When the Mafia Boss Returned with a Pregnant Mistress

Averys POV

It was meant to mark our ninth year togethernine years sworn under candlelight and blood oaths, nine years of loyalty I had believed was unbreakable.

Instead, the doors of the penthouse palazzo swung open and Don Zachary Moretti walked in with another woman at his side.

His arm was locked around her waist in a way that was unmistakably possessive, the kind of hold men used when they wanted the room to understand ownership. Her silk dress clung to the curve of her stomach, stretched tight over a child that was undeniably his.

For almost a decade, he had made me feel untouchable.

I had been the Dons wifethe woman whose presence silenced rooms, whose name made capos straighten their backs. He had sent black roses flown straight from Sicily, kissed my knuckles in front of rival families, and vowed in front of witnesses that there would never be another woman beside him.

And now?

Now he stood in our homemy homedisplaying another woman like proof of conquest, as if betrayal were something to celebrate.

She doesnt handle disruption well, Zachary said calmly, as if we were discussing business logistics instead of my life. His hand tightened around her waist while she leaned into him, chin lifted, eyes smug. She needs stability. No repeated meals, no sleeping alone. Youll relocate to the guest wing.

For a moment, the world went still.

Relocate? My voice fractured despite my effort to hold it steady. You betray me, put a baby in her, drag her into my home on our anniversaryand you expect me to quietly move aside? Like I was never your wife?

His expression sharpened, the warmth vanishing instantly. This isnt a negotiation, Avery. You will comply.

No. My hands shook as I pointed toward her. You parade your mistress into the Dons residence and think Ill bow my head? Do you hear yourself? The arrogance alone should choke you.

I said move.

The air shifted when he stepped closer. Don Moretti didnt need to raise his voicehis authority crushed without effort. Years of marriage, of shared power, of silent obedience pressed down on me, trying to force my knees to bend.

But I refused to kneel for a man who had already buried our vows.

Im leaving, I said, my tone hardening. Were done. Congratulations, Don Moretti. Enjoy your new life.

Did he really think I would submit to her? That I would smile and make space for the woman carrying his heir?

Never.

I had packed weeks agoafter a video found its way onto my phone. A recording of him and her. I had already mourned this marriage long before tonight.

Zacharys lips curved into a mocking smile as he advanced, pointing at me once, casually, as if dismissing an inconvenience.

Go ahead, he said. Storm out. Make a scene. Youll be back within days, begging like you always do.

Behind me, quiet laughter rippled through the room.

Soldiers. Associates. Family friends. People who once lowered their heads when I entered now whispered openly, savoring my fall from grace.

Unfortunate for themI wasnt staying to be humiliated.

The car my cousin arranged was already waiting downstairs.

Zachary thought Id crawl back?

I didnt even pause as I retrieved my suitcase from the bedroom.

But just as I reached the door, his voice sliced through the air.

Leave the Moonstone bracelet, he ordered. Give it to her.

My chest tightened painfully.

That bracelet had been my grandmotherspassed down through blood and loyalty, the last thing tethering me to myself through weeks of betrayal. And now he wanted to strip even that from me?

No, I whispered, tears breaking free. Not that. Anything but that.

He scoffed, pulling her closer to his chest. Stop being difficult. She needs it.

I could have screamed. I could have thrown it across the room.

Instead, my legs trembled as I walked toward her.

Slowly, deliberately, I unclasped the bracelet and fastened it around her wrist.

May your child live long and safely, I said quietly.

The instant the clasp snapped shut, a thin line of red bloomed across her skin.

She gasped, collapsing to her knees, clutching her wrist. What did you do? she sobbed. Did you hurt me on purpose?

I didnt My breath caught as I stared at her arm in horror.

Zachary moved instantly.

He lifted her into his arms as if she were made of porcelain, his eyes blazing as they locked onto mine.

What did you do? he demanded. Are you so consumed with jealousy that youd harm the woman carrying my heir?

I swear, I dont know, I said, hands frozen in the air.

Get a doctor, he barked. Then his gaze turned cold. Youclean it up. Every piece. Now.

I looked down at the shattered bracelet scattered across the marble.

