The Older Mafia Boss Had Given Up on Dating—Then His Curvy Friend Secretly Set Him Up With Her
Chapter 13
Daniel wanted Marcus’s organization.
But Marcus no longer wanted it.
He called every legitimate business partner he had.
He offered them ownership.
He shut down gambling operations.
He withdrew from illegal lending.
He returned property acquired through intimidation.
Some people called him weak.
Others called him foolish.
Marcus didn’t care.
He had spent thirty years becoming feared.
He wanted to spend the rest of his life becoming someone Elena could trust.
Daniel responded with violence.
Vincent attacked one of Marcus’s warehouses.
Marcus refused to retaliate.
Instead, he gave investigators the evidence he had gathered.
Bank records.
Names.
Locations.
Messages.
Daniel’s network began collapsing.
But Daniel escaped.
For three weeks, nobody knew where he was.
Then Elena received a letter.
No return address.
Inside was one sentence:
You took my brother from me.
Marcus read it.
“I didn’t.”
Elena looked at him.
“Daniel thinks you did.”
“Then he doesn’t understand.”
“What happened between you?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Daniel wanted power.”
“And you?”
“I wanted Isabella.”
Elena touched his cheek.
“Tell me.”
Marcus explained that Isabella had begged him to leave the criminal world.
He promised.
Daniel opposed him.
When Isabella became ill, Marcus tried to leave anyway.
Daniel threatened her.
Marcus had chosen to protect her.
After she died, Marcus stayed in the organization because he believed it was the only way to prevent Daniel from hurting anyone else.
Elena understood.
“You’ve been trapped by a promise you made to someone who isn’t here.”
Marcus nodded.
“Maybe it’s time to make a new one.”
He looked at her.
“To you?”
“To yourself.”
That night, Marcus made his decision.
He would testify.
Not negotiate.
Not threaten.
Not hide.
Testify.
He knew it could cost him everything.
But for the first time, he wanted a life that didn’t require fear to hold it together.
