The Mafia’s Substitute Bride

“Boss, the signal is getting stronger and coming from that house,” Mark said, his voice tense with urgency, as he pointed toward a big house at the end of the lane. Leonardo wasted no time and hurried with his army to reach the house, his heart pounding loudly in his chest. Every second felt like an eternity as he dashed toward the entrance, driven by the need to find Sofia and ensure her safety.

As they approached the house, Leonardo’s instincts went into overdrive. The eerie silence sent shivers down his spine, and a sense of foreboding washed over him. Danger lurked within those walls, and he braced himself for the unknown.

Gesturing to his men, Leonardo signaled for them to proceed with caution, not making a sound as they searched for any possible entrance. However, their efforts proved fruitless, as every opening was sealed shut, leaving them no choice but to break down the door forcefully.

Mark heeded Leonardo’s signal, forcefully breaking the door, and the team swiftly entered, their eyes scanning the scene that unfolded before them. A surge of anger pulsed through Leonardo’s veins as he saw Emma standing menacingly beside Sofia, who was bound to a chair, her helplessness evident. The sight of Lana by Emma’s side fueled his fury, realizing the betrayal that had taken place against him and his pregnant wife.

His heart clenched at the thought of Sofia suffering due to their treacherous plans. Determination mixed with rage, and Leonardo’s focus was solely on safeguarding Sofia and bringing those responsible to justice.

Emma’s actions escalated the already perilous situation. She retrieved a gun from her bag and aimed it at Sofia’s head, her malevolence on full display. Panic surged in Leonardo’s heart, and he couldn’t let his emotions get the best of him.

“WAIT! Don’t do anything stupid,” Leonardo’s urgent plea filled the room, his voice laced with desperation. He couldn’t bear to see any harm come to Sofia, the woman he loved with all his heart.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

“Don’t dare to come near. Otherwise, I will shoot her,” Emma’s chilling threat rang out, the malice in her words clear as day.

Despite his fear, Leonardo managed to stay composed. He motioned to his men, instructing them to take a step back and lower their weapons, hoping to buy some time and keep the situation from escalating further.

“What do you want, Emma? I am here to fulfill your every demand. Just leave her. I am ready to do anything in return,” he offered, willing to make any sacrifice to secure Sofia’s safety.

But Emma’s response was callous and devoid of trust. “I don’t trust you, Leonardo, and I know how heartless a Mafia King can be. I will not leave Sofia because I want to be alive; she is my confirmed token to live,” she sneered shamelessly, her laughter a twisted display of her cold-hearted nature.

Leonardo’s heart swelled with disgust at the sight of Emma’s heartless demeanor. The mere thought that a mother, even a stepmother, could plot such a demonic act filled him with revulsion. Despite his fear for Sofia’s safety, he knew he had to keep his voice calm and composed to distract Emma from carrying out her deadly intentions.

“No, I can assure you that nobody will harm you. I will protect you myself. Just leave Sofia. Please, she is pregnant. I will give you everything and make sure that you will leave this place safely. Believe me. I am giving you my word,” Leonardo tried to reason with Emma, attempting to appeal to her rational side.

His fear was palpable as Emma held the gun at Sofia’s head. The stakes were incredibly high, and any wrong move on his part could prove fatal. He knew all too well the depths of cruelty a woman like Emma was capable of, and he had to tread carefully.

Leonardo’s eyes shifted briefly to Lana, and he hoped his message would resonate with her. He needed her to understand that he genuinely cared for Sofia and their unborn child. Despite his position as a feared Mafia King, he was willing to uphold his word and ensure their safety.

“Lana, please tell her I am not as heartless as she thought of me. I love my wife and baby. I will do anything as you say. But my men are cruel. They will not leave you, and if you harm Sofia, they will kill you. But if you listen to me, I assure you no one will harm you. Everyone knows how much I am a man of my own word. My commitment matters. If I promised to leave you both, I would do that in any condition. Tell her to leave Sofia,” Leonardo played his trump card, hoping Lana would understand the gravity of the situation.

Lana looked torn for a moment, her nerves evident as she weighed the consequences of her actions. The power dynamics had shifted, and Leonardo’s plan began to work as he saw a glimmer of doubt in Emma’s eyes.

“Emma, let’s leave Sofia. I am scared for my life. Leonardo is saying he will not do anything and will let us go. Leave all this, and let’s get out of here,” Lana urged, attempting to convince her partner-in-crime that escaping with their lives intact was the best option.

“Shut up, you fool. Just shut your mouth up. If you can’t think with your fucking brain, then better seal your mouth and let me handle this,” Emma snapped, her teeth gritted in frustration and anger. Her composure was slipping, and she couldn’t stand Lana’s interference any longer.

Leonardo had underestimated Emma. As he observed her cunning and intelligence, he couldn’t fathom the depths of her cruelty. He struggled to comprehend how someone could be so heartless towards a girl who had once been a daughter figure to her.

“Lana is right, Emma. If I give you my word, I won’t back out. You have to trust me. And… if you think you can get out of here by harming my wife, you won’t imagine your fate,” Leonardo spoke again, blending assurance with a subtle threat, hoping to appeal to Emma’s self-preservation instincts.

Emma, however, seemed undeterred by Leonardo’s words, pressing the gun harder against Sofia’s head, causing Sofia to shriek in terror. Leonardo’s heart skipped a beat, fear gripping him, knowing that Emma was unpredictable and capable of anything. He vowed to protect Sofia at any cost but had to act cautiously to avoid escalating the situation further.

Just as Leonardo’s mind raced for another plan, a voice interrupted the tense standoff. “Emma! What are you doing? Why are you holding a gun at Sofia’s head?” Carlo’s voice rang out from the doorway, his presence both surprising and potentially game-changing.

As Carlo approached, Leonardo felt a mix of relief and apprehension. With the whole family present, he hoped that Carlo’s influence could diffuse the volatile situation. But at the same time, he worried about where Carlo’s loyalty would lie with his wife or with Sofia, his daughter.

Emma’s eyes widened in shock and panic at the sight of her husband catching her in the act. Her facade crumbled, and she struggled to come up with a convincing response.

“Carlo, what are you doing here? Why did you come?” Emma screamed, attempting to divert attention from her sinister intentions.

Carlo, however, wasn’t fooled. He confronted Emma with the weight of betrayal in his voice. “And tell me why you are pressing a gun on Sofia’s head and why you kidnapped her? You know that she is my daughter. I can’t believe you can stoop so low. What do you want, Emma? Now you have made me believe that you never loved me. Otherwise, you never thought of doing this with Sofia. You know she is my daughter, my blood,” Carlo snapped, his disappointment and anger evident in every word.