Glass bit into my palms as I knelt, metal slicing skin. I welcomed the pain. It reminded me I was still standing.

Im sorry, I whispered.

Once.

Twice.

Again.

Blood smeared the floor as I pushed myself upright, forcing my spine straight despite the sting.

Is that sufficient, Don Moretti?

His eyes held nothingno memory, no regret.

The man who protected you no longer exists, he said coldly. Who are you performing for now?

I stared at him. If you hate me this much, end it. Reject me. Cut the bond.

He laughed, low and cruel. Why bother? Youll return. You always do. And rejection hurts more than you deserve.

I gathered the remaining fragments, dumped them into the trash, washed the blood from my hands, and lifted my bag.

This time, when I walked out of the palazzo

I didnt look back.

Averys POV

I truly believed I had escaped.

For one delicate, foolish heartbeat, I thought I was finally free.

I didnt even make it past the outer gates of the Moretti estate before fate laughed in my face.

Two men stepped out from the shadows as if theyd been waiting all along. Black suits. Stone expressions. Don Morettis personal securitysoldiers who answered only to him. I barely registered their faces before they seized me, one iron grip on each arm, hauling me backward like a criminal instead of the woman who once ruled this house beside him.

Mrs. Moretti, one of them said flatly, already dragging me toward the main villa, youre required inside. The Don wants you now. He needs your blood.

My lungs locked.

Whatnolet go of me! I thrashed violently, panic flooding my bodynot for myself, but for the fragile life hidden beneath my ribs. My heart hammered so hard it felt like a warning siren. A plea. Why would he need my blood?

Why him?

Why this marriage?

Why was my punishment always disguised as loyalty?

I had given him everything.

My body. My name. My future. I stood beside him through indictments, rival families circling like wolves, whispers that couldve torn his empire apart. I shielded him when bullets flewliteral and political. I was his wife in every way that mattered.

Was that still not enough?

What kind of twisted joke was it that I ended up bound to a man who saw me as a resource? A tool? Something to be used and discarded when convenient?

And yethe wanted more.

He always wanted more.

I couldnt decide what terrified me more: the possibility that he might discover my pregnancy or the possibility that he already knew and simply didnt care.

Cold metal slammed into my spine.

The next thing I knew, I was strapped into a reinforced medical chair inside the famiglias private infirmary. Steel restraints bit into my wrists. I lifted my head just enough to see Don Zachary Moretti standing across from me, arms folded, expression distantlike I wasnt worth the effort of emotion.

So this is it? I let out a hollow laugh. You drag me back to bleed me like contraband?

He didnt even flinch.

Stop being dramatic, he said coldly. Youre contributing. Make yourself useful.

Something inside my chest cracked clean in half.

Useful? I scoffed. Is that what I was? A walking blood bank with a marriage contract?

Youre emotional, he replied instantly. You always were. You confuse hysteria with loyalty.

Thats rich, I shot back. Coming from the man draining his wife while his mistress rests like a queen.

He crossed the distance in two strides.

His hand snapped around my jaw, fingers pressing hard enough to bruise.

Watch your mouth, he warned.

Or what? I whispered, fury burning through fear. Youll humiliate me again? Strip whatever dignity I have left?

His lips curved into a cruel, amused smile.

Youre breathing, he said softly. Be grateful.

You already have her, I snapped. You got the heir you wanted. So why am I still chained to this chair?

The irony nearly crushed me.

She lay in another roomguarded, pampered, surrounded by doctors and silk sheetswhile I bled for her survival. For her child.

While my own baby stayed hidden, clinging to me in silence.

I said nothing.

I couldnt.

He would weaponize it. He would turn my child into leverage, the same way he turned love into ownership.

So I swallowed the truth and stared at the ceiling, letting the sterile lights blur as I refused to cry.

This is what loving you cost me, I said quietly. Defending your name in every council meeting. Standing between you and every enemy. Acting like a partner instead of property. I shouldve left the moment I realized you never loved meyou claimed me.

Then why didnt you? he snapped. Because you needed me. You always did.

And you, I whispered, were too much of a coward to ever let me go.

