The Mafia King's Temptation (Dante and Lucia) novel Chapter 35

Chapter 35- His Genuin

Lucia I turned to find Dante filling the doorway, his usual predatory grace somehow softer in the hospital lighting. He wore a perfectly tailored suit despite the late hour, but his eyes held something.

How did you

“Your security tram called mine.” He moved into the room with deliberate care, like he was approaching a wounded animal. “Then I heard about the strikes. And the Korean deal‘

“This isn’t your problem.” But even Theard the weakness in my voice.

“No” He settled into the chair beside me, close enough that his heat serped into my side. “Someone’s systematically attacking your family. Termory, operations people -all carefully targeted. You still think the isn’t my concern?”

Before I could answer, Papa stirred. His eyes opened, focusing first on me, then narrowing as he registered Dante’s presence.

“What is he doing here? His voice was weak but carried dut edge of authority Td grown up obeying

“Offering help,” Dante said before I could respond. The harbor development project could stabilize your shipping operations. Gave your workers incentive to stay loyal.”

“We don’t need Romano charity.”

“Not charity.” Date leaned forward, his voice carrying that quies intensity that commanded attention. “Partnership, Equal stake, equal profit. Your expertise in shipping, our connections in development. A leghimate project that benefits both fundies.

Papa’s laugh turned into a cough “And what do you really want Control of our operations! Our territory?”

“I want my wife’s family whole and strong. The words came out fierce, almost angry, “I want the people targeting you to learn exactly what happens when they threaten what’s mine.”

Something Eckered in Papa’s eyes.

Before he could respond, alarm blared from the nurses station. Voices shouted about some emergency in another room, footsteps pounded past

our door

“That’s Len’s room.” Marco appeared in the doorway, face light with comrolled panic. “Something’s wrong with his breathing… “should check on Leo”

“Go” Dante’s voice was soft. “I stay with your father.”

“Go, piccola” Papa’s voice was tired hot carried that familiar nose of command. “Your brother needs you.”

Hours and hours.

The hospital hallway felt endless, Medical equipment beeped in steady rhythms, and the antiseptic smell burned my nose. doctors warned above possible complications. A nurse passed, giving me a sympathetic smile – they’d grown used in seeing the Valentini family

Leo stabilized, but

paring these halls over the last hours.

I went back to Papa’s mom Voices from inside making me besitate.

“Your daughter is stronger than you give her credit for.” Dante’s voice, low and intense “She’s been coordinating with Marco to stabilize the dock sauation while you’ve been hent

“My daughter,” Papa’s mice was weak but carried that familiar stubbornness, “shouldn’t have to handle these battles. The Valentins empire- “Will be stronger with her helping lead it.” A pane, then softer “She got the Korean investors back to the table, you know. Three hours of negotiations in perfed Mandarin while sitting in this hospital hallway.”

Hadn’t know he noticed that

The Romano harbor p project, Papa started

“Is just the beginning” Papers rustled – Danie must have been showing him something on his tablet. “Look at the projected reveries. The employment opportunties. This won’t about Romano control – it’s about Isuilding something lasting. Together”

“And what happens when your two–year contract ends!” Papa’s question made my heart stutter. “When this arrangement with my daughter- concludes

Sürer stretched for a moment. “Some arrangements,” Dante said finally.

I chose that moment to enter, not ready in hear whatever might follow. Both men looked up – Papa propped against pillows that couldn’t quite daguise how small he looked in the hospital bed, Dante in the visitor’s chair with his jacket off and sleeves rolled up, showing the tattoo that marked himas Romano heir.

“Leo’s stabilized,” I reported, moving to check Papa’s monitors out of habit. The fluid in his lungs is clearing

“Lucia” Papa caught my hand, his grip weaker than I remembered but still commanding. “Sic Please

I perched on the edge of his bed, hyperaware of Dante’s presence behind me. “The workers at Terminal Three are asking abotat returning” I said quickly, needing to focus on business. “If we structure the shift schedules-

“Enough” Papa’s one made me feel like a little garl again. “Dane has been.. explaining things to me. About in harbor project. About other

Chapter 35 His Genuin

possibilities.

I glanced back at Date, but his face gave nothing away. “Papa, you don’t have to-

“Let me finish.” He squeezed my hand. The been proud. Too proud maybe. Watching our empire crumble while refusing help because it came with the Roman name attached

“Your pride built that empire,” Dante said quietly. “No one forgets that.”||

“And my pride could desi my it.” Papa’s eyes met mine, carrying a weight I wasnt ready to face. “Unless Hearn to trust my daughter’s judgment. And her partner’s intention.”

Something warm bloomed in my chest at that word.

The furbor project is just the stam,” Tsaid carefully. “If we combine our shipping expertise with Romanu development resources—