The Mafia Wife Who Disappeared

"Erase every trace of Elena Cavalli from this world."

I sat in a rusted metal chair in some black market basement, sliding an untraceable check across the table to the old man sitting across from me.

The old man lifted his cloudy eyes and glanced at the ring on my left hand. His voice shook. "Ma'am, do you understand what this means? Your husband Vito Cavalli will tear the entire East Coast apart looking for you."

"He won't know it was you. I trust you can handle it." I looked at him calmly. "Three days. I need Elena Cavalli's social security number, passport, bank accounts, medical records, even her fingerprints, turned into dead code in every system. Then I need a one-way plane ticket to Europe and a completely new identity."

The old man swallowed hard. Eventually, greed won out over fear. He slid the check into his drawer. "As you wish, ma'am."

When I walked out of that basement, cold wind hit my face. Across the square, a massive screen was playing a financial channel interview with Vito.

The successful young entrepreneur who'd "gone legitimate."

The host asked him, "Mr. Cavalli, you've built such a massive business empire at such a young age. What's your secret?"

Vito smiled at the camera and twisted the wedding ring on his finger. "Because I have the perfect wife. Elena is the light of my life. Everything I do, I do to keep her safe from danger and darkness. For her, I would give up everything."

Young women in the square made envious sounds.

I looked at that screen and laughed.

Vito, tell a lie ten thousand times, and eventually even you believe it.

Two weeks ago, I'd watched the video his mistress Serena sent me, Vito pinning her against a hotel window in a dark room, fucking her.

That was when the Elena who loved Vito died.

After leaving the square, I had my driver take me to a private jewelry store.

I walked inside and pulled the ring off my left hand without hesitation, pushing it across the counter.

Three years ago, Vito had gotten down on one knee in front of all five family bosses and put that ring on my finger. That day, he'd held my hand and announced in a voice everyone could hear: "Elena Cavalli. From this day forward, you are the godmother of the Cavalli family. My only wife. The only woman in my life."

Everyone in the East Coast underworld knew what that ring meant.

And now I was destroying it with my own hands.

"Melt it down," I said flatly.

A clerk looked at me, shock flickering in his eyes. But he didn't ask questions. He just nodded. "As you wish, ma'am."

Half an hour later, I walked out carrying a beautifully wrapped gift box.

By the time I got back to the Long Island estate, it was already evening.

I had no appetite for dinner, so I went straight to take a shower. I'd just gotten out and sat down when Vito walked into the bedroom, bringing with him the smell of cold air and blood.

He saw me sitting on the couch and immediately stripped off his dusty coat, walking over to pull me into a tight embrace.

"Elena, were you waiting for me?" His chin rubbed against my neck, his voice tired but eager to please.

The moment I got close to him, I smelled it. Faint but aggressive. Rose perfume. A scent I'd never worn.

Not just that. On the collar of his white dress shirt, I saw a smudge of red that you'd miss if you weren't looking for it.

"Was family business busy today?" I asked lightly.

"Yeah, trouble at the docks. The Marino family's testing our limits again. I was in meetings all day. I'm exhausted." Vito sighed and kissed my forehead. "But seeing you makes it all worth it. After our anniversary, I'll take you to Sicily for a vacation. How does that sound?"

Were you busy handling dock problems, or busy plowing Serena in her bed?

Looking at his handsome, affectionate face now, my heart felt wrapped in thorns. Sharp and painful.

"Sure. We'll see," I said, lowering my eyes so he wouldn't see the grief and rage in them.

Vito seemed to notice my coldness. He frowned and took my hand. "What's wrong? Are you feeling sick? Or do you think I haven't been spending enough time with you?"

I shook my head. "Just tired."

"Alright, then sleep. Oh, what's that on the table?"

Vito pointed to the elegant jewelry box sitting on the side table, looking pleasantly surprised. "Elena, is this my anniversary gift? Did you already get me something?"

I nodded. "Yes."

Inside that box was a small silver ingot.

Our wedding ring, melted down.

"Can I open it now?" he asked.

"Wait a week," I said.

"Why wait a week? I want to see what you got me right now."

"Because..."

Because in a week, I'll be gone forever.

"Because opening it on our actual anniversary will make it mean more."

He kissed my forehead gently. "Okay. Whatever you say. Go to sleep. I'll shower and be right out to join you."

Just then, my phone screen lit up on the nightstand. An anonymous message.

I glanced at it. A photo: Serena lying on rumpled sheets, playing with Vito's signature Browning pistol.

The caption read: [He was really good last night. Can your barren corpse of a body still satisfy him?]