His smirk deepened.

Why would I? he said calmly. You never stay gone.

That was when the needle pierced my skin.

It was thicktoo thickmore like a blade than a medical instrument. The pain hit instantly, sharp and searing as it slid into my vein. I didnt scream. I wouldnt give him that pleasure. But sweat soaked my neck, and my fingers trembled violently against the restraints.

As the blood drained, memories went with it.

Our first appearance as Don and Donna.

The night I stepped into gunfire meant for him.

Every lonely hour spent convincing myself that waiting was love.

He watched the entire timesilent, detachedas if I were nothing more than a container being emptied.

Don Moretti, a doctor said cautiously, her vitals are destabilizing. If we continue

Proceed, Zachary cut in. Shes resilient.

My vision dimmed.

I bit my cheek until I tasted blood just to stay conscious.

Eight hundred milliliters.

That was how much they took.

I thought it was finished.

Then someone cleared their throat behind the privacy curtain.

Zachary straightened immediately.

Double it, he said. She requires more.

My breath stuttered.

So this is for her, I whispered weakly. Youre bleeding your own wife to save the woman who shattered us?

She needs it, he replied flatly.

I laughedbroken, hollow.

And me? I murmured. Youd drain me dry without hesitation.

His face didnt change.

From behind the curtain, her voice drifted outfragile, perfectly timed.

Zachary

He moved at once.

I was fading, restrained, slipping into darknessand he was already gone.

The doctor hesitated. Sir continuing may endanger the pregnancy

Do it, Zachary barked. Or find employment elsewhere.

I tried to scream.

The darkness swallowed me first.

---

When I woke, the world felt wrongdistant, muffled.

I lay on a narrow cot beneath a thin blanket. A doctor sat beside me, eyes rimmed with guilt.

Youre stable, he said quietly. Physically.

That doesnt sound like good news, I whispered. So what arent you saying?

He swallowed hard.

There was a complication.

My hand flew to my stomach.

No, I breathed. Pleaseno

Im sorry, he said softly. When the extraction increased the pregnancy could not be sustained.

The scream tore out of me.

I thrashed violently, knocking equipment aside, sobbing so hard I couldnt breathe. I forced myself upright, dizziness crashing over me as I staggered toward the door.

ZACHARY! I screamed. YOU KILLED MY BABY!

He wasnt there.

Of course he wasnt.

I collapsed to the floor, grief hollowing me outuntil something colder took its place.

Focused.

Sharp.

No more pleading.

No more hope.

I looked up at the doctor.

Prepare my discharge, I said hoarsely. And copy every medical record. Every detail.

Because I was done surviving.

Now, I was planning my revenge.

Averys POV

I was still confined to a hospital bed owned by the famiglia, my body sluggish and unreliable, like it hadnt yet realized how much had been taken from it. My arms ached constantly, deep and hollow pain from the blood loss, and sitting upright for more than a few minutes sent the room tilting. But none of that compared to the weight crushing my chesta grief so heavy no sedative could dull it.

I was grieving my child.

While I lay there beneath stark white sheets, surrounded by the quiet beeping of machines that measured survival but not loss, the world seemed eager to remind me just how insignificant my suffering was.

News of Don Zachary Moretti and Nina reached me without warning or mercy.

A former social acquaintance forwarded a video firsta glittering charity gala attended by political allies and rival families alike. Zachary stood at the center of it all in a perfectly tailored tuxedo, relaxed, amused, one arm draped possessively around Ninas waist. She leaned into him with practiced ease, radiant, victorious.

Another clip followed soon after.

A private dinner gathering. Low lighting. Crystal glasses. Zachary lifting a fork to Ninas lips, bending close to murmur something only she could hear. She laughed freely, tipping her head back, utterly shameless.

He looked light.

Unburdened.

Like a man who hadnt lost a single thing.

When the doctors finally cleared me for discharge, I left alone.

No driver sent by the estate. No bodyguard. No assistant hovering with instructions. Not even a courtesy call. I walked out carrying a thin hospital bag, the realization settling in with brutal clarityI had been erased completely.

