Chapter 2

I pushed the door open, and a blast of icy wind hit me.

Before I could take a second step, two of Maximo's bodyguards were on me, grabbing me by each arm.

"Boss says you need to cool your head."

They ripped my coat and handbag from me. They emptied everything onto the ground—my wallet, car keys, apartment keycard.

They picked up my things and went back inside.

Then came the shove. Hard. I was trash they were throwing out. I tumbled down the concrete steps, landing hard on the icy sidewalk.

The heavy workshop door slammed shut in my face.

I was stranded on the streets of Chicago in a raging blizzard.

All I had on was a thin cashmere sweater, jeans, and... the burner phone hidden in my pocket.

Maximo stood behind the bulletproof glass, looking down at me with that sickening smirk. He mouthed the words: “Without me, you have nothing.”

Gia leaned on his shoulder, giving me a little wave. Her face was a mask of fake pity.

"Oh, Oriana, you should just give up," she cooed, her voice dripping with venom. "The forecast calls for a blizzard, you know. You'll freeze out there, sweetie."

Maximo pulled out his phone and dialed a number, his eyes locked on mine.

"It's me, Maximo." He watched me, every word a death sentence. "Freeze all of Oriana Rosetti's bank accounts. Immediately."

"What?" I stared at him in disbelief.

"And cancel her memberships at every club."

"Maximo, you're insane!"

He continued into the phone, "And put the word out to every driver and hotel in my territory. Anyone who helps Oriana Rosetti is an enemy of the Gallo family."

He hung up and walked to the glass, tapping it with his knuckles.

"Hear that, baby? Your pride isn't worth a damn thing. Without me, you can't even find a place to stay warm."

Gia cackled, her laugh shrill and piercing. "Oh, Maximo, you're so powerful. Look at her, so pathetic."

Maximo checked his watch. "I'll give you two hours, Oriana. Get on your knees, admit you were wrong, and beg me to forgive you. Otherwise, you can freeze to death out there tonight."

The sky darkened fast. Clouds rolled in. The first snowflake fell.

Soon, it was a whiteout. A blizzard was tearing through Chicago.

I huddled by the jeweler's door, my sweater soaked through, clinging to my skin.

My phone buzzed nonstop. Text after text.

【Citibank: Your account has been frozen.】

【JPMorgan Chase: Your credit card has been declined.】

【Uber: Your ride request has been canceled.】

【Four Seasons: Your membership has been revoked.】

A dozen notifications. Each one a slap in the face.

With trembling fingers, I dialed Sophia. My only best friend. We'd known each other since high school.

"Sophia, I need your help..."

A sob came from the other end. "Oriana, I can't."

"What? Why?"

"Maximo's men just paid my father a visit." Sophia's voice was shaking. "They said if I help you, they'll burn our family restaurant to the ground tomorrow."

"I'm locked in my house. I can't go anywhere. I'm sorry, Oriana, I really can't..."

Click. She hung up. My last lifeline was gone.

I looked through the glass. Maximo was sipping whiskey. Gia was kneeling at his feet, her hand sliding suggestively up his thigh. She kept glancing up at me, her eyes full of triumph and mockery.

My heart went dead.

This was the man I loved for five years. The man I’d hidden my identity for, the man I’d propped up from the shadows.

I finally understood a hard truth: you don't give loyalty to a stray dog.

The snow fell harder. The temperature plummeted. My lips were turning blue, my teeth chattering uncontrollably.

I couldn't wait any longer. I'd walk. I would rather freeze to death on the streets of Chicago than bend the knee to that animal.

I turned to step into the blizzard.

Screech—

A black Cadillac Escalade slammed on its brakes in front of me.

The door opened. Maximo's second-in-command, Tommy, stepped out holding an umbrella. He was a toad of a man who usually couldn't bow low enough in my presence. Now, his eyes held nothing but contempt.

"Well, look who it is," he sneered. "The high and mighty Miss Oriana."

He pulled a black garment bag from the car. "The boss sent you something."

He looked at my drenched form with disgust and threw the bag at my feet.