The Mafia King's Temptation (Dante and Lucia) novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14–Jealousy

Dante My phone buzzed for the fihh time that morning, a sharp intrusion into the silence of my office. I ignored it, beeping my focus on the quarterly financial reports splayed on on the sleek, dark wood desk in front of me. Rows of numbers painted a picture of growth, expansion, and dominance–everything I’d worked for. Everything I’d built

But none of it could drown out the image that had been burned into my mind.

one else

Her bareback stretched across that goddamn canvas, her hair cascading in clark waves, her body caughn in a moment of vulnerability that no one should have seen. Mark Sullivan’s audacity to expose something so intimate, so raw–made my blood boil.

I’d done everything I could to control the situation. I’d bought out nearly every ticket for the exhibition, but it didn’t matter. The painting had already made its counds on social media, splashed across the feeds of every art enthusiast critic, and wannabe socialite in the city. It was everywhere. And no amount of money or power could undo that.

1ightened my grip on the Montblanc pen in my hand until 1 heard the faini creak of plastic under strain. Calm. I needed to stay calm. I couldn’t let my temper dictate my salons–not now, not with the election looming and the Roman empire watching my every move.

The door to my office opened slightly, and Marco, my head of security, stepped aside. His presence was a constant in my life, a silent shadow who ensured everything ran smoothly in the darker corner of my world.

“You’ve got a meeting with the city planning committee in twenty minutes,” Marco said, his voice calm and measured “And the lawyers just sent over the revised harbor contracts.

I nodded, not looking up. “Anything else?”

He hesitated, which was unusual. Marco never heated.

“Spit iron,” 1 said, my tone sharper than imended

“It’s about the painting,” he said. “The media coverage is escalating. Some of the tabloids are making insinuations about the timing of the engagement and the exhibition

“Let them inte.” I said coldly. They’re wilures. It’s what they do.”

“And Sullwan Marco asked, his woser dropping.

That name was like a spark to dry kindling. My jaw tightened, but I forced myself to keep my voce level. “We’ll deal with him when the time is

right.”

Marco Hodded and left without another word, the door clicking shut softly belire hom

I leaned back in my chair, the tension in my chest refusing to ease. Mark Sullivan. The man was a thorn in my side, a ghost from Lucia’s past that refused to soy buried And the worst part! He wasn’t just a threat to my control over the narrative surrounding my engagement he was a threat to my control over myself.

Because every time I thought of him, I thought of her. Of the way she’d looked at that painting in the gallery. Of the vulnerability in her eyes that she tried so hard to hide. And it unfuriated me that someone else had seen that side of her, had captured it so perfectly.

I didn’t have une for this. Not today. Not ever. I was Dante Romuno–CEO, hear to the Romano empire, and the next mayor of this city. My life was built on control, precision, and calculated moves. And yet, here I was, lening a goddamn artist and an old painting unbalance me.

*Focus,” I told myself.

1 placed the pen down deliberately and stood, moving to the massive floor–to–ceiling window that overlooked the city. By city. The skyline gleamed in the sunlight, a testament to the power I wielded and the empire I’d built. But even this view, one that usually grounded me, couldn’t silence the storm brewing inside.

“Elena” I called out, my

voice carrying through the intercom on my desk.

Moments later, my assistant stepped in her impeccable pencil skirt and sharp blouse reflecting the professionalism 1 demanded from everyone

around me.“Yes, Mr. Romano?”

“Reschedule my lunch meeting with the investors,” I said, turning to face her. “And have the PR team prepare a statement regarding the painting. Something that damises the tabloids insinuations without giving them more fuel.”

Elena nodded, making notes on her tablet. “Understood Anything else!”

I hesitated for a moment, then shook my head. “That’s all.”

She left quietly, and I returned to my desk, forcing myself to dive into the work that demanded my attention. Contracts needed signing. Deals needed finalizing Every decision I made today would ripple through the Romano empire, affecting hundreds of lives and millions of dollars. This was what mattered. This was what I needed to focus on.

And yet, even as I reviewed the latest harbor expansion proposal, her face kept intruding on my thoughts. The way her lips had parted slightly when she’d looked at that painting. The way her eyes had softened, just for a moment, betraying the vulnerabday she tried so hard to hide.

Í slammed the folder shut, the sound echoing through the office Calm. I needed to stay calm. This was just a distraction. A temporary lapse in focus,

Nothing more

12:57

Chapter 14–Jealousy

The door opened agam, and Elena stepped in her expression unusually hesitant. “Mr. Romano, there’s something you should know.”

I glanced up, frowning. “““What is it?”

“Lucia met with Mark Sullivan this morning.”

The words ha me like a punch to the gu. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. “What did you just say!”

“She met him at the Petersen Gallery Elena continued her voice steady despite the storm brewing in my eyes. “It was brief, but…”

I didn’t hear the rest of her sentence. My mind was already spinning, a million scenos flashing through my head. What had they talked abour What had he said to her! And why the hell had she gone to see him at all?

“Do you have confirmation?” I asked, my voior cold and sharp as icc

“Yes, sir,” the replied “Marco’s team confirmed it.”

The anger flared up so fast, so hot, that I barely managed to keep it contained “Cancel my next meeting.” I said, my voice low and deadly calm

“Sir-

““Cancelic” Esnapped, rising from my chair. “And how the car brought around. Now.”

Elena nodded quickly and disappeared from the room. I grabbed my suit jacket and shrugged it on, my movements sharp and precise. Rationally, knew I needed to stay calm. I needed to approach this situation with the sune level–headedness than had bait my empare and secured my family’s position. But rationality was in short supply today.

Because Luria Valentini was mine. And no one–not Mark Sullivan, not anyone was g