The thought of returning to the Moretti estate twisted my stomach. Every corridor, every room, was soaked in memory. But my passports, legal documents, and personal files were still there. Everything I needed to disappear.

I had no choice.

And thenbecause cruelty apparently wasnt finished with meI saw them.

They stood just outside the maternity wing.

Nina looked luminous, already basking in attention like a woman stepping into her rightful place. Zachary hovered close, one hand resting at her lower back, guiding her with proprietary ease, as though she were already the Donna of the family.

A nurse passed by, smiling warmly. Don Moretti, your wife looks radiant today.

My throat tightened, but I didnt correct her.

I didnt have the strength.

I turned away, intent on slipping out unseen.

Avery.

Zacharys voice cut through the corridor.

I stopped mid-step. My shoulders stiffened, but I didnt turn right away. Of course he noticed me. Of course he couldnt allow me to vanish quietly.

I finally faced him across the polished floor. I wasnt trailing you, I said evenly. I was discharged today. I didnt know youd be here.

Before he could respond, Nina looped her arm through his, clinging to him as though shed always belonged there.

Love, she said gently, false concern dripping from every syllable, maybe she should ride with us. I feel a little guilty, you know. She gave blood for me. The least we could do is make sure she gets home.

The audacity nearly made me laugh.

Zachary brushed his thumb along Ninas cheek. Youre too kind, he murmured, then looked at me. Fine.

So I got into the car.

Not because I wanted tobut because I needed my documents before I disappeared for good.

I slid into the backseat and fixed my gaze forward.

That was when I saw it.

A pair of womens underwear lay crumpled beside me, unmistakably stained white.

The sight knocked the air from my lungs.

Nina twisted around in her seat, lips curling into a smug smile. Oh my God, she giggled, I cant believe I forgot those. Remember, babe? After what we did back here last week?

Zachary chuckled, eyes still on the road. You almost ruined the leather.

She hummed. You didnt seem bothered when I was on your lap outside the estate. Or when I kept you busy during that long drive.

Traffics easier with you, he replied casually.

And that time you had to pull over because I wouldnt stop? she added brightly. You were shaking.

My stomach twisted violently.

I turned toward the window, jaw clenched so tight it hurt. My hands curled into fists in my lap, nails biting into my skin.

While they carried on as if I didnt exist, I quietly opened my phone and pulled up an email from my cousin, Sebastian.

My heart stuttered when I saw the flight confirmation.

Beneath it, hed added a note:

I booked another option. It departs tonight at 9 PM. Pleasemake this one.

A faint smile touched my lips.

I typed back quickly:

Thank you. Im sorry I missed the last flight.

His reply came almost instantly:

What really happened that day? You dont have to protect me.

My fingers hovered.

Sebastian had always been my shield. If he knew the truth, hed launch a legal warand I didnt want more blood on my conscience.

So I answered:

Ill explain later. I just need to leave first.

Leaving was all that mattered now.

Up front, Zachary laughed softly, apologizing to Nina over something trivial, playing the attentive partner. Yet I felt his gaze flick toward me, waiting for a reaction.

I gave him nothing.

Irritation flashed in his eyes. He hated being ignored.

Youve been glued to your phone since we got in, he snapped. Who are you talking to?

Just catching up on the news, I replied calmly, eyes on my boarding pass.

He didnt believe me.

Without warning, he reached back and yanked the phone from my hands.

Anger surgedhot, clean, undeniable.

Whats the passcode? he demanded.

I smiled faintly. The day we met. The day I made the worst mistake of my life. You were charming for about five minutes. After that? Pure arrogance.

He scowled and tried.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Locked.

Nina leaned over, her voice syrupy with mock pity. Let it go, babe. Its not like she has anyone left to talk to. Or any pride. Who would even bother responding to her now?

She winked at me.

I stared back, silent.

And in that moment, something settled into place with absolute clarity.

They thought I was broken.

They had no idea I was already planning my escapeand what would come after.

Averys POV

When the car rolled through the iron gates of the estate, Don Zachary didnt spare me a glance.

His attention was fixed entirely on the woman clinging to his arm.

