Page 53 of Married to the Ruthless Mafia Heir

Night deepened outside. The machines kept their steady rhythm, counting down.

Chapter Nineteen

Elena

Dante's words only made me more certain—I had to leave this place if I wanted to protect myself and the baby growing inside me.

He still believed in Valentina. And Valentina was a master of deception and disguise, with tricks up her sleeve at every turn. That fall down the stairs might have just been a warning—her way of telling me she already had people inside the manor. Thinking I could stay here and have this baby safely was nothing but a pipe dream.

If something really happened to me, Dante probably wouldn't believe a word I said. And I couldn't gamble with my child's life. I'd already had one accident. My wrist still ached from when I'd slammed into the wall during that fall, the pain radiating from my fingers all the way up my forearm.

Over the next few days, I prepared everything. I didn't have much—packing wasn't the hard part. But sneaking my luggage out of the manor without anyone noticing? For that, I needed help. Luca was the only person I could turn to.

I didn't tell him what had happened between Dante and me. I just asked if he could help me—I wanted to leave Moretti Manor.

Luca didn't pry. He always had a good sense of boundaries. Over the next few days, his people met me outside the manor. We avoided the cameras, bit by bit smuggling my belongings out.

Once everything was ready, I went into Salvador's room one last time. He radiated the smell of approaching death. Whatever he'd done to me before—however he'd threatened me, manipulated me—none of it mattered now. He was just a man who would never wake up. Standing there facing him, I felt strangely relaxed.

"Mr. Morreti," I said softly. "I'm pregnant. A little over a month along."

The man in the bed didn't react. I smiled faintly. "Everything our contract required—marrying Dante, having his child—it's all done. As for whether this child can become the heir? I think that's unlikely. Because Dante's heart belongs to another woman. I can't force him to make my child his successor. I've done everything I could."

"To protect my baby, I have to leave." I picked up the towel by the bed, dampened it, and wiped Salvador's hand. "This is the last time I'll take care of you. Goodbye, Mr. Morreti."

His aged, wrinkled hand twitched slightly in my palm. I saw it. My heart jumped. But when I looked up, his eyes were still tightly shut, as if what I'd felt was just my imagination.

I walked down the corridor toward the exit, wearing the same worn backpack I'd arrived at Moretti Manor with. Lucia was in the greenhouse. When I found her and she saw me dressed like this, understanding crossed her face. "You're leaving... Elena?"

I nodded. "The manor isn't safe. I can't guarantee I'll survive long enough to have this baby if I stay. So I have to go." I reached out and hugged Lucia. "Forgive me for not telling you where I'mgoing. And if Dante asks, please don't tell him I'm pregnant. I don't want things to get more complicated."

I slipped the ring off my finger and pressed it into Lucia's palm. "Give this back to him for me."

Lucia grabbed my wrist tightly. "Elena, are you really leaving? How can the manor not be safe? Have you told Dante any of this?"

I shook my head.

I'd tried. But I hadn't gotten the chance to say it. Dante's attitude had already told me everything.

"One more thing." I remembered something equally important and pulled a receipt from my hoodie pocket. "I designed a suit for Dante, but I didn't have time to make it. I gave it to this tailor shop. When it's finished, could you pick it up for me and give it to him?"

After taking care of everything, I hugged Lucia one last time. "Take care, Lucia."

Lucia tried to hold me back, but I turned away. Her fingers only brushed the edge of my shirt—she couldn't hold on to me.

I left through the manor's main gate. In a blind spot beyond the cameras sat a dark gray sedan. As I approached, the window rolled down, revealing Luca's gentle, smiling face.

"Get in, Elena."

I hurried over and climbed inside. The car pulled smoothly away from Moretti Manor. I leaned back in my seat, watching through the rearview mirror as the massive estate grew smaller and smaller until the trees at the corner swallowed it completely.

Luca drove in silence for a while before finally speaking, his voice carrying that steady certainty of his.

"I've arranged your flight out of New York. Planned the whole route. Two layovers—meant to bypass the hub airports Dante's people might check. Everything's under fake IDs. He won't find you."

I turned to look at Luca. "Thank you so much, Luca. Right now, you're the only one willing to help me."

"We're friends. Don't thank me." He smiled. "I've got a good friend in Mexico who runs his own design brand. You could check it out—if the style fits, you can use your talent to help him make some money. Then maybe I'll get my investment back sooner."