Chapter 1

Roberta's POV

I woke up hanging half-naked from a helicopter, five hundred feet above the Ocean.

When I looked down past my bound hands, I saw myself stripped to my bra and underwear. Today was supposed to be our seventh wedding anniversary, Grayson said he had a surprise planned, sent his secretary Gemma to pick me up from home, and then... nothing. I can't remember anything after getting in her car.

What happened? How did I—

Think, Robi. What's the last thing you remember?

Gemma's car. She smiled at me through the window, waved.

I got in. She handed me a bottle of water.

Then... nothing.

Oh god.

Gemma did this.

The rage that flooded through me. She drugged me and stripped me. Left me hanging like this.

How long have I been up here? Minutes? Hours?

Another helicopter cut through the noise.

I jerked my head around, and saw it approaching. The small Vitale family crest on the tail.

Antonio.

Relief washed over me so suddenly my vision blurred for a second.

Then I felt hands on me. Strong, steady hands grabbed me around the waist, cut the rope, pulled me into the cabin.

I hit the floor hard, shaking uncontrollably. Someone wrapped a thick blanket around my shoulders.

When I looked down at myself, across my chest, scrawled in thick black ink: La Puttana.

The whore.

My stomach turned. The humiliation of it crashed over me in a wave so strong I almost couldn't breathe.

"Boss."

Antonio's voice, rough with guilt.

I looked up at him. He wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Boss, I'm so sorry. Grayson arranged everything himself. He told us Gemma was picking you up, that it was part of the anniversary surprise. We had no idea she would—"

"Where is she?" My voice came out hoarse and raw.

Antonio hesitated.

"Where?"

"Il Corvo. Little Italy. She's there having dinner with—" He stopped himself.

I didn't need him to finish that sentence.

"Get me down. Right now."

The second the skids hit concrete, I was already moving.

I climbed out with the blanket still wrapped around me and looked down at myself again.

My hands balled into fists.

"Boss, let us handle this—"

"No."

I turned to Antonio. His face was pale, ashamed.

"Give me your coat."

He stripped off his black overcoat without another word. I pulled it on and it hung past my knees, practically swallowing me.

"Keys."

"Boss, you're in no condition to drive—"

"Keys."

He handed them over.

I scanned the room, found what I was looking for immediately.

Corner booth. Gemma was laughing, leaning forward with her hand on Grayson's. And Grayson, my husband was cutting her steak for her.

I crossed that restaurant floor while every single person turned to stare. Gemma saw me first and her smile froze on her face.

Then Grayson looked up.

I didn't stop, didn't slow down. I walked right up to their cozy little table and slapped Gemma across the face as hard as I could.

The crack echoed through the whole restaurant.

Gemma gasped, her hand flying to her cheek. Tears instantly filled her eyes.

"You still have the nerve to sit here and eat?"

Grayson shot up from his seat so fast. He pulled Gemma behind him, his arm around her shoulders the way he used to hold me when I needed protecting.

Every head in the restaurant turned. I heard camera phones clicking, whispers spreading through the tables. My face burned, but not from shame anymore.

"Robi, be reasonable." His voice had that edge of annoyance. "She's just a kid. It was a joke. I'll make it up to you on our anniversary."

A joke.

I laughed, "Make it up to me? With what? The video she took while I was hanging half-naked from a helicopter?"

"It was a prank!" He threw his hands up. "Do you have to make everything so dramatic?"

I stared at him. At the irritation in his eyes, like I was the problem here.

Then I looked at Gemma.

She was crying now, tears streaming down her face as she clutched Grayson's jacket. Her eyes were wide and terrified, her lower lip trembling. Playing the victim so perfectly I almost believed it myself.

Those eyes.

I'd seen those eyes before.