He guided his nauseated mistress up the marble steps toward the master suite, his palm firm at her lower back, steering her as if she were something fragileand precious. He barked instructions to the chef to prepare her favorite dishes, then lingered at the doorway longer than necessary, watching her settle into the bed that had once been mine, waiting for her smile like a man desperate for approval.

Only when he turned to head downstairs did he finally notice me.

I was trudging toward the guest wing, suitcase dragging behind me, the sound echoing down the corridor like a quiet declaration of defeat. Everything I had left in the world rattled inside that bag.

He stopped mid-step.

Without turning fully around, he muttered to the chef, Prepare two more plates. The ones Avery prefers. Set three places.

That made me pause.

For half a second, I wondered if Id imagined it. If there was regret buried somewhere beneath his arrogance. A hollow attempt at decencysetting a place for me at the table while his mistress occupied the Dons bed.

The thought was almost laughable.

He couldnt remember the date we first met. Couldnt be bothered to unlock his phone for me. Yet now he expected rosemary lamb and a place setting to mean something?

I bit down hard on my teeth and kept walking.

The guest room door closed behind me with a soft click that landed heavier than any insult. The silence pressed in instantly, thick and accusing, as though the walls themselves understood I no longer belonged here.

I dropped my bag at the foot of the bed and knelt to unzip it.

The moment the zipper parted, my stomach sank.

Every piece of clothing inside had been destroyed.

Not torn in angercut cleanly, deliberately, shredded into neat strips. Whoever did it hadnt acted on impulse. This was careful. Calculated. A message.

My chest hollowed out.

Then I noticed what remained.

Tucked deep into the liningmy passport. Plane tickets. Legal documents. Every paper I couldnt afford to lose.

Untouched.

Protected.

I sank back onto my heels, disbelief and fury crashing together. I didnt need to guess whod done this.

Nina.

Only she would be petty enough to destroy what hurt while preserving what mattered. Only she would want me humiliatedbut still able to leave, so she could claim victory without consequence.

There would be a reckoning later.

For now, I needed out.

I crouched by the bed, shoving the remaining salvageable items into my bag, when the door creaked open behind me.

Nina stepped inside.

She held a small black bottle between two fingers, swinging it casually as her eyes swept the room like she was inspecting property. Her nose wrinkled, disdain written clearly across her faceuntil her gaze landed on me.

If looks could kill, I wouldve been dust.

Well, she drawled, tilting her head with that sickly sweetness that always made my skin crawl, you really are impressive, Avery. After everything Ive done to embarrass you in front of capos, investors, socialitesanyone who mattersyou still cling to this place like its the only thing keeping you alive.

Her smile sharpened.

Oh. Thats right. Your grandmother passed last month, didnt she? She feigned thoughtfulness. Now that your last piece of family is gone, I suppose it makes sense. Youre desperate. Hanging onto Zachary like hes your final lifeline.

Then she laughedlight, cruel, perfectly timed.

Remember how you begged him to fly you out to see her one last time? she asked softly. Do you want to know why he didnt?

She lifted her phone, waving it like a blade.

Because he promised to take me to the coast that day. Sunset. Champagne. That photo everyone saw? Thats when it was taken.

The words didnt hit all at once.

They fractured slowlyspreading through me like cracks in glass.

Shed known.

Shed known exactly what she was doing when she flaunted that picture. When she reminded me of the helicopter. Of the one day Id knelt on cold marble, begging him to let me leave for just a few hours.

And he chose her.

The pressure built in my chest, jaw locking, fists curling at my sides until my nails bit skin.

Something inside me snapped.

You think this is amusing? I hissed, my voice low and sharp. You think tearing apart what little I have left makes you powerful? Makes you worthy to stand beside him?

Nina arched a brow, lips curving into something predatory. I dont need to be his equal, she said calmly. I already have everything.

I stepped closer, teeth bared. You have nothing, I spat. Youre a parasite. A leech feeding on scraps from his lifeand mine.

The room went very still.

Avery's POV

She lifted one shoulder in a careless shrug, satisfaction curling her mouth into something ugly and pleased.

Still more than youll ever touch, she said lightly.

