25. Mia

Chapter 25

Mia

The morning sunlight filters into the penthouse, but its warmth feels hollow against the tension brewing in the air. Carlito stands by the window, his silhouette framed against the cityscape. I sit across the room, the stack of documents from my inheritance sprawled on the table in front of me, untouched since last night.

“I should have told you sooner,” Carlito says, breaking the silence. His voice is low, almost reluctant.

I glance up at him, unsure if he’s talking to me or himself. “Told me what?”

He turns, his dark eyes meeting mine with an intensity that pins me in place. “About Matteo’s plans. About why your inheritance matters to him.”

My breath catches, and I lean forward instinctively. This isn’t like him—Carlito doesn’t share his thoughts so freely, especially when it comes to Matteo.

“I’ve been keeping things from you, Mia,” he admits, his tone tinged with regret. “Not because I don’t trust you, but because I didn’t want you to carry this weight.”

“But now you’re telling me?” I press, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and hope.

His jaw tightens. “Because I can’t keep you safe if you don’t know what’s at stake.”

Carlito steps closer, his hands resting on the back of the chair across from me. “Matteo believes your inheritance property holds something hidden. Something your father left behind.”

I blink, the weight of his words sinking in. “Something hidden?”

“A ledger,” Carlito explains. “It contents contains some kind of leverage that could dismantle his entire empire if it fell into the wrong hands—or the right ones.”

I stare at him, my mind racing. My father’s property isn’t just a sentimental piece of my past; it’s a weapon. And if Carlito is right, Matteo will stop at nothing to claim it.

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” I demand, my voice rising despite the lump forming in my throat.

Carlito sighs, his shoulders sagging slightly. “Because I didn’t want you to feel responsible for something you didn’t choose. I wanted to handle it myself.”

His honesty disarms me, but it doesn’t erase the frustration boiling inside. “You should have trusted me,” I say quietly. “I can’t stand being kept in the dark while you fight battles I don’t even understand.”

“I know,” he says, his gaze softening. “That’s why I’m telling you now.”

The vulnerability in his voice twists something deep inside me. Carlito isn’t just protecting me—he’s protecting our child, our future. But his reluctance to trust me fully feels like a shadow between us, one I’m not sure how to dispel.

As the silence stretches between us, I glance down at the documents, a flicker of determination sparking within me. If this ledger is what Matteo wants, then understanding it is the first step to protecting myself—and everyone I care about.

Carlito’s honesty leaves a weight in the room, an unspoken invitation for me to meet him halfway. My hands tremble as I shuffle the documents, avoiding his gaze. I’ve been keeping something from him, something that now feels impossible to bury.

“I need to tell you something too,” I say, my voice barely audible.

Carlito’s brow furrows, his sharp gaze locking onto mine. “Mia, what is it?”

I swallow hard, forcing myself to meet his eyes. “Last evening... I spoke to Dominic.”

His expression freezes, the warmth of his earlier vulnerability replaced by an icy edge. “What?”

I nod, gripping the edge of the table as if it can steady me. “He was here—on the balcony. He slipped onto the property when Bianca left. He wanted to warn me about Matteo and the inheritance.”

Carlito moves closer, the tension in his body palpable. “You didn’t think to tell me this sooner?”

“I wanted to,” I insist, my voice rising. “But I didn’t know how. And honestly, I wasn’t sure if I could trust you to tell me the whole truth.”

His jaw tightens, and for a moment, I fear I’ve pushed him too far. But then he exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “What did he tell you?”

“That the property—my inheritance—it’s not just land or money,” I say, gesturing to the documents. “There’s something hidden there. He didn’t know what it was exactly, but he was certain it’s critical to Matteo’s plans.”

Carlito’s expression darkens, a storm brewing behind his eyes. “Of course, Dominic would know just enough to be dangerous.”

“He also said...” I hesitate, my chest tightening. “He said you weren’t telling me everything. That there are things about this war I don’t understand.”

Carlito’s gaze snaps back to mine, his anger barely restrained. “And you believed him?”

“I don’t know what to believe,” I admit, my voice cracking. “But I had to hear him out, Carlito. For our sake. For our child’s.”

The mention of our child seems to pierce through his fury. He steps back, rubbing a hand over his face as if trying to regain control. “Mia, Dominic is dangerous. He works for Matteo. Anything he says is designed to manipulate you.”

“I know that,” I say firmly. “But what if he’s right? What if understanding this ledger—what’s really at stake—is the key to ending all of this?”

Carlito’s silence is deafening. His guarded expression tells me he’s weighing his response, calculating whether to share more or shut me out again.

Finally, he speaks, his voice low but resolute. “If there’s a ledger, and it’s tied to Matteo’s operations, then we can’t waste time. I’ll handle it, Mia.”

