Chapter 7 - The Underboss's Game
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The hardest part of the recovery wasn't the physical pain; it was the deception.
Dante had to maintain the illusion of absolute paralysis while secretly working to reclaim his body. Lena became his accomplice in everything. She threw his prescribed "painkillers" down the drain. She managed his schedule, ensuring he had two hours of unbothered privacy every night for physical therapy.
It didn't take long for the syndicate to notice Dante shutting them out.
A week later, Marcus walked into Dante’s suite unannounced. Lena was at the desk, organizing financial files Dante had asked her to review—her sharp mind quickly proving useful beyond just medical care.
“Dante,” Marcus smiled, pouring himself a drink from the crystal decanter. “You’ve been a ghost lately. The capos are getting restless. We have the Black Pelican Gala coming up, and they want reassurance that their King is still fully focused on the board.”
Dante sat in his chair, his expression unreadable. “My focus is fine, Marcus.”
Marcus took a sip of his scotch, his eyes drifting over to Lena. “I’m sure it is. Though I can see why you might be... distracted. A pretty new aide holding your attention. Vivian is quite upset, you know. She feels replaced.”
“Vivian is a political alliance,” Dante stated coldly. “Lena is an employee.”
“Of course,” Marcus chuckled. He walked over to Lena’s desk, leaning down close to her. “Tell me, Lena, what exactly does a maid know about syndicate ledgers?”
Lena looked up, meeting the underboss’s predatory gaze without flinching. She remembered Vivian’s threat. She remembered the poison in Dante’s blood. Marcus was too smooth, too interested.
“I know how to read a balance sheet, Mr. Marcus,” Lena replied evenly. “And I know how to keep Mr. Vale’s calendar organized.”
Marcus smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “Just make sure you don't overstep your bounds, sweetheart. This world eats people who try to climb too high.”
He turned back to Dante. “I’ll see you at the gala, Boss. Try not to let the hired help run the family.”
When the heavy doors closed behind Marcus, Dante exhaled a sharp breath.
“He’s looking for weaknesses,” Dante murmured.
May you like
“He’s working with Vivian,” Lena said instinctively. “I saw them together in the hall. They act like partners, not just allies.”
Dante’s jaw tightened. If his underboss and his fiancée were the ones poisoning him, the upcoming gala wouldn't just be a party. It would be a battlefield.