That was the moment everything shattered.

I slapped the phone out of her hand. It flew across the room and struck the marble floor with a sharp crack, skidding until the screen spider-webbed uselessly.

I didnt think. I didnt plan.

My body surged forward on pure fury.

My fingers wrapped around her throat, tightening before my mind could register what I was doing. Rage thundered through me so violently it stole my breath, drowned out reason, drowned out fear.

The small black bottle slipped from Ninas grasp and hit the floor with a hollow clink. The cap rolled once.

Then

The smell detonated.

Gasoline.

Sharp and vicious, tearing through the air like a blade. It burned my nostrils, clawed down my throat, spread across the room in an instant like something alive and hungry.

We crashed into each otherhands shoving, nails tearing, bodies slamming into furniture. She kicked wildly, heel striking metal. Maybe a lighter. Maybe stone against steel.

Whatever it was, it was enough.

The fire didnt pause.

Flames erupted violently, racing up the curtains, leaping along the walls as if theyd been waiting for an excuse. Heat slammed into my skin. Smoke poured in thick and black, devouring the room.

My body failed me.

Still weak. Still drained.

My lungs seized. I dropped hard to the floor, coughing so violently it felt like my ribs would split open. The world spunfire, shadow, choking darkness folding in on itself.

The last thing I saw before everything blurred was the ceiling igniting, flames crawling across it like something sentient.

Avery!

A voice tore through the smoke.

Don, its not safe! someone shouted. The soldiers are comingyou cant go in there!

Get out of my way! Zachary roared. Shes still inside!

I tried to open my eyes.

Was it real? Or just my mind breaking under smoke and terror? Had he really said my name? Had he actually come for me?

Z-Zachary Nina sobbed weakly. Im here too. Please. Save me. Save our child.

For one treacherous heartbeat, hope flared.

Stupid. Fragile. Deadly.

I wanted to believejust for a secondthat hed run into fire for me. That I still mattered enough to be chosen.

Then the truth crashed down hard.

He didnt come because of me.

He came because eyes were watching. Because word would spread through the famiglia. Because the press would feast on it. Because a Don couldnt afford to look like a coward who abandoned women to flames.

And the moment Nina called out?

There was no hesitation.

He lifted her like she weighed nothing, shielding her from smoke and heat, carrying her out as if she were priceless

While I lay choking on the floor, darkness closing in.

Time fractured.

Minutesor longerpassed in a haze.

After ensuring she was safe, he tore through the estate, barking orders, shouting my name, searching every wing.

But I was already gone.

I dont know how I escaped.

Fire roared in my ears, smoke shredding my throat, dizziness crashing over me in brutal waves. But something raw took controlinstinct stripped bare.

I crawled.

Dragged myself forward inch by inch.

My fingers brushed against my bag. I grabbed it with shaking hands and clutched it to my chest like it was the last thing anchoring me to life.

A window nearby had cracked from the heat.

I hurled myself through it.

Glass ripped into my skin as I hit the lawn outside, rolling hard, gasping. My legs collapsed. My chest burned like it was on fire.

But I was alive.

I didnt look back.

Some service corridor mustve been untouchedor the fire simply hadnt reached it yet. I barely remember. Just stumbling through darkness free of smoke, barely upright, until I found the rear exit.

Cold night air slammed into my face as I fell outside, coughing until my body shook violently.

No one saw me.

No one followed.

And I didnt stop.

Not when my knees buckled. Not when I had to cling to street signs, brace against parked cars, drag myself forward step by step. I kept going because I knewdeep in my bonesthat if I stopped, if they found me again, I wouldnt survive a second time.

I vanished into the city.

Hours later, I boarded a flight bound for the Northern Territories.

Just before takeoff, my phone vibrated.

A message from Don Zachary.

[Stop playing games, Avery. I dont have time for this.]

I stared at the screen, feeling absolutely nothing.

Then I powered the phone off, leaned back as the plane began to move

and finally let the distance carry me away.

Zacharys POV

[Tomorrow, ten in the morning. Nina has her prenatal appointment. Youll accompany her. Schedule your annual health screening while youre there.]

