The Mafia King's Unknown Doctor Wife novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24

“So I’ve heard,” Tyler Morello said as he lazily leaned back ‘But I’m afraid my contract was made before yours. And I would be shocked to learn the Ferraro family’s own den would break mafia rules so carelessly.”

When Massimo didn’t move, Tyler smiled. He grabbed a stray lock of Elena’s hair and rubbed it between his gloved fingers. Despite the pure white color of the gloves, the action felt obscene in Elena’s mind.

She tensed, willing her body to stay absolutely still.

Tyler continued, “This woman was promised to me, making her nothing more but my property. I still have the contract, if you need to confirm my words. But other than looking at that contract, you have no right to do anything, Don Massimo.”

“I don’t need to look over that contract,” Massimo stated. “It was made and signed by Enzo Vitale, not Elena Vitale. As it was made by her father and not her, it isn’t valid.”

Massimo stepped towards Tyler. From his presence alone, Tyler dropped Elena’s hair with an annoyed glace. As Tyler turned to face the don, Massimo spoke.

“But I suppose I’m feeling generous. How do you feel about a game of poker?”

Tyler grinned. “It’s a classic for a reason. What exactly are the terms of the bet?”

“If you win, you can take the doctor and the arms trade rights in the northern region from me,” Massimo stated flatly, as if he were betting nothing more than a few dollars and not a person and one of the Ferraro’s most lucrative trade rights. “But if you lose, you concede that Elena Vitale belongs to no one but herself.”

Tyler raised his cane to his chin, resting his face on his family’s symbol of a bronze snake. “I’ll take that bet,” he said, a wicked grin rising to his lips, “but only if I’m playing against Elena herself.”

Elena blanched. It wasn’t enough that these men had to treat her like nothing more than a handful of poker chips, but she had to play against one of the best gamblers on the East coast? Elena hadn’t gambled at all before today!

The three of them sat down at one of the poker tables. Elena and Tyler sat across from each other, while Massimo sat next to Elena. One of the attendants slowly began dealing cards as she explained the rules.

Elena could barely focus. Her body had broken out into a cold sweat. Once again, she had gotten backed into a corner, and she had no way of getting out this time.

“Stay calm,” Massimo whispered in her ear.

It took everything Elena had to not jump at the noise.

“You know, I hate to see a beautiful lady in distress,” Tyler drawled, “so why don’t we cut to the chase? Let’s just do one round of betting before we reveal our hands.”

Before Elena could say a word, Massimo agreed. “Fine by me,” he stated.

Tyler grinned like a snake. He placed his cane on the gambling table and used it to push a considerable number of poker chips to the center. “All in.”

“Double it,” Massimo urged Elena.

Elena looked at her cards. Their faces and numbers began to swim in her mind’s eye. She had never felt less confident of anything in her life.

“But-”

“Elena,” Massimo said, placing his hand on her cards and lowering them to the table. Without them, Elena could

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Ch 24

clearly see Massimo’s own piercing gaze.

His expression held no concern or fear. It was grounding.

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