11. Elena
11
Elena
T he Bellanti estate shines under the evening sky.
I smooth down my silky emerald dress—a gift from Matteo.
Three weeks have passed since I put three bullets in Massimo Caruso's chest.
Three weeks since the Commission elevated the Bellanti family to unprecedented heights.
Three weeks of attempting to process what my life has become.
Fiona squirms in my arms, her little hands reaching for the sparkling chandelier above us.
"Beautiful, right?," I murmur, pressing a kiss to her dark curls.
The Caruso empire has fallen completely. Matteo's men were thorough in their dismantling of Massimo's organization.
Those who served him loyally now occupy cells in a special prison facility—a place from which there is no escape .
They redistributed those who only followed orders to various families and are now strictly monitoring their loyalty.
"Elena!" Luca Bellanti's voice booms across the room as we enter the main reception hall. He strides toward us, his silver hair gleaming under the chandeliers.
"Don Bellanti," I greet him with deference.
He waves away the formality. "None of that tonight. This is a celebration!" He reaches out to gently chuck Fiona under the chin. "And how is my favorite little principessa?"
Fiona hides her face against my shoulder, peeking out with one shy eye.
Luca straightens. "Matteo is with the Calabrese brothers in the study. Business before pleasure, unfortunately. But he should join us shortly."
"In the meantime," he continues, offering his arm, "allow me to introduce you to some people who are keen to meet the woman who put three perfect shots in Massimo Caruso's heart."
For the next hour, I walk through a sea of power players in the syndicate. Capos with weathered faces and calculating eyes. Their elegantly dressed wives with diamond-hard gazes. Business associates whose handshakes linger too long.
Through it all, I maintain the delicate balance of deference and dignity that my position requires.
When Fiona grows restless, Isabella appears, offering to take her to the nursery where Adrian is. I smile and hand her over .
With Fiona upstairs, I scan the room for Matteo, who's been absent for over an hour.
"He won't be much longer," a voice says from behind me.
I turn to see Lorenzo, the family’s enforcer. With everything that has happened, we haven’t had time to speak to each other.
He shares Matteo’s strong jawline and sharp gaze, although his eyes are green. His hair is slicked back in a man bun, revealing the tattoos that sneak up to his neck.
“Oh, hi. I don’t think we’ve properly introduced ourselves.”
He smirks, his gaze assessing but not unfriendly. “We both know each other and you've made quite an impression on my family."
"I didn't intend to," I say honestly.
"No, I don't imagine you did. That's what makes it interesting." Lorenzo studies me over his champagne.
"Every woman who's ever pursued Matteo has done so with apparent intentions. Position. Power. The Bellanti name. I vetted them myself, but none were suitable."
"And have you vetted me as well?"
"Thoroughly. From the moment I saw you at Nico’s estate."
"And what conclusion did you reach?" I ask.
"That you're either the best thing that's ever happened to my brother, or the most dangerous. I haven't decided which yet. "
"Those aren't mutually exclusive," I point out.
That earns me a genuine smile. "No, they're not. Which is precisely why I wanted to have this conversation."
He gestures toward a set of French doors leading to a smaller terrace, away from the main gathering, and I follow him outside.
"My brother is in love with you," he states bluntly.
"I know," I reply simply.
"Do you? Because Matteo doesn't fall in love. Ever." He observes me. "Our father told Matteo this morning that he's considering stepping down. Passing leadership of the family to him."
"So soon?"
"The Caruso situation altered the timeline." He fixes me with an intent stare. "Do you understand what this means? For Matteo? For you?"
"It means he'll become Don of the Bellanti syndicate. And if I stay with him, I'll become Donna."
"Exactly. The Donna isn't just a wife, Elena. She's the heart of the family, the keeper of its secrets. In some ways, her power extends even beyond the Don's."
"I'm aware."
"Are you? Because once my father makes this decision public, there's no turning back. Not for Matteo, and not for you if you choose to stay with him." He leans forward, his eyes intense.. "This life—our life—it wasn't your choice. You could still walk away. Take your daughter somewhere safe, start over."
"I killed a man three weeks ago," I say finally. "Three bullets, center mass. I'm already in this world, Lorenzo. The only choice left is whether I embrace it fully or live in denial of what I've become."
"And which do you choose?"
"I choose your brother. Everything else—the title, the responsibilities, the dangers—those I accept as part of loving him."
Lorenzo nods once, decisively. "Good answer."
The door behind us opens, and Matteo appears, his expression shifting from surprise to wariness.
"Everything alright?" he asks.
