The Queen he lost

Contest Entry #Romance & RelationshipsThe Queen he lost

Her husband cheated. He was the Don. She was about to find her worth through two men.

#romance #polyamory #mafia #cheating #slowburn

She was the Don’s wife. His treasure. His wolf. But behind the walls of his empire, she was a woman forgotten. In a world built on power, betrayal, and blood, she’ll discover that the most dangerous hearts may also be the ones that set her free after the one picture that starts the story.

Characters

Alessio Gambino

Don Alessio"Il Re" Gambino (39) is the ruthless Don of the Gambino Crime Family. Handsome, polished, and effortlessly charming in public, he hides a cold, controlling nature behind his perfect smile. He calls his wife tesoro and mia lupa, but his affection is rooted in possession, not love. Married for four years, he expects her unwavering loyalty while carrying on a long-term affair with another woman, never believing he owes her the same faithfulness. Alessandro rules through fear, arrogance, and manipulation, convinced his power makes him untouchable. His greatest weakness is believing everyone belongs to him—especially his wife—until Rowan, his underboss, and Miller, his capo, choose her over their Don and bring his empire crashing down.

Miller DeLuca

Miller DeLuca (32) The ruthless and loyal underboss of Alessio Gambino, Miller DeLuca is a man who commands respect wherever he goes. Cold and calculated to the world, he hides a heart capable of fierce devotion. Beneath the danger and power lies a man who has loved her quietly, protecting her from the shadows and wanting nothing more than to give her the loyalty, respect, and love she was always denied.

Rowan Moreno

Rowan Moreno (34) The powerful and confident capo of the Gambino Family, Rowan Moreno is the man who gets the job done no matter the cost. Calm, dangerous, and fiercely loyal, he commands respect without needing to demand it. Beneath his ruthless exterior is a man deeply devoted to her, willing to risk everything for the woman who has always held his heart.

Becca Gambino

The Donna (25) Graceful, intelligent, and effortlessly beautiful, she is the woman behind the crown. As the Mafia’s Donna, she carries herself with quiet confidence and a strength few recognize. Beneath her elegance lies a heart that has been quietly breaking, until the loyalty and devotion of the underboss and capo awaken feelings she never expected. When the truth of her husband’s betrayal is revealed, she finally allows herself to choose the love, respect, and freedom she was always denied.

Intro

The room was quieter than it had ever been. Becca sat across from Rowan and Miller, studying the tension in their faces. She knew them well enough to recognize when something was wrong. They were men who carried danger like a second skin, men who could walk into any room without fear—but now they looked almost hesitant. That scared her more than anything. “What's going on?” she asked softly. Miller glanced at Rowan before looking back at her. His jaw tightened, like he was fighting with himself over the words he had to say. “Becca…” Rowan started, his voice low. “There’s something you need to know about Alessio.” Her heart sank at the sound of her husband’s name. “What about him?” Neither man answered right away. Miller reached into his jacket and placed his phone on the table between them. His expression softened, just slightly, because he knew the truth would hurt her. “We didn’t want you to find out this way,” he said quietly. “But you deserve to know.” Becca looked down at the screen. The picture was right there. A moment frozen in time. Alessio. Another woman. The betrayal she never wanted to believe was real. For a few seconds, she couldn’t breathe. She had spent years defending him, trusting him, believing the promises whispered in the dark. She had been his wife, his Donna, his tesoro and mia lupa. But as she stared at the proof in front of her, she realized those words had never meant what she thought they did. Rowan watched the pain cross her face, his hands tightening at his sides. He wanted to take the hurt away, but he knew this wasn’t his choice to make. “You don’t have to protect him anymore,” Miller said softly. Becca slowly looked up at them. And for the first time, she saw not just the men who served her husband—but the two men who had always seen her, valued her, and stood beside her. The men who had never made her feel like she was something to own. Something inside her broke. But something else finally began to awaken.