Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask novel Chapter 451

451 Chapter 47 Ghosts From the Past

Daniel’s POV 1

The tension hadn’t left my shoulders since my father’s unexpected visit to my penthouse recently. My father never appeared without an agenda, and his silence since then only amplified my unease. Even my brother had come up empty when I asked him to dig into the old man’s latest schemes within our family’s political

network.

By the weekend, I forced myself to focus on something that actually brought me joy- helping Lila settle into our shared space. Standing beside my armored sedan, I loade the final box of her belongings into the trunk.

“Tiny one, is this everything?” I asked, shutting the reinforced compartment.

Lila smiled up at me, her caramel eyes sparkling in the afternoon light. “Yes, big guy. The corporate apartment Thorne Group provided came fully furnished, so there wasn’t much to bring to your fortress.”

I pulled her close, wrapping a protective arm around her waist. “Our fortress,” I corrected her gently. “Now it’s our home. Though if we’re being honest, it always was.

We spent the entire day organizing her things throughout the penthouse. By nightfall Lila had completely transformed not just my living space, but my entire existence–an I couldn’t be happier about it. Her law textbooks now shared shelf space with my case files, her delicate jewelry scattered across the same surfaces where I cleaned my service weapon each night.

Still, my father’s visit lingered like a shadow in the back of my mind. My father had been unnaturally quiet since our tense conversation, which worried me more than his usual power plays ever could. The Martinez family patriarch never retreated without launching a counterattack. I hadn’t mentioned any of this to Lila. She was already navigating her own complicated relationship with Claire Sullivan’s manipulations; she didn’t need the weight of my family’s political machinations added to her burden.

Later that evening, we relaxed on the leather sectional, lost in each other’s company with lazy kisses and gentle caresses. The bulletproof windows offered a stunning view of the city skyline, all the legitimate businesses below hiding the underground networks that truly ran this metropolis. Everything felt perfect until my encrypted phone started ringing from across the room.

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451 Chapter 47 Ghosts From the Past

Ireluctantly extracted myself from Lila’s embrace and retrieved the device from the

charging station built into my custom sideboard. An unknown number flashed insistently on the screen. Probably Thorne Group business, I thought with irritation as I answered.

“Inspector Martinez,” I answered curtly, my professional mask sliding into place.

Lila giggled softly from the couch, clearly amused by how quickly I could shift into my law enforcement persona.

“Hello, my darling! It’s been far too long.” The sultry voice on the other end made my blood turn to ice. This was it–my father’s power play had finally revealed itself.

“What do you want?” I snapped, my mood plummeting as recognition hit me like a physical blow.

“You, always!” Her reply made me laugh bitterly. I kept my voice deliberately low, not wanting Lila to pick up on the threat this ghost from my past represented. “I want to see you, my love. I’m here in your beautiful city now. Come to me, or I’ll simply show up at your door and send that little princess running back to her family’s estate.”

“Have you completely lost your mind?” I was seething, my voice rising despite my efforts to maintain control.

“I think you’re the one who’s lost his mind, and it’s been far too long.” Her provocative laughter grated against my nerves like nails on glass. “Seriously, Daniel, a sheltered little heiress? Please, darling, I could even understand the sophisticated women you entertained during my absence, but this child?”

I noticed Lila watching me with growing concern from across the room. Making a quick gesture to indicate I needed privacy, I retreated to our bedroom and closed the reinforced door behind me

“What exactly do you want?” I demanded once I was alone, pacing like a caged predator.

“I want to have a conversation with you in person. Simple as that, Daniel!” Her tone suggested this was the most reasonable request imaginable.

“Keep wanting. I have absolutely nothing to say to you,” I replied, fury building inside me at having my carefully constructed peace shattered.

“Oh, darling, it’s not quite that simple. You have plenty to discuss with me,” she

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451 Chapter 47 Ghosts From the Past

insisted with that infuriating calmness I remembered all too well.

“You’re part of my past. You stayed buried there, in the past. I have zero interest in seeing or speaking with you.” It was the absolute truth. Why was this devil resurfacing now? My father’s involvement was obvious–this reeked of his political manipulations.

“But I very much want to talk to you! And if you don’t come to me willingly, I’ll come to you like a hurricane. And you know exactly how impulsive I can be when I don’t get what I want.” Her laughter only stoked my rage higher.

“Don’t you dare threaten me! You left, you were the one who wanted out of our arrangement. Why crawl back now? You should have moved on by now, found some other family to attach yourself to.” I continued pacing the walk–in closet like a caged animal.

“Let’s say I just took an extended vacation, darling. But now I’m back and ready to reclaim what belongs to me,” she said with mocking sweetness.

“Vacation? For years?” I laughed incredulously. “You have nothing here anymore. Nothing that belongs to you is with me or anywhere near me, so disappear back to whatever hole you crawled out of.”

“No, no, no. It’s not like that at all. You belong to me, Daniel. And I always take back what’s mine.” She sounded completely unhinged, which made her infinitely more dangerous.

“You’re either insane or high on something. This is the biggest delusion I’ve ever heard in my life.” I ran frustrated fingers through my hair.

“Crazy or not, either you come here, or I’ll go there, and believe me, I know everything about your current situation, including the fact that your little princess is living in your penthouse. If I come there, I’ll drag her out by that beautiful hair. And you know I’ll do exactly that.” She would–she had done it before. Creating devastating scenes was her specialty, her weapon of choice.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” I was beyond outraged now.

“I’ll be waiting at the Summit Hotel bar shortly. It’s either that or…”

I ended the call before she could finish her threat. The urge to hurl the phone against

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451 Chapter 47 Ghosts From the Past.

I quickly changed into darker clothes, grabbed nry car keys and shoulder holster, then

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