“No,” I say, standing. The strength in my voice surprises even me. “We’ll handle it. Together.”

Carlito stares at me, his eyes searching mine for something—trust, resolve, perhaps forgiveness. “This isn’t just about you anymore, Mia,” he says quietly. “If you’re in this with me, you have to follow my lead.”

The tension between us thickens, a battle of wills neither of us can afford to lose. But one thing is clear: the secrets between us are no longer sustainable.

His words hang in the air, heavy with expectation. I can feel the weight of them pressing against my resolve. He wants control, and maybe he’s right to demand it—his world is one of shadows and strategy. But I can’t let him shut me out.

“I’ll follow your lead,” I say, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “But that means no more half-truths. If I’m in this, I need to know everything.”

He nods, though I can see the struggle in his expression. “You have my word.”

For now, it’s enough.

Carlito steps closer, his gaze softening as the tension between us shifts, giving way to something unspoken. He reaches out, his hand brushing my cheek, the calloused warmth of his touch grounding me. “Mia, I know this hasn’t been easy for you—for us. I’ll make it right, I swear.”

I swallow hard, his proximity making it difficult to focus on anything but the way his dark eyes seem to see straight through me. “We’ll make it right,” I whisper, my voice barely audible.

His lips curve into the faintest smile before he leans in, capturing my lips in a kiss that is both tender and searching. I melt into him, my hands instinctively gripping the front of his shirt, pulling him closer. His arms wrap around me, strong and steady, as though he’s anchoring us in the midst of the chaos.

The kiss deepens, his lips moving against mine with a mix of restraint and longing. His hands slide to my waist, holding me firmly but gently, and I can feel the unspoken promises in the way he touches me. This isn’t just passion—it’s reassurance, a silent vow that we’re in this together.

My fingers trace the hard lines of his jaw, memorizing the strength there, before threading through his hair. He lets out a low hum of approval, his grip on me tightening for just a moment before he pulls back slightly, his forehead resting against mine.

“We’ll figure this out,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my lips. “But right now, I just need to know we’re okay.”

“We’re okay,” I reply softly, my voice steady even as my heart pounds in my chest. “We have to be.”

I turn back to the documents, my fingers brushing over the faded ink and yellowed pages. Dominic’s warnings echo in my mind, and I focus on the property map, tracing the outlined borders. Something about it feels off—almost incomplete.

“What is it?” Carlito asks, his sharp gaze catching the slight hesitation in my movements.

“This map,” I murmur. “It’s detailed, but... it’s almost like something’s missing.” I hold it up, tilting it in the light. That’s when I see it—a faint watermark, barely visible.

Carlito leans over my shoulder, his breath warm against my neck as he examines the page. “A watermark? What does it say?”

I tilt the paper further, catching the light just right. The faint outline of letters becomes clearer, forming a name: Villa delle Ombre.

“The House of Shadows,” Carlito translates, his tone unreadable.

“Is that...” I trail off, my heart pounding.

“It’s an old name for the property,” he explains. “Your father called it that in his dealings. He believed it held secrets, but he never told me what they were.”

A chill runs through me as the pieces start to click into place. “If the ledger is there, and Matteo knows it... we’re running out of time, aren’t we?”

Carlito straightens, his expression grim. “Yes. And if Dominic is right, Matteo won’t wait much longer.”

The gravity of his words sinks in, and I grip the edge of the desk for support. My child. My family. Everything hinges on this.

“Then we have to go,” I say, my voice firm.

Carlito’s eyes narrow. “Mia, it’s under control, Leo and I have been working on it for a long time now. Trust me. Acting recklessly won’t work.”

“Waiting isn’t an option,” I argue. “If that ledger is as important as we think it is, we can’t let him get there first.”

He studies me, his expression a mix of frustration and admiration. “You’re more stubborn than I gave you credit for,” he says finally.

I raise an eyebrow. “You married me, remember?”

For the first time in hours, a faint smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. But it’s fleeting, replaced by the steely determination I’ve come to recognize. “If we do this, Mia, we do it my way. No arguments.”

“Agreed,” I say, though my heart races at the thought of what’s to come.

Carlito pulls out his phone, his voice brisk as he calls Leo. “Double the surveillance on the property. We’re moving soon, and I want every detail accounted for.”

As he issues orders, I glance back at the documents. The name Villa delle Ombre lingers in my mind, a haunting reminder of the secrets my father left behind.

Whatever we find there, I know one thing for certain: this isn’t just about the past anymore. It’s about survival.

Carlito ends the call, his expression unyielding. “I hope you ready for what’s coming, Mia. The chaos has only just started.”