Rising From Ashes: The Don's Lost Queen

Dante’s POV

I instinctively covered the receiver. The thought of Sienna hearing Tess’s voice made my blood run cold.

I looked at Tess and gave a reluctant nod. "Fine, we’ll have a drink."

Tess let out a small cheer of victory and grabbed my arm. I looked down at my phone screen—the call had been disconnected.

Staring at the blank screen, I felt a suffocating pressure in my chest.

An hour later, I returned to Syndicate HQ and locked myself in my private office. Tess burst in, clutching a thick manila envelope.

"Boss, an urgent package sent directly from the Madam."

I reached for the envelope. As my fingers brushed the thick paper, a cold premonition washed over me. Sienna had never sent anything to headquarters before.

I tore the seal with my thumb, my hand trembling as I pulled out a stack of crisp white documents. My vision began to blur at the edges. I had to lean my full weight against the desk to keep my legs from giving out.

The only sound in the room was the rushing of blood in my ears.

"Boss... what does she mean?" Tess stammered. "Is she really asking for a divorce?"

I didn't hear her. I stared at the bold black font at the top of the page: Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.

A total violation of Omertà, a violation of the sacred laws of the family. No one leaves the Syndicate, and no one leaves the Godfather.

But the evidence was right there, signed in Sienna’s elegant hand at the bottom of the page.

I tipped the envelope upside down over the desk. A small object fell out, hitting the mahogany with a sharp metallic clink.

It was her wedding ring—a plain steel band.

I stared at that cheap ring, my vision blurring.

I remembered the day we stood in that dim little chapel, back when I was just a low-level enforcer. Sienna had stolen her family’s marriage registry papers just to marry me.

She had specifically picked out the cheapest ring in the display case and then looked up at me with a smile:

"When you run this city, you can buy me a better one."

A sudden heat burned my eyes.

I remembered the blood oath I had sworn to protect and cherish her for the rest of my life.

And yet, I hadn't even bought her a better ring.

I forgot... I just, forgot.