Chapter 2

After Gideon was thrown out of the gallery, I went back to studying the auction catalogs. Later that afternoon, Cassian called.

"You had a dress fitting scheduled for today. The manager said you didn't show up. Did something happen?"

Next week was the "Blood Oath Gala," a major event in the North American underworld held every five years. As the Donna of the Falco family, my attendance was non-negotiable.

Between dealing with Gideon's harassment and everything else, it had completely slipped my mind.

"It's nothing. I'm on my way now."

I immediately headed over to Omertà, an exclusive, private haute couture boutique hidden in Manhattan.

On the surface, it tailored bespoke suits for Wall Street tycoons. In reality, it was owned by the Falco family, specializing in crafting bulletproof yet extravagantly luxurious formal wear for high-ranking Mafia members.

The moment I walked through the door, the manager—a silver-haired master tailor who used to be a top-tier assassin—immediately stepped forward to greet me with utmost respect.

I gave a subtle shake of my head, signaling him not to blow my cover. The old tailor took the hint instantly, stepping back and quietly preparing the design catalogs for me.

Just as I was flipping to a design for a midnight-black velvet evening gown, the boutique doors were pushed open again.

"Darling, are you sure the dresses in this place are worthy of my status as the eldest daughter of the Russo family? The decor here looks a bit dated." A sickly-sweet female voice chimed in.

I furrowed my brow slightly and turned my head.

Sure enough, speak of the devil. Gideon was walking in, arm-in-arm with a woman draped in a mink coat and dripping with flashy jewelry.

This was clearly the "daughter of the Russo family's Underboss" he had mentioned—Bianca.

Gideon spotted me instantly. He froze for a second before a mocking gleam of "realization" flashed in his eyes.

He pulled Bianca along and marched straight up to me.

"Valeria, are you stalking me?"

"I just came to see you this morning, and now you’re suddenly showing up at a place like this to stage a 'coincidental' encounter? Do you really think this is going to make me change my mind?"

I set down the catalog, not even bothering to spare him a glance, and addressed the old tailor.

"Bring me this black one to try on. Also, isn't it time to upgrade the boutique's security? Why are nobodies off the street being let in?"

Bianca’s face instantly twisted in indignation.

She looked me up and down, her gaze sweeping over my outfit—which looked simple but was actually entirely bespoke.

"Gideon, is this the pathetic ex-girlfriend you mentioned?"

Bianca intentionally leaned closer against Gideon's chest.

"Don't blame Gideon for being blunt. His status has changed; he's not someone just anyone can cling to anymore. Just look at you. You walk into an exclusive boutique like this, and not even a sales associate bothers to greet you. I suppose you can't afford a thing here, can you?"

As she spoke, she casually yanked an incredibly tacky, heavily sequined gown off a nearby rack and tossed it onto the sofa in front of me.

"For Gideon's sake, I'll pay for this one and give it to you as a gift."

"After all, bottom-feeders like you won't even be able to get near the door of the Blood Oath Gala next week. Wear this, go to some dive bar, and hustle a few street punks. It'll be enough to pay your bills for a while."

I stared at the sequined abomination, genuinely rendered speechless by the sheer stupidity of these two.

"Bianca, you're too kind," Gideon said, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"Valeria, hurry up and thank Bianca! Do you have any idea that this dress is worth years of your loser husband's salary?"

"Shut up! You don't have the right to speak about him like that." I finally looked Gideon dead in the eye.

Gideon's face darkened, and he took a step forward.

"Valeria, you really have no shame! Do you think you're still the same—"

I cut him off with a vicious backhand across the face.

This slap had absolutely everything I had behind it. The sheer force spun Gideon halfway around, sending him crashing into a clothing rack in a pathetic heap.

"You!" Bianca shrieked. "You crazy bitch, how dare you hit a Capo of the Russo family! Security! Where is security?! Throw this tramp out!"

The old tailor stood a few feet away, making absolutely no move to acknowledge Bianca's existence.

Are you kidding me? On Falco family turf, who would dare touch a single hair on the Donna's head?

I pulled out a silk handkerchief, wiped my hand in absolute disgust, and tossed it right onto Gideon's face.

"Get the hell out of here. Now!"