Every Mafia's Favorite Girl novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20: "I Was Waiting For You"

The black car glided smoothly through the streets of Borgata.

Inside the back cabin, a suffocating silence reigned.

A divider sealed the driver away completely, leaving only Caio Sartori and Leo seated across from one another, their faces illuminated by the glow of passing city lights.

Caio checked his watch for the third time.

8:30 PM.

His expression darkened another shade.

He had instructed Mrs. Pecora to tell Ariana Lombardi that dinner would begin at eight. Had Borgata traffic not been absolute hell tonight, he wouldn’t have been this late to his own estate.

Beside him, Leo remained perfectly still, already sensing the tension thickening inside the cabin. They were only minutes from the Sartori estate when Caio finally broke the silence.

"The investigation on Ariana Lombardi."

His gaze remained fixed on the blurred city outside.

"Report."

Leo gave a single, tight nod. He had anticipated this exact request hours ago.

Ever since Ariana’s last visit to the Sartori estate, Leo had quietly stationed undercover scouts around the Lombardi Hotel to closely observe her daily movements.

He unlocked his phone, pulling up his notes, and began reading them one by one in his usual calm tone.

"Our surveillance confirms significant behavioral changes in Lady Ariana," Leo reported. "Everything appears to have started immediately after the Summit."

Caio closed his eyes briefly.

’Not from the Summit.’

The memory flashed vividly through his mind. The girl waking up in his bed with confusion in her eyes.

’It started that morning.’

He never voiced the thought aloud. Instead, he forced his eyes open and kept staring out the window.

"Go on."

Leo scrolled farther down his screen.

"She hasn’t posted on social media since that day," he continued gradually. "She no longer attends VIP parties or high-society galas. According to the Lombardi Hotel staff, her personality has changed entirely."

Caio glanced toward him.

"How?"

"She greets the cleaning staff politely. Thanks them constantly. Often with formal bows. Our source says she’s memorized the first and last names of nearly every hotel employee on the payroll."

Caio hummed absentmindedly.

"I noticed the bows."

"Her schedule has also changed drastically," Leo continued carefully. "She wakes at five every morning, walks the dog, and spends most of the day inside the hotel."

He hesitated briefly before adding,

"Unless... she’s grocery shopping."

Caio turned his head slowly.

"...What?"

Leo looked equally confused saying it aloud.

"She buys groceries personally, Boss. She rarely eats out at five-star restaurants anymore. She cooks everything inside the suite herself."

Caio stared at Leo like he’d just spoken another language.

"Ariana Lombardi? Shops at supermarkets?"

"Yes, Boss."

"She cooks?"

Leo cleared his throat, visibly struggling to process his own report.

"Yes, Boss. Additionally... her sugar consumption has increased significantly. Cakes, pastries, desserts — anything coming from a bakery."

For several seconds, Caio said nothing at all.

He mentally ran through years of parties, galas, and events.

Ariana had never touched dessert — never cake, never pastries. Half the time she barely touched bread.

"It’s like..." Caio muttered quietly, "someone else is living inside her body."

The words slipped out before he could stop them. Even he found the sentence ridiculous the moment it left his mouth.

Leo wisely chose not to comment.

Before the silence could grow stranger, the car rolled through the gates of the Sartori estate and slowed before the front steps.

Leo stepped out first and opened the rear door. Mrs. Pecora already stood waiting at the top of the stairs.

"Mrs. Pecora," Caio asked as he exited the car, "you finished moving her to the west wing?"

"Yes, sir," Mrs. Pecora replied smoothly. "The suite opposite yours was prepared immediately after your approval."

"No issues with storage?"

Mrs. Pecora had seen that question coming. She replied with perfect composure.

"There was no issue, sir. Lady Ariana arrived with... very few belongings."

"How few?"

"She arrived with one backpack."

Caio stopped moving entirely.

Very slowly, he turned his head to look back at her.

"...One backpack?"

Mrs. Pecora gave him a grim nod.

"And the dog from her previous visit, sir."

Even Leo looked stunned now. His hand remained frozen halfway to closing the car door.

Caio stared at Mrs. Pecora like he expected her to admit this was some kind of joke. When she didn’t, he slammed the car door hard enough to echo across the courtyard.

THUD.

Without another word, Caio stormed up the stairs.

Dead camera angles.

Blind patrol routes.

Weak points in servant rotations.

Possible infiltration paths.

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