THE MAFIA KING BROKEN ROSE novel Chapter 131

Chapter 131

Chapter 131

1 stepped into Aria’s room just past midnight. The lights were dim, humming softly above us, but her eyes found me instantly.

They were red and wet with tears, filled with raw emotions. Her mouth scrunched up as her shoulder trembled

She sat upright in bed, knees drawn slightly to her chest, hospital gown loose at the collar. The IV was still hooked into her wrist, and her lips trembled like she’d tried to stop crying and failed.

“Don’t cry,” I said, softer than I expected.

She blinked, then quickly wiped at her cheeks with the back of her hand. ‘I’m sorry, she said, voice low. I just… I’m sorry for your loss.”

I paused for half a second.

Then gave the answer that was safest. “It’s fine.”

It wasn’t

But there was no point spilling blood on her grief.

“I brought food,” I added, changing the subject. It was uncomfortable to do this knowing fully well that bastard was alive Crying over him when he lied just wasn’t it.

I nodded toward the doorway.

Two maids entered carrying covered trays and small luxury bags. The smell of grilled chicken, warm soup, soft bread, and roasted vegetables followed them in. Comfort food. It would calm her and make her feel better.

“How… how are you not a mess?”

She wiped her tears and it made me chuckled.

“Seen too many deaths Mia belle.”

Aria’s eyes widened a little as she stared at the food, “I understand, also you didn’t have to-”

“I did,” I said. “You haven’t eaten properly in days.”

Julian trailed in after them, a little too bright for the hour, holding a bouquet of soft purple flowers. “You’re looking better, Aria,” he grinned. “I was starting to think you’d never wake up.”

She smiled, tired but genuine. “You brought flowers?”

Julian shrugged dramatically. “I’m the charming one. Someone has to be.”

Aria chuckled softly as he sat beside her bed and started pointing out each flower like he actually knew what they were. She laughed again when he got half of them wrong.

But me?

I wasn’t laughing.

I sat at the far end of the room, pulling out my phone as the screen lit up with a notification from Luca.

“Check your email. It’s urgent.”

I frowned.

Opened the file.

And felt my jaw lock.

The warehouse near Eastmoor–emptied.

Everything gone.

Four million in cash.

Eight crates of high grade ammunition.

Two containers of Bratva–sourced tech encrypted comms, tracking chips, untraceable weapons.

Cleaned out. Like it had never existed.

The security logs were wiped.

Entry time: 4:03 a.m.

Only a few people knew that location.

Nico was one of them.

My hands curled around the phone.

1/4

Chapter 191

I wasn’t even mad

I was done being mad

I was calculating now

And as Julian kept talking about how flowers represented renewal and new beginnings, I sent a message to Luca

“Send me the last government linked asset file. The one with confirmed death orders.*

Within minutes, I had it

A list of names–corrupt officials, informants, and ghosts the government wanted gone but couldn’t touch without getting their hands dirty

Each one deeply embedded in Mikael’s operations.

His financiers. His shield.

They were how he survived for so long. How he danced between legality and chaos

I ran my thumb over the screen, then pulled up another file I’d kept hidden for months

Locations. Habits. Weaknesses.

A little insurance. Something I was always planning to use later.

Later had come.

I emailed it all back to Luca.

“Release it. Now. With coordinates. Let the government dogs loose. I want every person on that list hunted down. Burn Mikael’s protection to the ground.”

Luca replied with a single word:

“Done.”

I smiled.

Not the kind you wear when you’re happy.

The kind you wear when you are stabbing the people right in the chest.

I looked back up.

Aria was still talking to Julian, smiling faintly as he tried to convince her to dye her hair blue once she was discharged

If only she knew the bastard she was crying for Nico sold us all out.

Sold her out.

But she didn’t.

I leaned back, slid my phone into my coat pocket.

Julian was still entertaining her, his grin easy, the playful banter with her was totally different from to the storm swirling in my head. It was almost surreal, watching the two of them laugh like they existed in another world one that wasn’t drenched in betrayal and blood.

1

God had blessed Julian with the fact that he didn’t have to worry too much about the deaths and worries of the mafia. He could easily switch as if he wasn’t in it.

My eyes moved to aria, whose cheek were flushed from laughing Aria’s eyes softened as she listened to Julian’s exaggerated storytelling, and for a fleeting moment, I let myself pretend that this was our normal. That all we had was each other, laughter, warmth, and flowers Julian couldn’t name.

But reality never stayed far away.

“All right,” I finally said, stepping closer to the bed. “That’s enough stress for Aria. She’s supposed to be resting, Julian.”

Julian rolled his eyes, mock offense written all over his face. “I’m not stressing her out. I’m distracting her with my unmatched charm. Something you clearly lack.”

“Clearly, I echoed dryly, a slight smirk curling at my mouth.

Aria laughed softly, shaking her head. Her eyes were tired, but the sparkle in them was something I’d missed. She had not sparkled like that in a long time, which I believe was my fault.

Julian stood, theatrically bowing to Aria. “Fine, I can tell when my presence is no longer appreciated. I’ll leave you with my deeply brooding older brother.”

“Julian,” Aria called softly, her voice laced with amusement. “Thank you. I needed that.”

He paused at the door, his expression gentle, genuine. “Anytime, Aria. Rest up. Don’t let my brother intimidate you.”

2/4

Chapter 131

I watched him go, feeling the atmosphere shift as silence settled comfortably between us. The moment the door clicked shut, Aria turned her eyes back to me, the quiet in the room suddenly charged with all the unspoken words between us “You didn’t have to chase him off,” she murmured softly, though there was a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Yes, I did,” I said, taking Julian’s empty chair beside her bed. “Otherwise, he’d talk your ears off”

“Maybe I liked it,” she teased, though her eyes searched mine, warmth giving way to concern again. “Dominic

“Don’t,” I interrupted gently, reaching forward to take her delicate hand in mine. Her fingers trembled slightly beneath my touch. “Don’t pull that sad face on me, Aria. I’m fine.”

She pressed her lips together, a soft sigh escaping her as she tightened her grip around my hand. “You always say that.” “And I always mean it.”

Her eyes flickered over my face, searching for cracks in the mask I wore. “It’s okay to hurt, Dominic. You don’t always have to hide it, especially from me.”

Something tight and painful twisted in my chest. She had every reason to hate me, every reason to despise the very air i breathed. But here she was, gentle and understanding, even now, I swallowed hard, trying to bury the storm she always managed to stir in me.

“Aria,” I began slowly, my voice low and careful, “when you’re fully recovered, I want us to talk about moving forward. About what comes next…for us.”

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