.Matteo had a new fiancée now... and had left me to the torture from Luca... why should I care?Why should I hold myself back?"She's too hung up on Matteo to notice your little crush." Marco had said earlier.Asshole.The ache of Matteo's betrayal burned hotter at times like this when I couldn't ignore. And something reckless sparked inside me.I glanced toward Reed, who stood near the window, arms crossed, his broad shoulders rigid. He wasn't looking at me, but his prese

Matteo.The night carried a deceptive calmness.They were done with dinner by the time I was out of the study, so I followed the family to the balcony, Annalise at my side. She was clinging to me, her manicured fingers lightly brushing my arm as though to remind everyone that I belonged to her.Though I belonged to just one woman.The soft hum of voices surrounded us as Richard, Annalise’s uncle, led a conversation about the growing tension between certain factions in the city. He had slipped out of the study after I did.I feigned interest, my eyes straying to the horizon. Valentina’s face lingered in my thoughts now that I allowed myself to think about her... her defiance, her fire. The soft curve of lips I wouldn't be able to touch anymore. Strands of hair I wouldn't be allowed to move away from her face anymore.And then there was the trip.Isabella. Reed. Marco.I clenched the railing. I'd dragged Valentina into this web of danger, even if she hadn't seen everything yet. I admir

Valentina."You're welcome."The low hum of the jet’s engines sent a vibration through my body as I sat rigidly by the window, my hands gripping the armrests so tightly that my knuckles turned white.The air inside the cabin felt thick and heavy, pressing down on me like an invisible weight. Across from me, Isabella lounged with the casualngrace of someone who had never faced a true consequence in her life, her lips curved in a faint self-satisfied smile."Matteo belongs to me. He always has. He always will." Isabella’s words continued to echo in my mind.Why had she said that?Reed stood by the cabin door, his sharp eyes scanning the tarmac below through the narrow window. Marco was nowhere to be seen, presumably still barking orders at the pilot and anyone else close to ensure they dealt with the mechanical issue fast.I should have felt relief. In a matter of hours at most, I would be away from this chaos, this nightmare of a life my mom had willingly dragged me into. But that une

Valentina.There was a large garage in the safe house, which was surprisingly well equipped. It smelled of old sweat and bad oil.Now I knew the preferred room when the house was designed.Reed stood near the centre of the garage, his arms crossed as he watched me with a mixture of patience and something else... something heavier.“First thing’s first,” he said, tossing me a pair of boxing gloves. “We’re starting simple. Footwork, balance, basic punches.” I caught the gloves clumsily, staring at them like they were alien objects. “Boxing? Really?” “Got a better idea?” His brow arched in challenge, but his tone wasn’t mocking. If anything, it felt encouraging. I sighed, slipping my hands into the gloves. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.” “Atta girl,” he said, a smirk tugging at his lips. Idiot.As Reed began demonstrating the basics, I couldn't help but compare this to the time Matteo taught me his own basics, which included how to shoot a gun. His lessons were more about con

Valentina.The garage had become my sanctuary and torment in equal measure. Every step, punch, and adjustment Reed taught me hammered into my mind with relentless precision. He was thorough... too thorough, if you asked me... and his corrections came without hesitation. His constant attention made me hyperaware, not only of his presence but of my growing unease.Good news, he didn't try to kiss me again. Or confess any more feelings. And I didn't try to know his secret anymore.I threw another punch at the bag, sweat rolling down my back. My fists stung, and my arms screamed for a break, but I didn't stop. Reed’s words floated around me like echoes.Balance. Power. Focus.I needed all of them.“Don’t let your mind wander,” he said sharply, his tone more coach than companion. “In a fight, hesitation will get you killed.” Gosh.I huffed out a breath, glaring at him through strands of damp hair. "You think I don't know that?"“I think you’re too distracted to care right now,” he coun