The message went unanswered.

Not that I expected anything different.

What I didnt knowwhat no one bothered to tell mewas that Avery had already removed her SIM card, shut down the phone completely, and vanished. No forwarding address. No warning. No trail.

Just like that, she slipped out of my world.

The realization hit later, quietly, like the final echo of a door slamming shut behind someone who had no intention of ever returning. A sound you couldnt undo. A sound that lingered.

---

The following morning, the private medical center was calm, discreetthe kind of place reserved for men whose names never appeared in police reports and women who never waited in lines. The air smelled faintly of antiseptic and fresh lilies.

Nina clung to my arm as if letting go might send her drifting.

Zachary, she murmured anxiously, fingers tightening. Is the baby really alright?

I kept my voice level, Don-steady. The doctor confirmed it. No lasting effects from the estate incident.

Her shoulders loosened. Thank God. Youve barely spoken since we arrived. I thought something was wrong.

Something was.

Averys face wouldnt leave my mindthe way shed looked at me through smoke and chaos. No panic. No pleading. Just resignation. As if she already knew I wouldnt choose her.

And the worst part?

She was right.

I hadnt carried her out.

Id carried Nina.

---

After lunch, I escorted Nina back to the Sterling estate, handed her over to security, then headed straight for the council hall.

Halfway down the corridor, my assistant caught up with me.

Don Moretti, he said quietly, Sebia has returned from Europe. Hes requesting a full executive briefing with the consiglieri.

I acknowledged him without slowing, but beneath the composed exterior, something twisted hard in my chest.

Avery was still missing.

She hadnt appeared at the clinic. She hadnt returned to the estate. None of the staff had seen her leave. No guards had logged her exit.

Shed disappeared without a trace.

When? How?

Where the hell had she gone?

I lengthened my stride, irritation sharpening into something more uncomfortable. Arrange for a selection of the newest designer handbags, I said over my shoulder. And that custom jewelry set from Milan.

For Nina? my assistant asked automatically.

I stopped.

My jaw tightened. Send it to the Sterling estate.

If Avery was anywhere, that was where shed go.

And if she wasnt

I cut the thought off. The unease clawed deeper than I liked.

What if she was hurt?

Still recovering somewhere alone?

What if she had truly leftfor good?

---

A week passed.

Just after midnight, I returned to the estate, exhaustion settling into my bones after an endless strategy session. The house was silent. Moonlight spilled through the tall windows, painting the marble floors in silver.

A figure curled on the sofa caught my eyewrapped in silk, motionless, almost familiar.

I exhaled, a low chuckle slipping out. Avery, I said without thinking. I told youno matter how late it gets, I always come back. You dont need to

I stopped.

It wasnt her.

Nina sat up slowly, fear flickering across her face. Zachary she hasnt come back. Not once. Ive messaged her so many timesapologies, explanationsnothing. Maybe I should leave. I dont know what else to do.

Her voice wavered.

I lowered myself beside her and pressed a hand to her forehead. It wasnt tenderness. It wasnt love. It was habit. Reassurance by default.

Dont overthink it, I said calmly. Stress isnt good for the baby. This estate is yours now. Yours and the childs. Whether Avery accepts that or not.

---

Later, I stood alone on the terrace, robe loosely tied, city lights stretching endlessly below.

I lit a cigarette.

I hadnt touched one in years, but tonight restraint felt pointless. The craving wasnt for nicotineit was for release from the pressure coiling in my chest.

I pulled out my phone.

My thumb hovered over the last name at the bottom of my contacts.

Avery.

I stared at it longer than necessary. Thought of calling. Thought of demanding answers. Thought of saying things I hadnt allowed myself to feel.

In the end, I didnt dial.

I typed instead.

[Avery. Tomorrow is Sebias eightieth birthday. Dont cause trouble. Keep your distance from Nina and the child.]

The message sent.

I stared at the screen, chest tightening.

For a moment, I wasnt sure if it was the cold night air

Or something else entirely.

No.

Not panic.

Something heavier.

Something I didnt have a name for yet.

Zacharys POV

Patriarch Sebias eightieth birthday was not merely a celebrationit was a ritual.

