Chapter 2

Giulia's POV

The silence between us stretched out. Then Dante laughed, that made my spine tingle.

"You've got balls, I'll give you that." He stood up and walked around the table until he was right in front of me. "But why would I trade one Valentino daughter for another? What makes you so goddamn special?"

I stood too, refusing to back down. We were inches apart now, close enough that I could smell his scent.

"Because I'm not my sister. I don't cry, I don't flinch, and I sure as hell don't run from blood." I held up my scarred palm. "I've been getting ready for your world my whole life. I know which judges you own, which routes the FBI is watching, and I can tell you right now that Antonio Rossi is stealing from your dock operations."

His expression didn't change, but I saw his pupils get bigger. I bet right. In my past life, Dante didn't find out about this until three months later, so at this point in time, he's definitely still in the dark about it.

"You could be lying," he said quietly. "Making shit up to seem useful."

"I could be," I agreed. "But I'm not. Check your books if you don't believe me. Three percent has been disappearing from Dock Seven for six months."

Dante stared at me for a long moment, and I could practically see him doing the math behind those eyes. Finally, he smiled, not friendly, but genuinely interested.

"Alright, Giulia Valentino. You've got my attention." He picked up both earrings and dropped them in my hand, his fingers brushing my palm. "On the engagement day, I'll do as you wish. But if you let me down, there won't be anywhere far enough for you to hide."

I closed my fingers around the jewelry. "I won't let you down."

"We'll see." He went back to his seat, picking up his drink, clearly dismissing me. "Now get out. And Giulia? Next time you want a meeting, go through my assistant. Using my private code to show up unannounced only works once."

I let myself smile a little as I headed for the elevator. Phase one: done.

I went home and had a good night's sleep, then first thing the next morning, I headed over to the Romano estate.

I found Alessandro exactly where I expected: in the garden, reading under roses. He looked up as I walked over, and I saw the caution in his eyes. Of course he was cautious, I'd never come here before.

"Giulia." He stood up politely, marking his page. "This is unexpected."

"I wanted to talk to you before the party," I said, sitting on the bench across from him without waiting for an invitation. "About our engagement."

He went tense. "If you're having doubts—"

"I'm not having doubts. I'm being realistic." I looked him straight in the eye. "I'm ambitious, Alessandro. Ruthlessly so. I scheme, I manipulate, and I always put myself first. I would be the worst possible wife for someone like you."

His mouth actually dropped open.

"I don't understand. Why are you telling me this?"

"Because honesty matters in any real deal." I kept my voice gentle but firm. "You don't want to marry me, Alessandro. You want someone soft, someone kind, someone who'll take care of your gardens and host your charity dinners and never push back. Someone like my sister Sofia."

His expression changed.

"On the engagement night," I continued, "I've arranged for Dante De Luca to choose me. That will leave Sofia free, and I want you to choose her. She's everything I'm not, gentle, real, with a heart that hasn't been ruined by ambition. You'd actually be happy together."

Alessandro put down his book completely, "You're serious."

"Completely."

"And Sofia? Does she know?"

"She will tonight." I stood up, "I just wanted to make sure you'd go along with it. Will you choose her on the engagement night?"

He was quiet for a while, and I could see him thinking it through. Finally, he nodded slowly. "Yes. I will." He looked up at me with something almost like thanks. "Thank you, Giulia. For being honest."

If only you knew I've already lived through you abandoning me once, I thought.

But all I said was: "You're welcome, Alessandro. Take care of my sister."

That night I found Sofia and told her about my decision. As I began to explain my decision, tears welled in Sofia's eyes the moment I mentioned Dante De Luca's name. By the time I finished, she was sobbing.

"No," she sobbed, grabbing my hands. "Giulia, no. I can't let you do this. The De Luca family, they're dangerous. They kill people. There are guns and drugs and—"

"I know," I said gently, squeezing her hands. "I know all of that, Sofia."

"Then why?" Her face was red and splotchy, tears running down her cheeks. "Why would you throw yourself into that world?"

Because I've already lived the alternative. Because I know what happens if we don't change things. Because I'd rather burn in Dante's hell than freeze in Alessandro's indifference.

But I couldn't say that. So instead, I held her face and made her look at me.

"Because you don't belong there, and I do." I wiped her tears with my thumbs. "Sofia, you're too good for that world. You wouldn't survive it, and I can't—" My voice broke a little. "I can't watch you get hurt. Not again."

"Not again? What do you mean?"

"I just have a feeling." I pulled her into a hug, holding tight. "Trust me, little sister. Dante and Alessandro both agreed to this. Everything will change on the night of the engagement, and you're going to marry Alessandro and be so happy."

She held onto me, still crying. "What about you? Will you be happy?"

I thought about Dante's dangerous smile, about the power I'd need to take, about the war I was walking into completely aware.

"Happiness doesn't last," I said quietly. "Power does."

Sofia pulled back, looking at my face like she was trying to figure me out. "I don't get you sometimes."

"You don't have to." I smiled at her, sad and gentle. "You just have to trust me. Can you do that?"

She nodded slowly, reluctantly. "Okay. But Giulia? Please be careful."

"I will," I promised.

This time, Sofia would be safe. And I wouldn't be anyone's abandoned wife.