The Mafia Boss's Secret Lover (by Z·Nyra) novel Chapter 16

**Broken Skies Heal by George Orwell**

**Chapter 16**

The letter arrived, its thick cream paper adorned with the embossed image of the Volkov bear, a symbol of both power and pride. As Aria unfolded it, she felt the weight of Natalia’s precise handwriting, each letter sharp and deliberate, like a tiny weapon poised for battle. *You think you’ve won. You haven’t. The world is larger than your love story. And I have a longer memory than you imagine.* The words echoed in her mind, a stark reminder that the conflict was far from over.

Aria read the letter twice, her heart racing with each line, before passing it to Dominic, who stood across the kitchen island. The morning sun streamed through the window, illuminating the cool coffee cups that sat forgotten between them, their steam long gone.

“She’s lashing out,” Dominic remarked, his tone casual, as if dismissing a child’s tantrum. “Let her have her moment.”

“This isn’t just anger, Dominic. It’s a promise,” Aria replied, her fingers tracing the embossed bear with a mix of reverence and concern. “She’s not finished with us yet.”

“Neither are we,” he responded, pulling out his phone with a determination that made Aria’s heart skip a beat. “Gabriel, I need everything you can find on Natalia’s movements—financials, communication, travel history.”

“Already on it,” Gabriel’s voice crackled through the speaker, steady and efficient. “She’s been unusually quiet since her return to Moscow. Too quiet, in fact.” Dominic locked eyes with Aria, a silent agreement passing between them. “We need to end this. Not with violence, but with an undeniable finality.”

“And how do you propose we do that?” Aria asked, her curiosity piqued.

“We give her what she desires most. Power. Respect. A position she can claim without me.” His eyes gleamed with a mix of strategy and resolve.

The plan took shape over the following three days, a delicate negotiation that wove together threads of ambition and recognition. Dominic decided to offer Natalia control of the European routes—a significant power move he had intended to grant her all along as part of their alliance. But now, it was transformed into a gift, not a mere treaty. It was a recognition of her capabilities, not a transaction for her hand.

Gabriel flew to Moscow, carrying with him the carefully crafted paperwork that would grant Natalia Volkov everything she had longed for, except for the one thing she truly wanted—Dominic himself.

“She’s mulling it over,” Gabriel reported back after the meeting. “But she insists on a face-to-face meeting. Just her and Aria.”

Dominic’s response was immediate and firm. “No.”

Yet, to his surprise, Aria nodded. “Yes.”

That was how Aria found herself seated in a private room at the Ritz in Paris, the opulence of the surroundings contrasting sharply with the tension that hung in the air. Across the table, Natalia sat, her gaze sharp and assessing, a table set with tea neither woman had any intention of drinking.

“You seem smaller than I remember,” Natalia remarked, her voice laced with a hint of disdain. “Less formidable.”

“And you’re angrier than I anticipated,” Aria countered, her own voice steady. “More human, even.”

A bitter smile flickered across Natalia’s lips. “You think you understand me because you stole my fiancé.”

“I didn’t steal him,” Aria replied, her voice unwavering. “He was never truly yours. He was always choosing between us. You just didn’t recognize the other option until it was too late.”

“I could destroy you,” Natalia threatened, her eyes narrowing.

“You tried,” Aria said calmly, taking a sip of her cold tea, the chill a stark reminder of the tension. “And yet here I am, still standing.”

Silence enveloped them, two women bound by their love for the same man, both having lost him in their own ways, each grappling with the aftermath.

“The European routes,” Natalia finally broke the silence, her tone shifting slightly. “It’s a good offer. Generous, even.”

“Dominic respects you,” Aria replied sincerely. “He always has. He just couldn’t marry you.”

“Because of you,” Natalia shot back, her voice sharp.

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