His Wife Placed the Divorce Papers on the Mafia Boss’s Desk and Told Him She Was Done—He Looked at Her for a Long Moment and Said, “You’re Staying,” But Before She Could React, He Opened a Hidden File That Revealed Who Had Really Been Trying to Tear Their Marriage Apart

The deafening report of Penelope’s 9mm echoed off the concrete walls of the underground garage!

Bianca shrieked as the bullet caught her squarely in the right shoulder, spinning her around and sending the remote detonator clattering across the slick concrete floor!

"YOU CRAZY FAT BITCH!" Bianca screamed, clutching her bloodied shoulder as she collapsed against the hood of the armored SUV.

All hell broke loose in the motor pool.

Lorenzo reacted with terrifying speed. Before the four mercenaries could recover from the shock of Penelope’s sudden shot, Lorenzo opened fire!

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Four rapid shots, four fatal hits. The mercenaries dropped to the concrete like sacks of stone, their weapons clattering against the floor.

Dominick, Rossi’s lieutenant, lunged behind a concrete pillar, firing his heavy pistol back toward Lorenzo! Bullets sparked off the iron door frame behind them.

"Felix! Flank him!" Lorenzo roared.

Felix, emerging from the tunnel mouth behind them, sprinted to the left, taking cover behind a classic Mercedes, opening fire on Dominick’s position. Caught in a lethal crossfire, Dominick didn't stand a chance. Two seconds later, he slumped out from behind the pillar, motionless.

The motor pool fell into a heavy, suffocating silence, broken only by the hum of the overhead halogen lights and Bianca’s ragged, sobbing gasps from the floor.

Lorenzo slowly lowered his weapon. He didn't look at the dead men. He turned around, his dark eyes locking onto Penelope.

Penelope stood in the center of the garage, the smoking 9mm still held firmly in her hands, her chest heaving against her black wrap dress, her auburn hair tumbling around her shoulders in wild, dark waves.

Lorenzo walked over to her. He didn't take the gun from her hand. Instead, his long fingers gently wrapped around her wrists, helping her lower her arm.

"Are you hurt, mia cara?" Lorenzo asked, his voice rough with emotion as his eyes swept over her body, checking every inch for blood.

"I'm... I'm fine," Penelope gasped, her body suddenly shaking as the adrenaline rush began to ebb. She looked down at Bianca, who was squirming on the concrete, blood pooling beneath her expensive leather coat. "Lorenzo... she..."

Lorenzo stepped over to Bianca. He reached down, grabbed her by the collar of her designer coat, and dragged her upright, shoving her back against the side of the SUV.

Bianca sobbed, her face pale, her arrogant pride completely shattered. "Lorenzo... please... Vico forced me... it was Rossi's idea..."

"Shut up," Lorenzo commanded quietly. He didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to.

He pulled a heavy tactical knife from his belt and brought the flat of the blade against Bianca’s cheek. Bianca whimpered, squeezing her eyes shut in absolute terror.

"Where is Carmine Rossi?" Lorenzo asked softly.

"He's... he's at the warehouse on Pier 14 in Brooklyn," Bianca choked out, her tears smearing her mascara into dark trails down her face. "He’s waiting for Vico to bring him Penelope’s body! He promised Vico full control of the Hudson shipping terminals if he delivered her!"

Lorenzo stared at Bianca for a long, terrifying moment. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he slammed the butt of his knife into the side of Bianca’s jaw, knocking her instantly unconscious. She crumpled onto the concrete floor like a discarded rag doll.

"Felix," Lorenzo said, turning to his underboss. "Zip-tie her to the pillar. Call the cleanup detail from the lower estate to clear the main house. I want Vico hunted down and brought to the study by midnight."

"Understood, Boss," Felix said, stepping forward with heavy plastic restraints. "And what about Rossi?"

Lorenzo looked at Penelope.

Penelope walked over to him, her chin held high, her hazel eyes burning with an unyielding light that Lorenzo had never seen before. She was covered in dust, her hair was wild, and her dress was torn at the hem, but standing under the harsh garage lights, she looked magnificent.

"We go to Brooklyn," Penelope said, her voice dropping into a firm, resolute line. "Carmine Rossi tried to destroy my father, he tried to murder me, and he used your own lieutenants to tear our marriage apart. I'm not hiding in this house anymore, Lorenzo."

Lorenzo stared at her, his dark eyes widening slightly before a look of profound, breathtaking admiration washed over his features.

He reached out, his hand gently cupping the back of her neck, pulling her toward him until his lips met hers in a fierce, possessive kiss.

It was not a gentle kiss. It was a declaration of ownership, of passion, and of survival. Penelope gasped against his mouth, her arms rising to wrap tightly around his neck, her full body melting into his solid frame as she kissed him back with everything she had.