Chapter 6 - The Mafia Boss’s Wife Walked Into My Diner
Victoria entered the diner at 9:00 p.m.
The room went silent.
She looked exactly like the woman people imagined beside Roman Costa.
Elegant black dress.
Diamond earrings.
Perfect hair.
Controlled expression.
Mave recognized her immediately.
Roman had told her they were legally separated.
But he had not told her why.
Victoria approached the counter.
“Coffee.”
Mave poured it.
Victoria studied her.
“So you're Mave.”
“Yes.”
“You're prettier than I expected.”
Mave raised an eyebrow.
“That sounded almost like a compliment.”
“It wasn't meant to be.”
Mave nodded.
“Then your delivery needs work.”
Victoria almost smiled.
“Roman loves you.”
Mave said nothing.
“I thought I'd be angry.”
Victoria looked down at her coffee.
“I am angry.”
“But not at me.”
“No.”
“At Roman.”
Victoria nodded.
“He never loved me.”
Mave didn't know what to say.
Victoria continued.
“He married me because our families expected it.”
“I'm sorry.”
“Don't be.”
She looked up.
“I never wanted him that way either.”
Mave relaxed.
“Then why are you here?”
Victoria placed a folder on the counter.
“Because I want to help.”
Mave opened it.
Inside were photographs.
Meetings.
Bank records.
Vincenzo.
And a map of the neighborhood around the diner.
Mave looked up.
“He's planning something.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
Mave's blood went cold.
Victoria whispered, “He knows about the trust.”
“Then why hasn't he taken it?”
“Because he needs you to transfer it.”
Mave froze.
“I can't.”
“You can.”
Victoria tapped a document.
“The trust requires your signature.”
“And Roman's.”
“Yes.”
“So he'll force us.”
Victoria nodded.
“He wants Roman dead.”
Mave's heart stopped.
Victoria continued.
“He wants you to sign first.”
“Why?”
“Because once Roman dies, he can claim the trust through the old family agreement.”
Mave stared.
“Can we stop him?”
Victoria smiled faintly.
“I didn't come here without a plan.”
She gave Mave a tiny recorder.
“Put this near the back door.”
“Why?”
“He has a man inside the diner.”
Mave looked around.
“Who?”
Victoria didn't answer.
She pointed toward the kitchen.
Mave turned.
Hector stood there.
Her heart sank.
“Hector?”
He looked guilty.
“I didn't have a choice.”
“Who threatened you?”
“My son.”
Mave's expression softened.
“Is he safe?”
Hector shook his head.
“Not yet.”
Victoria said quietly, “That's why Vincenzo wins. He finds one vulnerable person and turns them against everyone else.”
Mave understood.
“You're not evil.”
Victoria laughed.
“No.”
She looked tired.
“I've just made bad choices.”
Mave reached for her hand.
Victoria stared at it.
Then held it.
For the first time, the two women stood on the same side.
Roman entered moments later.
He stopped when he saw Victoria.
“What are you doing here?”
“Helping.”
His expression hardened.
“You should have told me.”
“You wouldn't have listened.”
Mave spoke.
“She's right.”
Roman looked at her.
“You trust her?”
“Yes.”
He sighed.
“That is deeply inconvenient.”
She smiled.
“I know.”
The plan was simple.
Let Vincenzo believe he had won.
Lead him into a controlled meeting.
Record everything.
Transfer the evidence to federal investigators.
Roman hated every part of it.
But he agreed.
At midnight, the trap was set.
The diner closed.
The lights went off.
Roman and Mave stayed inside.
Vincenzo's men arrived at 1:00 a.m.
Then Vincenzo walked in.
He looked almost identical to Roman.
Older.
More scarred.
More cruel.
He smiled.
“So this is the woman.”
Roman stood.
“Leave her out of this.”
Vincenzo laughed.
“You sound like Father.”
Mave spoke.
“You look like him too.”
Vincenzo stared.
Then smiled.
“I like her.”
Roman stepped between them.
“You don't touch her.”
Vincenzo's smile faded.
“Still pretending you have control.”
Then the lights came on.
Federal agents entered.
Vincenzo froze.
The recorder had captured everything.
He had confessed to the trust scheme.
Threats.
Fraud.
The attempted murder plot.
Roman had won.
But Vincenzo pulled a gun.
He raised it.
Roman moved.
A shot fired.
Mave screamed.
Then she saw Roman standing.
Blood on his shoulder.
He had been hit.
But he was alive.
Vincenzo was arrested.
Mave ran to Roman.
“You're bleeding.”
“It's not bad.”
“You got shot!”
“I've had worse.”
She slapped his chest.
“Don't joke!”
He smiled weakly.
“You're worried.”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don't.”
Victoria stood nearby.
For the first time, she smiled.
May you like
Then she whispered to Mave.
“He's yours now.”
