Chapter 2

Victoria's POV

New York's underworld elite gathered under one roof.

I wore a black silk gown and diamond necklace, playing the perfect mob wife at Dante's side.

Then Elena made her entrance.

All in white lace. Her five-year-old kid, Luca, hanging onto her hand.

Eyes brimming with tears—playing the fragile victim card.

"Dante..."

Her voice broke.

Dante didn't even finish his conversation with the old Italian don. He cut straight across the room and pulled her into his arms.

She's finally back. Finally safe.

I swear to God, from now on, nobody touches a hair on her head.

I stood there watching this bullshit act.

Halfway through the dinner, little Luca took a sip of juice and suddenly collapsed, clutching his throat. His body convulsed. White foam poured from his mouth.

"LUCA! My baby!"

Elena threw herself on the floor, her screams cutting through the whole damn hall.

Our doc rushed over. "Nerve toxin! Small dose, but highly lethal!"

Dante whipped around, murder in his eyes. "Who the FUCK did this?!"

He scanned the room. "Who went near this table?!"

Elena's head snapped up.

Her trembling finger pointed straight at me. "Victoria... Dante, she was RIGHT THERE when Luca grabbed his juice. Nobody else was near the kids' table!"

"I didn't."

I met Dante's eyes without flinching.

"I was with Don Moretti the whole time talking westside routes. Ask him yourself."

Dante's brow furrowed. Doubt flashed across his face.

"Dante!"

Elena could barely breathe through her sobs.

"If you don't believe me, have someone search Victoria's room!"

She wiped her tears. "This afternoon, I saw her maid carrying a black vial into her bedroom! It's hidden in a compartment under her vanity!"

When she said "compartment under the vanity," I almost laughed out loud.

One of the guys returned minutes later.

He held up a sealed evidence bag containing a small black glass bottle—pulled from exactly where I'd kept the encrypted chip.

The chip was gone.

Replaced by poison.

But I didn't flinch.

Because thirty minutes ago, all the data from that chip had already uploaded to Leon Vidic.

The original chip had auto-destructed the second it disconnected—melted into useless scrap metal.

Whatever Elena stole? Worthless garbage.

"Victoria. Talk."

Dante grabbed my wrist, crushing bone.

"So explain to me how the FUCK this poison ended up in YOUR room."

"It's a setup."

I forced the words through clenched teeth.

"Pull the hallway footage. You'll see who went in."

One of the guys spoke up quietly. "Boss, there was a power surge thirty minutes ago. Second-floor cameras rebooted. No footage."

Perfect trap.

"CRACK!"

Dante's hand slammed across my face.

The blow sent me flying into the table's edge. I hit the floor hard. Blood ran from my mouth.

"You vicious BITCH!"

Dante pointed down at me like I was trash.

"Is that what jealousy does to you? Poisoning a goddamn five-year-old?!"

Fucking snake.

Time to teach you a lesson. Remind you who runs this house.

Gotta break you down hard, or you'll never learn to play nice.

Elena clutched her son, collapsing at Dante's feet. "Dante, please don't kill Victoria... She just loves you too much... She's jealous of me..."

"Take her to the cellar. Old school rules."

Dante's voice went ice-cold.

"No water. No doctor. Not till I say."

The cellar was dark and damp.

They chained me to the rack, yanked my arms up till my shoulders were ready to pop.

Dante walked in holding a leather whip soaked in brine. He stood over me.

"Confess."

His voice dripped contempt.

"Admit you poisoned the kid. Get on your knees and apologize to Elena and her son. Do that, and maybe I'll let you live."

I lifted my head and spat blood. "I'm not confessing to something I didn't do."

"CRACK!"

The whip cut through air and ripped into flesh.

My gown tore open. Skin split.

Salt water seeped into the wounds. The pain was blinding. My whole body seized up.

"CONFESS!"

Dante's voice echoed off stone walls.

Stubborn bitch.

Let's see how long that backbone lasts.

Break her pride now, or she'll never get along with Elena.

I heard every cruel thought in his head. Tears mixed with blood on my face.

He didn't give a damn about the truth.

He just wanted me broken. Wanted me on my knees before his lover.