- Celeste circled her captive slowly, her heels clicking against concrete in a steady rhythm.
- “Tell me about Viktor Koslov.”
- The man tied to the chair—a mid-level enforcer who’d been too easy to catch—spat blood onto the floor.
- “I don’t know anything.”
- “See, that’s a problem.” Celeste stopped in front of him, her voice soft but razor-edged. “Because my sources say you’ve been running errands for him. Delivering messages. Moving money.”
- His eyes widened fractionally—just enough to confirm she was on the right track.
- “Viktor Koslov has been dead for ten years,” he said, but there was a tremor in his voice now.
- “Has he?” Celeste leaned closer, studying his face. “That’s interesting, because three weeks ago, someone matching his description met with one of my father’s old allies. A Lombardi.”
- The enforcer’s breathing hitched. Celeste pressed her advantage.
- “Lombardi, who coincidentally sold his shipping routes right before they were hit. Almost like he knew what was coming.”
- “You don’t understand,” the man whispered, real fear creeping into his voice. “If I talk—”
- The window behind them exploded.
- Celeste dropped and rolled as glass rained down, drawing her weapon in one fluid motion. But she was too late.
- A single shot echoed through the warehouse. Her informant’s head snapped back, a neat hole between his eyes still smoking.
- “Contact!” Dante’s voice crackled through her earpiece. “Rooftop across the street!”
- Celeste was already moving, staying low as she sprinted for cover. Another shot kicked up concrete near her feet.
- “Did you get a visual?” she demanded, pressing her back against a steel support beam.
- “Negative. They’re gone.” Dante sounded furious. “Professional job. One shot, clean exit.”
- Celeste looked at the dead man slumped in the chair, his secrets now forever silent. Someone definitely didn’t want her to learn more about Viktor Koslov.
- * * *
- The charity gala glittered with wealth and careful lies. Crystal chandeliers cast rainbow shadows across evening gowns and tailored suits, while champagne flowed freely enough to loosen tongues and wallets.
- Stephan played his part perfectly—the devoted fiancé, the rising star in the business world. His hand stayed possessively on Catherine’s waist as they worked the room, his smile practiced and pleasant.
- “Senator Morrison was asking about the development project,” Catherine murmured, leaning into him. “He seems… concerned about the permits.”
- “I’ll handle it.” Stephan brushed a kiss against her temple, noting how she melted into the gesture. “You’ve done well tonight, darling.”
- Her smile was radiant, but there was something calculating behind it. “Of course I have. I know what’s expected of me.”
- If she only knew.
- While they danced and schmoozed, his men were systematically targeting the Durand family’s key operations. Bank accounts frozen, evidence planted, loyal employees turned.
- Death by a thousand cuts, each one too small to notice until it was too late.
- “Another drink?” he offered, already guiding her toward the bar.
- “Actually,” Catherine’s fingers tightened on his arm, “I was thinking we could leave early tonight. I’m wearing something special underneath this dress.”
- The invitation in her voice was clear. Once, it would have thrilled him. Now it felt like another move in their elaborate game of pretend.
- “Lead the way,” he said, letting her pull him toward the exit.
- The ride home was charged with artificial tension. Catherine’s hand on his thigh, her perfume filling the car’s interior. She was playing her role too—the seductress, the temptress.
- The moment their bedroom door closed, she was on him. Her kisses were demanding, almost desperate, as she pushed his jacket off his shoulders.
- “I’ve missed you,” she breathed against his mouth. “You’ve been so distant lately.”
- Stephan lifted her onto the bed, his movements calculated to show just enough passion. “I’m right here.”
- Catherine straddled him, her dress hiking up around her thighs. In the dim light, her eyes were dark and searching.
- “Are you?” Her fingers traced patterns on his chest, deceptively gentle. “You feel different. Like you’re somewhere else even when you’re with me.”
- He caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. “I’m just tired, Catherine. The business—”
- “Don’t lie to me.” There was steel beneath the silk of her voice now. “Not here. Not like this.”
- For a moment, the masks slipped. They stared at each other, really seeing each other perhaps for the first time in weeks. Stephan saw the fear behind her control, the desperation in her need to possess him.
- Catherine saw… something that made her expression harden.
- Then the moment passed, and they were back to their passionate dance of tongues. She kissed him again, and he responded with practiced enthusiasm. Their bodies moved together in familiar heated rhythms while their minds stayed carefully guarded.
- Later, when Stephan’s breathing had evened out in apparent sleep, Catherine slipped from the bed. She stood at the window, moonlight painting her nude form in silver and shadow.
- Her reflection in the glass showed something dangerous brewing behind her perfect features. She picked up Stephan’s phone from the nightstand, fingers hovering over the biometric lock.
- He’d changed the password recently. Another small betrayal.
- Moving silently, she dressed in the dark. There were other ways to get information. Other sources she could tap.
- If Stephan was plotting against her family, she needed to know. And if he was seeing Celeste again…
- Catherine’s hands clenched into fists. She’d already warned him once. She wouldn’t do it again.
- As she slipped out of the bedroom, Stephan’s eyes opened. He’d been awake the whole time, tracking her movements through barely-parted lids.
- He reached for his own phone—the real one, not the decoy he’d left for Catherine to find. A text was waiting from one of his surveillance teams:
- Target leaving residence. Permission to follow?
- Stephan typed back quickly:
- Track her. Document everything.
- The game was entering its final stages. Soon, he’d have enough evidence to destroy the Durand family completely.
The Betrayed Mafia’s Heir Chapter 18
The Betrayed Mafia’s Heir Chapter 18
Posted by , ? Views, Released on May 2, 2025
The Betrayed Mafia’s Heir English Novel
Status: Completed Native Language: English
