Chapter 1

My boyfriend pushes me into a military-grade interrogation chair to save his "female best friend" from a wedding prank.

He has no clue my family runs the syndicate that runs this city.

It's supposed to be Sienna Lopez's big day. She schemed, lied, and slept her way into marrying Dominic Cavalier, the head of the Cavalier crime family.

During the pre-ceremony games, the groomsmen pull out their toys.

An interrogation chair. A crate full of snakes. Props designed to humiliate.

Sienna, the so-called tough girl, suddenly turns into a tearful damsel. She looks at my boyfriend Julian with those trembling doe eyes.

And he shoves me forward.

"They've gotta mess with someone. Why the bride? Mess with the bridesmaid instead."

He lowers his voice, trying to sweet-talk me.

"Sienna's an influencer. She married into the Cavalier family. If any of this ends up online and ruins her image, it's over. Just take her place. She'll owe you big. I'll make sure she pays you. Probably more than you make in three months running deliveries."

Then Sienna opens her mouth, simpering at the groomsmen.

"Gentlemen, I know you boys love your games. I'd never kill the vibe."

She gestures at me.

"This is my buddy's girlfriend. She's a delivery driver. Use whatever you've got on her. Don't let it go to waste."

What she doesn't know?

I'm Elena Moretti.

The sole heir to the most feared syndicate in New York.

Running midnight deliveries in the Bronx was nothing but a bet I made with my grandfather.

The family heirs I've put my fists through? You could line them up from New York to London.

Jax Russo, the one leading the groomsmen, steps forward. Lip ring glinting. He squints at me.

"Why does she look familiar?"

Of course I look familiar. I beat the shit out of every trust-fund thug in this room at some point.

But right now, my signature red hair is dyed black. My bold red lip is bare. My leather jacket is swapped for a plain white dress. Thick-framed glasses and skin tanned a shade darker from months on a bike under the sun.

Who's going to recognize their worst nightmare in this disguise?

Sienna laughs nervously.

"She's just a delivery girl. Maybe she's dropped off your food before."

Jax smirks. He points at the black metal chair behind him, sparking with live current.

"Military-grade interrogation unit. Makes grown men piss themselves."

He blows out a ring of smoke.

"Delivery girl. Wanna take a seat?"

I turn to Julian. My voice is calm.

"The first day we got together, you said you'd always stand in front of me. Shield me. Where's that now?"

He looks away. No spine.

"Babe, Sienna's delicate. You're out in the sun every day. You're tougher. Just take this one for her."

Fine.

My mistake for not seeing through him sooner.

I swallow the sting in my chest. I press my tongue against the roof of my mouth. Then I smirk.

"Gentlemen, keep the party going. I'm out."

I head for the door.

Sienna shrieks.

"Julian! She's leaving! Who's gonna take my place?!"

Julian blocks my path. His expression is dark.

"You throw little tantrums all the time and I let it slide. But right now, in front of all these men, you walk out and disrespect them? You want Sienna to suffer for that? You want the Vance family to pay for it?"

I stare at him.

Same handsome face. But he's a stranger now.

When I say nothing, Julian grabs my wrist. Each word deliberate.

"If you don't take Sienna's place today, we're done."

His eyes are smug. Confident.

Sienna giggles behind her hand, leaning toward the groomsmen.

"Every time Julian threatens to break up, she folds. She literally can't live without him."

"And honestly," Sienna looks at me, contempt dripping, "with your status? Julian is the ceiling of what you could ever land."

I sigh. I glance at my phone.

"Julian. Can we break up in one hour instead?"