My Family Used Me to Settle Their Debt—I Never Expected the Mafia Boss to Open His Arms
Chapter 7
Victor looked exactly like the man Elena remembered from her childhood.
A gold ring.
A cold smile.
A hand resting on her mother’s shoulder.
The memory returned.
Five-year-old Elena hiding beneath a table.
Her mother shouting.
Victor saying:
“You can’t hide her forever.”
Elena felt sick.
“You tried to take me.”
Victor smiled.
“I tried to take what belonged to me.”
“The trust?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your grandfather promised it to me.”
Luca stepped forward.
“My grandfather hated you.”
Victor laughed.
“He hated weakness.”
“He trusted my father.”
“And your father trusted me.”
Luca’s eyes darkened.
“You killed him?”
Victor shrugged.
“Your father made mistakes.”
“You killed him.”
“I ordered an accident.”
Luca moved forward.
Elena grabbed his arm.
“No.”
Victor smiled.
“Good.”
He looked at Elena.
“See? You already understand how useful you can be.”
Elena raised her chin.
“You’re not getting the trust.”
“You think the papers matter?”
He nodded toward the ledger.
“The ledger matters.”
“What do you want?”
“Your signature.”
“On what?”
“Transfer documents.”
Elena laughed.
“You kidnapped me?”
“No.”
He looked at her father.
“He sold you.”
Elena turned.
Her father looked devastated.
“I did it to keep you alive.”
Victor smiled.
“And I allowed it because I needed the ledger.”
Luca raised his gun.
Victor’s men aimed back.
“Don’t,” Victor said.
Luca lowered it slightly.
Victor smiled.
“This is what power looks like.”
Elena stared at him.
“No.”
Victor frowned.
“This is fear.”
She looked at Luca.
“He opened his house to me.”
Victor’s expression changed.
“He opened his arms.”
Luca looked at her.
Elena realized she’d said it aloud.
For the first time, Luca stepped closer.
Victor laughed.
“You think he loves you?”
Elena shook her head.
“I think he respected me before he knew who I was.”
Victor looked at Luca.
“That’s weakness.”
Luca answered:
“No.”
He raised his weapon.
“It’s the reason you lose.”
Gunfire erupted.
Luca pulled Elena behind the safe.
Rafael attacked from the tunnel.
Victor’s men scattered.
Elena’s father grabbed the ledger.
“Go!”
Elena looked at him.
“What about you?”
“I’ll slow them down.”
“No.”
Her father pushed the ledger into Luca’s hands.
“Protect her.”
Luca nodded.
They ran.
The tunnel collapsed behind them.
Elena looked back.
“Dad!”
Luca held her.
“We have to go.”
They reached the road.
A black SUV waited.
They got inside.
Elena was shaking.
“My father stayed behind.”
“He knew what he was doing.”
“What if he dies?”
Luca didn’t answer.
She looked at him.
“Thank you.”
He looked confused.
“For what?”
“For opening your arms.”
He stared at her.
“What?”
“When I came here, I thought you wanted a wife.”
“I wanted the truth.”
“And now?”
He looked at her.
“Now I want you safe.”
Elena felt tears rising.
Before she could say anything, Luca’s phone rang.
Rafael.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“Your uncle escaped.”
“Where?”
“He took Elena’s father.”
Luca’s face went cold.
Elena stared.
“What?”
Rafael continued:
“And he sent a message.”
Luca listened.
Then looked at Elena.
“What did he say?”
Rafael’s voice came through.
“He said the trust isn’t the real prize.”
A pause.
“He wants Elena herself.”