An event where every expression was calculated, every smile rehearsed, every gesture weighed for consequence. This was the kind of gathering where reputations were reinforced or quietly buried, where one wrong word could echo through boardrooms and bloodlines for years.

Perfection wasnt optional. It was mandatory.

I entered the grand ballroom with Nina at my side, her pregnancy now unmistakable beneath the silk gown chosen by my staff. Conversations dipped as we passed. Eyes followed. Whispers moved like currents beneath calm water. I ignored all of it, my expression locked into the neutral mask Id worn since becoming Don.

Inside, though, every instinct was on edge.

Something was wrong.

I didnt release Ninas hand until my grandfather made his entrance.

Patriarch Sebia commanded the room without effort. He always had. He wasnt just the head of the famigliahe was its foundation. A man who had built an empire with patience, discipline, and fear, yet had always treated me with a measured warmth he rarely extended beyond blood.

His gaze found mine immediately.

Where is Avery? he asked, without preamble.

The question hit harder than I expected.

I swallowed, keeping my voice level. Shes occupied, I replied smoothly. She wanted to prepare something meaningful for your birthday. Shell arrive later.

The words sounded convincing. Even to my own ears.

Sebia studied me in silence, his eyes sharp, searching for cracks. The weight of that scrutiny made my chest tightenbut he said nothing more.

An hour passed.

Then another.

The ballroom filled with controlled laughter, crystal glasses clinking, respectful greetings exchanged between capos, politicians, and old-money investors. Yet Avery never appeared.

I found myself glancing toward the doors more often than I cared to admit. My jaw tightened with every passing minute.

Where the hell was she?

Just as I considered stepping away to make a call, a young courier appeared at the entrance.

He carried three carefully wrapped packages.

His posture was stiff, his hands faintly tremblingnot from the weight, but from the room itself. His eyes darted between me and my grandfather, clearly uncertain who held greater authority in that moment.

Delivery for Patriarch Sebia, he announced. From Ms. Avery.

The sound of her name stalled everything inside me.

I cleared my throat. Give them to me.

He hesitated. I was instructed to deliver them directly to the Patriarch, sir. Her instructions were precise.

Of course they were.

I stepped aside, gesturing toward my grandfather. Then follow them.

Sebia was in the middle of a quiet exchange with a board member when the courier approached. He bowed respectfully.

These are from Ms. Avery, he said. She sends her birthday wishes.

Sebia blinked, genuine confusion crossing his face. Why didnt she come herself? he asked. Where is she?

The courier shook his head. I was only assigned delivery, sir.

A crease formed between my grandfathers brows. Disappointmentunmistakable and heavysettled into his expression. Still, he accepted the packages with practiced grace, placing them carefully on the table beside him.

His fingers lingered on the topmost box.

As if waiting for it to explain her absence.

I stepped closer, heart pounding despite myself. Would you like me to open them for you? I asked quietly.

No, he said at once. Ill do it.

The first package revealed a hand-embroidered tapestry.

The craftsmanship was staggeringmonths of labor evident in every stitch. I knew how much time it had taken. Id seen her hands raw and bleeding as she worked late into the night. The design honored longevity, lineage, legacyeverything my grandfather valued.

Sebia lifted it slowly, eyes shining as he traced the threads with unsteady fingers.

The second package followed.

Wrapped in velvet.

Inside lay a set of heirloom jewelrythe pieces that had once belonged to my grandmother. The same set Avery had worn on our wedding day.

My throat closed.

Why would she send these back?

The weight of it pressed down on my chest, heavy and unmistakable. My palms dampened.

Then there was the third box.

It sat there, silent.

Something in my gut twisted violently.

I didnt wait.

My hand moved before reason could stop it, snatching the box from the courier. Sebia shot me a sharp lookbut he didnt interfere.

I tore away the wrapping.

And froze.

The contents drained the color from my face.

My breath caught, shallow and sharp, as my fingers trembled around the box. The meaning hit all at oncecold, deliberate, devastating.

This wasnt a gift.

It was a message.

One I couldnt unsee.

One the entire room would soon understand.