My Husband Betrayed Me — I Took His Empire Chapter 05

My Husband Betrayed Me — I Took His Empire Chapter 05

After hanging up, I drove to Westside Docks.

I wasn’t there to see the dock workers.

Luca Russo had already placed his own people there.

I was looking for several men who had once served under Don Enzo.

Twenty-five years ago, when my father filled out the Letter of Disposal, they were the ones who

carried out the order.

One of them was named Frank DeLuca.

He now owned an auto repair shop in the northern part of the city.

When I found him, he was crouched beside an old pickup truck, changing a tire.

His hands were covered in grease.

I took the ring out of my pocket and held it up where he could see it.

DeLuca looked up.

He recognized the ring.

And he recognized me.

The little girl who had stood beside her father at ten years old, watching him write the Letter of

Disposal.

“Miss Valentino.”

He wiped his hands on a rag.

“What brings you here?”

“On the night of the Feast of the Seven Fishes, I need someone else watching the docks.”

I looked at him.

“Can your people come back for one night?”

He threw the wrench down and stood up.

~….

“How many routes?”

“Three docks at Westside Docks.”

“The front and back entrances of Warehouse 7.”

“The North Highway checkpoint.”

I looked at him.

“Two hours before the dinner begins until the next morning.”

“How many people?”

“I counted.”

“At least four at each location, plus two people rotating between them.”

DeLuca counted on his fingers.

“Fifteen.”

“My son and a few of his former military friends can do it.”

His eyes moved to the ring.

“They’re all steady-handed.”

“Money will be transferred to your account tomorrow.”

I paused.

“But don’t use any account connected to Luca Russo.”

“No need.”

DeLuca looked at the ring again.

“Seeing that is enough.”

When I left Westside Docks, the sky was already dark.

As soon as I entered Main House, the butler was waiting at the entrance.

“Mr. Russo has returned. He’s in the study.”

I went upstairs and pushed open the door.

Luca Russo sat behind his desk, reviewing documents.

He looked up when he saw me.

“Where did you go?”

“Shopping.”

I walked inside.

“Some decorations for the Feast of the Seven Fishes.”

He nodded.

“Make sure you dress appropriately that night.”

His tone carried a hint of warning.

“Don’t let the Capos think the Valentino family’s hostess can’t represent the family properly.”

He opened a drawer and took out a card.

Then he pushed it toward me.

“Buy yourself something new.”

I glanced at the card.

There was no amount written on it.

But I could guess.

At most, it was enough for a ready-made dress.

“Okay.”

I picked it up and walked out.

As I went downstairs, the ring in my pocket pressed against my thigh.

Cold.

Heavy.

་་་

My phone lit up.

Vivian’s message appeared.

[All four seat cards have been arranged. Also, Fiona O’Malley’s due date has been moved up. doctor thinks she could give birth as early as next week.]

I stopped.

[That would be three days before the Feast of the Seven Fishes.]

The timing was perfect.

When Luca Russo announced his “heir” at the dinner, the child would already be born.

I replied:

[Got it. What is The Irish Mob doing?]

Vivian answered.

The

[The dock routes are still in Luca Russo’s hands. Since he hasn’t officially transferred them, they won’t move early. But their people have been appearing around Warehouse 7 more frequently.]

[Are you confident about the dinner?]

I looked at the message.

The light from the staircase stretched my shadow across the floor.

[DeLuca’s people will take over security that night.]

[The docks and warehouse will belong to Valentino again.]

A few seconds later, another message came.

[What about The Irish Mob?]

I typed slowly.

[As long as Luca Russo falls that night, the agreement fails, and the docks stay with us, they won’t

get what they came for.]

[They won’t make a move before then.]

[After that night, I’ll speak with them personally.]

Vivian didn’t ask anything else.

I put my phone away and walked through the living room.

The fireplace was still burning.

The butler placed a glass of brandy on the coffee table.

“Mrs. Russo, your brandy.”

“Thank you.”

I didn’t drink it.

I watched the flames for a while.

Then I stood up and went upstairs.

When I passed the study, a thin line of light spilled from beneath the door.

Luca Russo was still inside.

His voice was low.

I heard only one sentence.

“…At the dinner, just sit at the main table. Don’t say too much. Just nod when needed.”

Fiona O’Malley.

He was arranging Fiona O’Malley’s place at the dinner.

I walked past the study without stopping.

Back in the bedroom, I took off my coat and hung it in the closet.

My fingers brushed the inside pocket.

The ring was still there.

The Letter of Disposal was still there.

And I had three days left.

Three days until the Feast of the Seven Fishes.