Chapter 2

"Adriana, I know you're still upset. But the wise adapt to reality, and I trust you're a smart woman who knows the right choice to make."

Something cold slid against my wrist. Lorenzo had fastened a bracelet onto it.

"This is a gift I picked out especially for you. Tonight I'll be waiting at the North End apartment for us to spend the night together. Consider it my way of making it up to you."

I looked down at the piece.

It came out of one of my own laundering fronts.

Nothing but a promotional throw-in.

A trinket that came free with the necklace.

And that necklace was hanging around Vittoria's neck at this very moment.

My stomach turned. I ripped the bracelet off and flung it into his face.

"Get out of my house."

Lorenzo stared at the bracelet on the floor, his expression darkening. His hand went to his cuff, straightening the fabric with a slow, deliberate tug.

"Adriana, I only lowered myself to coax you like this because I love you. But my patience has a limit. Keep throwing tantrums like an ingrate, and once Vittoria and I take the Valente name, you won't get a single thing."

With that, Lorenzo turned and left.

I watched his retreating back, sick to my stomach, and pulled out my phone to reach my right hand.

"Send the word out tonight. Within three days I want every dollar of Valente protection pulled off the Bevacqua Family. They have five days to return every cent of tribute. One day late and the Feds and the creditors will do the rest for me."

"Then reach every associate. From tonight, any Family that dares do business with the Bevacquas is standing against me, Adriana. The Valente name goes out against them. No one deals with them again."

Once it was done, I turned back to the ledgers on my screen. In the span of a single day, everything I controlled had doubled.

That evening I had a sit-down arranged with the most feared Don in the territory, a matter of business. The moment I stepped into the Family's private social club, I ran straight into Lorenzo, drinking with Vittoria and their people.

Lorenzo was leaning against Vittoria, and when he saw me, his face lit up with a smug grin.

"I knew you'd come to regret it. I just didn't think you'd lose your composure this fast, chasing me all the way here."

I ignored him and turned toward the VVIP wing at the back. Lorenzo stepped forward and threw out an arm to block me.

"Adriana, that's the VVIP suite behind you. In all this territory, no one but the three most powerful bosses is even allowed inside. Blunder in and disturb the men in that room, and not even old Salvatore Valente himself could keep you breathing."

I looked at Lorenzo coldly, at his provincial little display.

Everyone in the territory knew the club's VVIP wing was held for the most elite bloodlines. To set foot inside was not merely a matter of money; it was a symbol of where you stood in the underworld.

But no one knew the whole club belonged to me.

Vittoria stepped forward too, reaching out to loop her arm through mine with feigned affection.

"Sis, I know you're still angry, but if you offend the men in there, I'm afraid you'll drag the whole Valente Family down with you."

I turned my head to look at that affected, simpering face of hers, and shook her hand off in disgust.

"So now any filthy thing thinks it can touch me."

Shaken loose, Vittoria's face soured. She dabbed at the corner of one dry eye with the back of her wrist, a beat too rehearsed, then threw herself into Lorenzo's arms and burst into wounded tears.

"Lorenzo, I only meant it for her own good. I never thought she'd hate me this much!"

Lorenzo's expression hardened. He reached out and clamped down hard on my wrist.

"Adriana, I know you're still upset, but of all the things a nameless mistress could do, raising a hand to Vittoria is the last one you should have tried. Apologize. Now."

There was a grinding pop from the joint, and my whole wrist was already swelling red.

"Let go. You're not fit to speak to me that way."