"Perfect timing," Lorenzo says smoothly. "She'll do," he murmurs to him before disappearing inside.
Matteo watches him go. "Should I be concerned about what just happened?"
"I believe I just received the Bellanti brother's seal of approval."
He snorts. “From Lorenzo? That’s interesting.”
He then reaches out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear with gentle fingers. “I’m sorry I was gone so long. The Calabreses needed more convincing than expected.”
“Did you succeed?”
“Of course. How’s Fiona?”
“Upstairs sleeping. Isabella took her to the nursery.” I study his face in the moonlight, noting the new lines of tension around his eyes. “Your brother mentioned something interesting. About your father.”
Matteo stills, his expression carefully neutral. “Did he?”
“He said your father is considering stepping down. Passing leadership to you.” I watch his reaction closely. “Were you planning to tell me?”
He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Of course I was. I only found out this morning, and I wanted to discuss it with you privately. Not in the middle of a family gathering.”
“Why not?” I ask, genuinely curious. “It’s good news, isn’t it? Recognition of everything you’ve accomplished.”
“It’s… complicated.” His gaze shifts to the gardens below, the vast Bellanti estate stretching into the darkness. “Being Don isn’t just a title, Elena. It’s a target. On me, and by extension, on anyone close to me.”
Understanding dawns. “On me. On Fiona.”
"Elena—" He hesitates. "If you stay with me now, you're not just choosing a relationship. You're choosing to become the Donna of the Bellanti syndicate. To step fully into a world you never asked to be part of."
"Is that what you're worried about? That I'll run now that things are becoming official? "
"I'm worried that you shouldn't have to make this choice at all. Your husband was killed because of his indirect involvement in our world. And now I'm asking you to walk straight into the center."
"You're not asking me anything," I point out. "Actually, you seem to be trying to dissuade me from something I haven't even been offered."
"I'm trying to give you an out before things go further between us."
"So thoughtful of you to decide what's best for me."
"What I'm trying to say is that being with me means accepting my world completely. The power, yes, but also the violence. The constant vigilance."
"You don't think I know that already? Matteo, I killed a man three weeks ago. I'm already in this world."
"That was different. That was survival."
"And this would be a choice. That's what scares you, isn't it? That I might choose this life—choose you—and then regret it."
"It's a life of crime, Elena," he says bluntly.
"It's a life of family," I interrupt. "Of protection. Of power used to shield those you love. Yes, there's darkness in it. But there's darkness in me too."
"You deserve a normal life after everything you've been through."
"Normal is a luxury I lost the moment Mark died. But you gave me something better. You gave me and Fiona safety. Respect. A place to belong. "
"And what if I fail you? What if I can't protect you the way I promised?"
"Then we'll face it together. That's what family does."
"I love you," I say, the words falling from my lips with startling ease. "I'm in love with you, Matteo Bellanti, and if you think you can scare me away with talk of danger and crime and responsibility, then you don't know me at all."
He stares at me, his hand tightening on mine. "You're certain? Because once I hear those words, I won't let you take them back. I won't let you go."
"I've never been more certain of anything in my life."
"I love you," he says, the words rough with emotions. "God help me, I've loved you from the beginning."
“I love you too." the words are barely out of my mouth when he swallows them, kissing me like he needs to survive. I respond with equal fervor, pulling him closer until there's no space left between us.
A soft sound from the doorway breaks through our moment. Isabella stands there with Fiona in her arms, drowsy but awake.
"She woke up and wouldn't settle. I think she wants her mama."
I take Fiona, who snuggles close with a contented sigh. Over her head, my gaze finds Matteo's, the intensity of our interrupted moment still vibrating between us.
He moves closer, patting Fiona’s back. She turns her head, blinking sleepily up at him before reaching out one small hand toward his face .
"Ba," she murmurs drowsily, patting his cheek with clumsy affection.
Matteo freezes, his eyes widening. He catches her tiny hand in his, pressing a kiss.
"Yes, piccola," he whispers. "I'm here."
Fiona smiles dreamily before her eyes flutter closed again. Matteo looks up at me, his expression stripped of all its usual walls.
In this moment, watching this man, who will soon be one of the most powerful figures in our world, looking at my daughter with such undisguised love, I understand with perfect clarity that there are no more decisions to be made.
Choice, not fate or obligation, has set the path before us. By love.
We are already a family. Everything else—the titles, the responsibilities, the dangers—is secondary to that essential truth.
The Donna of the Bellanti syndicate.
It’s a role I’ve never imagined for myself, yet now it fits like a second skin.
This is who we are now. This is who I choose to be, and I don’t regret any bit of it.