Chapter 2

Since the Don would not arrive for another three days, I had no choice but to remain inside the walls of the Marchetti estate.

What I did not expect was for Salvatore to come to my room that very night.

He sat across from me, stared into my eyes, and said, "Adriana, as long as you behave and wait until I'm made and given my own territory, I'll grant you the divorce."

"But when that time comes, you'll sign what I put in front of you. I'll give you one hundred and fifty thousand, and you'll take the money and disappear quietly."

"Bianca and I are together now. We have a child. Everything I build will belong to them."

I could not help but laugh at his words bitterly.

Six years ago, I gave up everything for Salvatore Marchetti. I sold off every asset I had back home just to cover his blood-debt and buy his freedom.

I still remember how, before they let him walk out of that staged abduction, he held me tightly and promised to raise the tribute to bring me home the moment he was clear.

He swore he would wait for me, no matter what.

And yet, what did he do once he was back on his own streets?

He went back to Bianca Serra almost the instant the door closed behind him.

Their eldest was already five. That meant he had never once intended to come for me.

The truth was, he had already decided I was 'tainted,' unworthy of a made man's name.

But if it had not been for him, would I have ever ended up in the hands of those men?

He was the one who insisted on that trip. I never even wanted to go.

And the ransom that bought his life back? That came from selling the roof over my own head.

Now, facing him again, I scoffed. "Salvatore, I understand perfectly."

Three more days. That was all I needed. I knew my Don held the right people in this city by the throat, quiet men in high places who owed him. Once he arrived, everything would fall into place.

As for Salvatore Marchetti? He meant nothing to me anymore.

"Fine. Sign this."

He slid a document across to me.

I glanced over it. It dissolved the union and promised me one hundred and fifty thousand in return for my silence.

Without hesitation, I signed it. "I've signed the papers, Salvatore. Can I leave now?"

I looked up and asked in a cold voice.

"Of course not. You'll stay here the next few days. You leave after I'm given my rackets and not a moment before."

He looked back at me without a flicker of feeling as he spoke. Then he rubbed his thumb once across his knuckles, the way he always did before the next words left him, and stood, and walked out of the room.

The two enforcers stationed at the door stepped forward and closed off my path, making any thought of leaving impossible.

I watched Salvatore's retreating back and shook my head in silent resignation.

I knew he would not let me walk out at a time like this.

Left alone in the room, I sat in the quiet, thinking of everything I had thrown away for that man. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

I had given this man my youth, only to be cast off and locked away like this.

After crying until I was hollow, I realized I was starving. I had not eaten a thing all day.

I opened the door, meaning to ask for food.

But the moment I stepped out, the two enforcers barred me again.

"I need something to eat," I said flatly.

They looked at me coldly and shook their heads, saying nothing.

They ignored me completely, refusing to give an inch. In that moment, the chill in my heart deepened.

He had forced my signature, put soldiers at my door, and now he would not spare me a single bite of food.

Just as I was about to argue with the men blocking me, a woman came into the room carrying a basin. She looked at me with a bright, almost mocking smile, and smoothed her dress down over her hip with both palms.

Behind her stood two children.

The two of them stared at me with open curiosity.

Then the older one, Salvatore's son, jutted his small chin up in that borrowed way of his father's, pointed at me, and said loudly, "Mommy, is this the bitch you told us about?"