Chapter 4

"Adriana, you actually had the nerve to step out on me behind my back? How can you be so shameless?"

I watched Lorenzo coming apart at the seams and let out a cold scoff.

"Why? You're allowed to betray me, but I'm not allowed to betray you?"

Hearing that, his face turned even uglier.

"Adriana, how much is that man paying you a month, that you'd willingly become his kept woman? Aren't you afraid that once the word goes out, no Family in the Territory will let you stand on their ground again?"

I met those bloodshot eyes of his and smiled in mockery.

"Funny. I don't remember you wearing that face when you named your price for me."

"Adriana!" His fists clenched tight; he looked like he was on the very edge of exploding.

Choking back his fury, Lorenzo tugged his cuffs straight and leaned in close to my ear.

"Cut it off with him. Right now. Whatever he pays you a month, I'll double it."

I shoved him away in disgust.

"You can walk in there and say that to his face. I'd love to see whether the Bevacqua name still has the guts."

With that, I stepped straight into the VVIP suite, ignoring every stare in the room.

Lorenzo watched my back with something sinister settling in his eyes.

"Adriana, if you dare walk in there, the day Vittoria and I are bound, I'll see you cast out of the Valente Family for good."

I didn't slow down for even a second.

The moment he tied himself to Vittoria, I would call in every last dollar of protection I had ever laid over the Valentes.

Five days later, the Family made its move into overseas territory. To mark it, I booked out an entire floor of the Skyline Hotel and put every soldier and associate under my roof for the night.

I finished around noon and went straight for the hotel.

The second I walked in, I saw Lorenzo standing at the entrance in a pressed suit, flanked by two of his father's tired old enforcers.

When he spotted me, he came over wearing a look like he had it all figured out.

"I knew you couldn't let me go."

"But I'm warning you, today is my alliance, my day. You'd better behave. Once this is done, I'll be the Valentes' son-in-law-to-be, and whatever that man can give you, I can give you double."

I glanced at the welcome placard propped near the doors, and only then did I understand Lorenzo and Vittoria's binding feast was set in this same hotel.

In the cheapest ballroom they had.

I let out a scornful laugh.

"Save that pocket change of yours to cover the catering."

His face darkened, and he yanked hard at my hand.

"How much did that man give you, that you can't bear to let him go?"

"So what if he treats you well? He can still only keep you in the dark, out of sight. I'm different. I can give you love too. There's always been a place for you in my heart."

I stared at Lorenzo coldly and gave a mocking smile.

"Your love? I wouldn't dirty a gutter with it."

His grip tightened, and his expression turned cold and grim.

"Adriana, get your attitude straight. If you didn't still carry me in your heart, why would you chase me all the way to this hotel? Because you can't let me go."

I fought to shake his hand off.

"Don't flatter yourself. I'm going to the eighth floor. This ballroom of yours isn't fit for someone of my standing."

At the words eighth floor, Lorenzo paused, then let out a soft laugh.

"Adriana, how did I never notice what a fine actress you are? I already asked the management. The Valente Syndicate is holding a celebration on the eighth floor today. A kept woman like you wants to go up to the eighth floor? Are you trying to get thrown out onto the street?"

Lorenzo's stupidity nearly made me laugh out of sheer anger.

"Lorenzo, if your head isn't working, go up and see for yourself. Don't go biting people like a mad dog."

I turned for the elevator, and he stepped in front of it at once, his men shifting to close the space.

"Adriana, I'm telling you this for your own good. A mistress barging into someone else's business to make a scene? Aren't you afraid you'll drag the Valente name down with you?"

"Vittoria already went to the garage to bring up Don Salvatore and Francesca Valente. When they arrive and hear what you've done, they'll cast you out of the Family without a second thought."

Watching him put on that earnest, wounded act just turned my stomach.

"Fine. Go ahead and tell them everything about me. Let's see if they've got the nerve to strip me of the name."

Seeing that nothing touched me, Lorenzo lost his patience entirely and hauled at my hand, trying to drag me off.

"If you dare go to the eighth floor today, you'll bury me and the Valente Family right along with you."

"I will not let you ruin my binding with Vittoria. I'll have someone drive you home. Once today is done and everything's settled, I'll set you up in an apartment in North End. From now on you'll be mine, quiet and out of the way. I won't treat you badly."

The words had barely left his mouth when the elevator gave a soft ding.

My right hand hurried out of it and came straight to me.

"Ms. Valente, everyone's upstairs. They're only waiting on you to go up and speak."

Lorenzo went utterly still, and the look he turned on me flooded with panic.

"What did the Valente courier just call you?"