Chapter 1
My daughter Sophia couldn’t sleep, so she came looking for me.
“Mom, why hasn’t Dad been coming home lately?” Sophia’s little hand clung tightly to my pajama sleeve, her voice full of confusion.
I still didn’t know how to explain to her that her father was spending every night with another woman.
I pulled her into my arms, hiding the chill in my eyes, and lied gently, “Daddy’s just working hard.”
“Really? Christmas is almost here. Will Daddy be with us for it?”
“Of course.” I smoothed her curly hair and comforted her in the softest voice I could manage. “Close your eyes now, sweetheart. Try to sleep.”
Sophia blinked, then finally seemed to accept my words.
Her breathing became slow and even in my embrace, her little hand loosening its grip on my sleeve.
Watching her sleep, a wave of bitterness washed over me.
Nine years ago, against my family’s wishes, I gave up my place as heir to Sicily’s most powerful mafia family, just to run away with Marco to this city.
I thought I was chasing freedom and true love, that he’d love me forever and never betray me.
How laughable. In just nine years, the fairy tale was shattered.
As I quietly calculated how I could leave with Sophia without anyone noticing, the bedroom door creaked open.
Marco walked in, looking exhausted.
When his gaze landed on Sophia sleeping in bed, his eyes softened for a moment. He leaned down, wanting to kiss her forehead.
In the dim light, I could clearly see the glaring lipstick stain on his shirt collar—the shade Claudia always wore.
On his rolled-up sleeves, fresh scratch marks stood out angrily on his forearm.
My stomach churned. I forced down the nausea.
Instinctively, I raised my hand to stop him. “Don’t touch her. She has a cold.”
Realizing my tone was too stiff, I added, “I just got her to sleep. Don’t wake her.”
“How did she catch a cold?” Marco frowned, a flash of concern in his eyes. “The staff must not be taking care of her. I’ll have a word with them tomorrow.”
He didn’t seem to notice my mood, and turned to kiss me instead.
I turned my face away in disgust, letting the kiss land nowhere. “Your smell makes me sick.”
Marco stiffened, then slowly sat on the edge of the bed, his voice tired and guilty. “I’m sorry, Elena. I know I’ve been neglecting you. But you know how it is—the old boss just died, and things are complicated. Claudia holds all the key connections and resources. I have to… I have to win her over.”
Claudia Moretti was the former Godfather’s wife. She married him at thirty, and with her charm and cunning, built up her own power in the family in just a few years. Now that the old Don was gone, everyone was after the leverage she held.
As the new Godfather, Marco wanted that leverage too.
He looked up at me. “Trust me, once I get the power and secure my position, I’ll marry you right away. We’ll have a huge wedding—everyone in town will know you’re my wife.”
I stared at him, feeling only bitter irony.
He didn’t know I’d already learned the truth: to inherit the old Don’s fortune and territory, the next in line had to marry his widow. Marco had to marry Claudia and let her stay as queen.
“Go take a shower.” I closed my eyes, not wanting to watch his performance anymore. “I’m tired.”
Twenty minutes later, Marco had just come out of the bathroom when a knock sounded at the door.
It was Claudia’s housekeeper, her voice a little anxious. “Sir, Ms. Claudia says she can’t sleep and her heart’s acting up. She’d like you to come see her.”
Marco paused mid-motion, towel in hand, then snapped, “Damn it, I just wore her out so she’d finally—”
He stopped himself abruptly.
The air went still.
He turned, alarmed, to look at the bed.
I lay on my side, back to him, breathing slow and deep as if I’d long since fallen asleep.
He stared at me for a full five seconds, making sure I hadn’t reacted, then let out a long breath. He quietly pulled on his clothes and said to the housekeeper outside, “I’m coming.”
The door clicked shut behind him.
In the darkness, I opened my eyes.
Enough. This has to end.
I have to get out of here. With Sophia.
