Breaking the Mafia Brothers

My best friend Chloe and I married into the mob. We married two brothers.

I married the monster, Don Adriano. She married his wild younger brother, Lorenzo.

It was an arranged marriage. I expected nothing. His heart belonged to his childhood sweetheart, Isabella.

Then my father died. My autistic brother, Leo, became my world. I signed over my family’s entire shipping empire to Adriano.

He held me that night. Kissed the tears from my eyes. He swore he’d protect us forever.

I believed him.

That was my mistake.

Three days ago, a rival family hit us. They left Leo bleeding out in my arms.

I got him to our private hospital. It was empty. Not a single doctor on duty.

I called Adriano, screaming for help. He had sent every last doctor to Isabella’s villa.

"A storm's coming. Isabella is terrified of thunder. The stress could trigger her heart condition. I can't risk it. Your brother has a scratch. Patch him up. I’ll deal with it tomorrow."

He hung up.

While Isabella slept safely in his arms, I lost my brother.

I cried all night, holding Leo's cold body. When I woke up, I told Chloe I wanted a divorce.

She held me, sobbing. She said she was leaving Lorenzo, too.

The Moretti brothers didn't know a thing until they were both served divorce papers. Then they went insane.

My brother died in my arms. My hands shook as I texted my husband, Don Adriano.

"Adriano, I want a divorce."

Three seconds later, he called.

"Carina, that's enough," Adriano's voice was ice. "Stop this nonsense."

"I'm not."

"Leo gets a scratch, and you file for divorce? When the hell did you become so pathetic?"

I closed my eyes. Tears streamed down my face.

I could still feel Leo's cold body in my arms.

"He's dead, Adriano."

"Bullshit. If Isabella's heart condition flares up, she could die. Leo has a scratch. I'm warning you, stop using these pathetic little tricks to get my attention. I'm busy."

The phone went dead.

I saw Leo’s bloody face in my mind. I saw yesterday. My birthday.

Adriano promised us a celebration. Me and Leo. My favorite French restaurant.

Leo and I waited for him all night.

He wore the new suit I bought him, sitting quietly in the corner of the restaurant.

He didn't talk much, but the hope in his eyes said it all.

When the waiter asked for the third time if we wanted to order, Leo tugged on my sleeve.

"Sister, he’s not coming."

Leo barely spoke. When he did, each word was a knife to the heart.

I didn't take Leo home until the restaurant closed.

Just as we stepped outside, a car sped right for us. Bullets from a rival family rained down.

Leo pushed me out of the way. The bullets hit his chest.

I screamed, hauling him to the Moretti family's private hospital. The guards at the door stopped me.

"Mrs. Moretti, I'm sorry. The Don's orders.