Chapter 3

Morning came.

Eric finally showed up. He'd changed into a fresh suit, but I could still catch the faint trace of Angelina's jasmine perfume clinging to him.

He carried an expensive-looking insulated food carrier.

"Selena, I'm sorry. Last night, the negotiations with the old guard ran into complications and dragged on until dawn." Wearing a mask of guilt and concern, Eric hurried to my bedside and opened the carrier.

Inside were exquisite French truffle waffles and fresh wild berries.

"Look, I went halfway across New York to get breakfast from your favorite place. Here, try a bite." He cut off a piece of waffle and lifted the fork to my lips.

But the instant he opened his mouth, his thoughts blasted through my mind before his words even finished:

[God, I'm exhausted. I was up until dawn dealing with Angelina and her impossible temper. This breakfast was made by Angelina's personal chef. She threw a fit because the waffles weren't fluffy enough and tossed them on the table. I grabbed them on my way out. Selena's not picky anyway. A little sweet talk and she'll be fine. As long as she doesn't make a scene, I just need to get through next week.]

I jerked my head away, coughing violently.

"Take it away... Eric, I don't want it. Just leave it." My voice was hoarse and drained.

A flash of impatience crossed Eric's eyes, but he set the container aside without a word. From his pocket, he produced a gold-embossed envelope and placed it gently on my blanket.

"All right, if you don't want it. Selena, these are the flight details for a private jet to Hawaii next week, along with the itinerary for a luxury recovery villa."

Eric held my hand tenderly. "You've worked too hard all these years. Go to Hawaii next week and focus on healing. The sunshine and private care there will do you good. Once I've taken care of everything here, I'll come get you, and we'll never be apart again, okay?"

[Perfect. As long as I get her to Hawaii next week and cut off all her contact with the outside world, she'll never find out about the wedding. The Astalotta Family cares about nothing more than its name. There can't be a single hiccup. Once the wedding's done and the deal is sealed, even if Selena finds out, she'll have no choice but to accept it. Worst case, I'll buy her a villa on Long Island, keep her comfortable, throw some money at her. She loves me so much. She'll understand that my hands were tied.]

Listening to him scheme, I lowered my lashes and hid the emptiness in my eyes.

"Eric." My voice was perfectly flat. "What about next Wednesday? Are you really not hiding anything from me?"

Eric's composure didn't crack. He pressed a gentle kiss to my fingertips. "Sweetheart, why would I hide anything from you? Everything I'm doing is for our future. Trust me, okay?"

Just then, a knock came at the door, and several tall, broad-shouldered figures walked in.

It was Marco Bellini and Tony Russo.

They were core members of the Moretti Family, who'd crawled out of the same piles of dead bodies alongside Eric and me all those years ago.

Marco had once been trapped in a burning SUV during a shootout in Chicago. I was the one who braved a hail of bullets, pried open the door with a steel rod, and dragged him out despite the searing burns on my arm.

Tony's mother had fallen seriously ill. I was the one who secretly used my own savings to send her to Switzerland for surgery.

The moment they walked in, their faces wore smiles so stiff and forced they practically screamed guilt.

"Selena! You're awake! How are you feeling?" Marco laughed too loudly and set a bouquet of lilies on the table.

"Yeah, Selena, you really scared us this time. But the Don's got it all arranged. He's sending you to Hawaii next week for a vacation. Great place to recover!" Tony chimed in.

I watched them calmly.

When Marco spoke, his eyes darted involuntarily to the lower right. That was his telltale sign of lying. His hand stayed shoved in his suit pocket the entire time.

And peeking from the edge of that pocket was the corner of a red-and-gold card.

Eric and Angelina's wedding invitation.

So they all knew.

These "guys" I'd risked my life protecting for ten years, the Moretti Family members I'd trusted with my life, had gathered here to help Eric deceive me.

"Selena, just go enjoy your vacation. We'll hold down the fort. The Don's been swamped with the port deal, running around nonstop. Once he wraps things up, he'll fly straight to Hawaii to be with you." Marco smiled tightly, his eyes darting away from mine.

I looked at them, and a wave of bitter absurdity washed over me.

This was what ten years of my youth, a body full of scars, and a life on the line had bought me. These friends. This love.

"Sure."

I heard my own voice answer, impossibly soft and obedient.

"I'll go to Hawaii. I'll leave."

The instant they heard my answer, Eric, Marco, and Tony all exhaled in unison, visibly relieved.

In their eyes, I was still the same foolish woman who would endure any hurt for the sake of the Family, easy to placate and easy to fool.

What they didn't know was this:

I would leave, yes.

But my destination was anything but Hawaii.