My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin

Chapter 428: Last Night of Peace

The announcement of Tommy’s death spread like wildfire.

Lukas and Gustav made sure to fuel the rumor until it reached every corner of the underground world.

Some old figures from across the globe couldn’t help but laugh in delight, cursing Tommy while celebrating his death.

Marshal Di Carpio was, unsurprisingly, one of them.

Others saw it as an opportunity to expand, especially the smaller organizations that had never directly opposed Tommy but had been held back by his overwhelming influence.

Some, however, remained silent. They simply sat with the news, saying nothing.

As word continued to spread, one thing became abundantly clear.

Despite retiring many years ago, Tommy’s influence had never truly disappeared.

Because of that, Liza and Julio immediately contacted the most influential people who had once stood beside Tommy, informing them of the plan. Otherwise, their retaliation could create irreparable problems.

Everything happened quickly.

Liza returned to the hospital and hurried into Tommy’s ward. Barely an hour later, Dominion was already preparing the funeral.

Although Tommy would eventually be taken home, a proper funeral was still arranged in the country.

Liza sat alone in one of the pews inside the hospital’s funeral chapel.

A black veil concealed her face. She was dressed entirely in black, silently staring at the casket before her.

It was an open-casket funeral.

Anyone who approached would see Tommy lying peacefully inside.

Tommy, I’ve always feared the underground because of how dangerous it is. But today... I’ve found an entirely new reason to fear it.

Everything Lucian had told her had come true.

Not only had someone returned to finish the job, but everything had already been prepared, as though Lucian had made the decision long before telling anyone.

Even the open-casket funeral caught her by surprise.

She hadn’t known it would be an open casket until the very last minute.

She had been worried at first.

But after seeing the incredibly lifelike wax figure resting inside the coffin, she couldn’t help but feel both awe and horror.

Liza slowly approached the coffin while mourners came and went throughout the chapel. Resting one hand on its edge, she quietly studied the wax figure.

"How did they make this overnight?" she wondered under her breath.

She leaned in for a closer look before slowly straightening again.

To everyone else, her curiosity looked no different from a grieving wife unwilling to leave her husband’s side.

Soon, someone stopped beside her.

"Impressive," Julio whispered, his eyes sweeping over the figure inside the coffin. "Which only makes me more suspicious of how they managed to create this overnight."

Liza glanced at him but chose not to dwell on his comment.

"There is a guest," Julio continued, turning toward her. "I’m sure you’ll want to see him."

Her brows knitted together as she searched his expression. After a brief pause, she nodded. She didn’t ask who it was.

After Tommy’s death, she expected many of his former allies and old colleagues to come. If they couldn’t attend personally, they would at least send representatives. Though she doubted most of them would send a representative.

Tommy’s relationships had always been rock solid.

And they were men who honored their word — just like Tommy himself.

Whenever a former ally or old friend passed away, Tommy would attend the funeral no matter where it was.

It was one of the few occasions that would convince both Tommy and Liza to risk leaving the country.

As Liza walked away with Julio, Ashley and Lucian sat quietly in one of the empty pews.

The chapel had already begun to fill.

Most of the attendees were Tommy’s men, members of Dominion, and a handful of Julio’s people. More continued to arrive, each carefully screened by Dominion and Julio’s security.

The couple said nothing. They simply stared at the coffin.

If Tommy had truly died, Ashley would have cried until she had nothing left. Instead, she looked empty.

Anyone seeing her now would think she had never been close to the deceased.

As for Lucian, no one expected anything different. The man had always resembled a walking ice sculpture.

Lucian stole a sidelong glance at Ashley. Beneath those emotionless eyes, he saw simmering rage that was eating her from the inside out.

"Keep it in," he murmured, turning his gaze forward again. "After this... I won’t stop you. If you need anyone—"

"My faction is enough," she replied quietly.

Truthfully, Ashley alone was enough.

She knew the Di Carpios inside and out. The only thing that had always stopped her from killing Marshal was her conscience. She had always believed murdering her own father was the final line separating her from becoming a true monster.

"I’m sorry," Lucian whispered, lowering his gaze.

Ashley remained silent, and they spent another minute in silence.

Lucian drew a deep breath, having better control of his emotions.

Thanks to Ashley, they no longer had to waste time searching for the person pulling the strings inside Dominion.

Then again...

Ashley hadn’t uncovered Memphis through skill alone. If it hadn’t been for Scott, she would never have connected Memphis to any of this.

"It’s not me," she suddenly said, as though reading his thoughts.

Lucian raised a brow.

Ashley was still staring at the coffin. Only after another slow breath did she turn toward him.

"The intel didn’t come from me," she said. "It came from someone else."

Confusion flickered across his face until realization dawned on him.

"Scott?" he murmured.

Ashley nodded before looking away once more.

Lucian slowly leaned back against the pew.

Again, the two simply stared at the coffin, each lost in their own thoughts.

They couldn’t make a move until Tommy’s funeral was over.

Even those celebrating Tommy’s death would remain cautious for now.

Only after his burial...

Only after everyone accepted that Tommy was truly gone... would their guards finally come down.

All they needed... was a little more time.

By that, they meant one evening, because Tommy would be buried tomorrow morning.

*****

[Black Dragon Corporation]

Lukas sat quietly behind the wheel of his parked car. He should have attended the funeral, but Gustav was already there with Lucian, and they were simply waiting now.

Ghost had given Lucian a name.

Memphis.

Along with another crucial clue; the call made to the nurse had originated from this very building.

That alone was enough for Lucian, Lukas, and Gustav to realize something terrifying.

Their enemy wasn’t another organization.

Their enemy... was already inside Dominion.

"But who?" Lukas muttered. "If the shooter is from Dominion, there’s only a handful of people I know who can make that shot."

He frowned. "And every single one of them was present when it happened."

His eyes narrowed as he sank deeper into thought. His mind was mainly replaying the dashcam footage where they got a clear shot of the shooter’s build.

Then, suddenly, a figure entered the corner of his windshield.

Lifting his gaze, he saw Tinie walking toward a parked car a few spaces away.

Lukas frowned.

He slowly raised a finger, squinting as he lined it up with Tinie’s head.

When Tinie turned his back, Lukas slowly lowered his hand.

He froze.

"Motherfucker."