Chapter 1

On the night of our anniversary, I had prepared a new set of lingerie for my Mafia husband Joey, but he had prepared divorce papers for me instead.

A Cuban cigar was clamped between his teeth, a look of pure entitlement on his face.

"Adriana, we need to divorce. Vivian's father is a capo. If I marry her, my future's set."

"Look, sweetheart, you're just a broken family's leftover daughter. You should be grateful I kept you around this long."

"Once I have the family ring, maybe I'll throw you a few scraps, let you be my little side piece."

Everyone expected the daughter of a fallen family to step aside for his ambition, to be the loyal dog I'd been for the past seven years.

But that night, I made a deal with the devil.

I accepted a match arranged by my family and married the true king of New York's underworld.

I vanished from Joey's world completely.

Three years later, I returned to New York on my husband's arm.

We were there on family business. Dante was called away for something urgent, leaving me to wait for him at his private club.

I never expected to run into Joey, the man I hadn't seen in three years.

"That's enough, Adriana. Stop with the childish tantrums."

"Our son Angelo's almost six. He needs care. I'm being generous, offering you a position as his nanny."

I laughed. What was this idiot talking about?

He was calling the most feared and revered Donna in all of New York a nanny?

...

A cluster of men in sharp suits loitered at the entrance to the underground club, their cigarettes glowing in the dark.

As I drew closer, a cold knot formed in my stomach. The man holding court was none other than my ex-husband, Joey.

He was flanked by Vivian and a few of his men. My three-year-old son, Angelo, was clinging tightly to Vivian's leg.

A guy with a jagged scar across his cheek spat his cigarette onto the pavement. "Hey, Boss, isn't that the broad you dumped?"

Joey's lips twisted into a cruel smirk.

"What'd I tell you? Knew she couldn't make it on her own. Look at her, crawling back with her tail between her legs."

His goons started chiming in.

"Adriana sure took off in a hurry. Now that the Boss is a made man, I bet she's kicking herself."

"Look at that pathetic outfit. Life must be rough without the Boss's money."

"Probably got chewed up and spit out by some schmuck. Now she thinks she can crawl back to a real man."

Just then, Angelo peeked out from behind Vivian and, in a voice mimicking the adults, asked me, "Are you the mean lady?"

He pointed at my flat shoes, his little brow furrowed. "Your clothes are ugly. Mama Vivian says only poor people dress like that."

Vivian stroked Angelo's head, smugness radiating from her. "Angelo is so smart. You can tell right away."

Angelo tilted his head back, his voice dripping with arrogance.

"Mama Vivian's shoes are so pretty! They have sparkly diamonds. Your shoes are old and ugly!"

He suddenly ran to Joey's side and tugged on his sleeve. "Daddy, why is she here? I don't want her in our house. She's dirty!"

Joey burst out laughing and squatted down to pick Angelo up. "Angelo's right, but from now on, she can be your maid. She'll wash your clothes and cook your meals."

Angelo clapped his little hands excitedly. "Great! I'll make her kneel and put my shoes on for me every day, like the servants on TV."

"And she has to call me 'sir'! Mama Vivian said all the servants on TV do that!"

Hearing those words from my own son, my own flesh and blood, felt like a blade twisting in my gut.

This was the child I had carried for ten months, now twisted into this cold, snobbish creature.

I thought back to how I used to be.

For every family gathering, every public event, I would don the most expensive gowns and the most magnificent jewels, all to present a perfect image that burnished Joey's reputation.

None of that was necessary anymore.

The ridiculous outfit they were mocking was a matching cartoon set. Dante's precious three-year-old had begged me to wear it with him.

Though it might not look fashionable, the fabric was made by a top designer that Dante had specifically commissioned for me and our little boy.

Listening to their jeers, I finally understood. They had no idea I was the guest of honor they were all waiting for.

Angelo suddenly wriggled out of Joey's arms and ran up to me. "You know what? My daddy is a big shot now, and Mama Vivian's daddy is a capo!"

"And you're nothing! Even our dog is more important than you!"

Mimicking an adult, he pulled a crumpled ten-dollar bill from his pocket and threw it at my feet. "Here. Mama Vivian says poor people will do anything for money."

The men around them erupted in coarse laughter, and Vivian was practically shrieking with delight.

Seeing my silence, one of the men, who looked slightly more polished than the rest, tried to smooth things over. "Truth is, Adriana... Joey's missed you these past three years."

The smug look on Joey's face vanished, replaced by a feigned indifference. "Angelo needs to start learning the family rules. You'll be in charge of teaching him, doing the laundry, and cooking. It's your duty."

It was the same condescending tone he always used.

But I was no longer the pathetic creature who revolved around him.

All I felt now was a deep disgust. Unwilling to waste another second, I was about to reveal my identity when Vivian cut in.

"Adriana, don't misunderstand Joey's kindness. This arrangement is for your own good. You disappeared for three years. Who knows what kind of dirty work you've been up to?"

"Look at you. I wouldn't even hire you to shine my shoes."

"Just focus on raising the boy. At least you'll have a roof over your head and food to eat. It beats walking the streets."

Three years, and Vivian was still just as venomous, just as adept at making my stomach turn.

Neither of them had changed a bit. A match made in heaven, truly.

A wave of nausea hit me, and I frowned.

Joey, however, mistook my expression for jealousy and anger. A flicker of satisfaction crossed his face.

"Drop the act, Adriana. You can play the wounded queen all you want, but we all see the truth. The world ate you alive, didn't it?"

"So here's the deal: you'll be Angelo's nanny. It's that or the gutter. You should be on your knees thanking me."

"Don't worry, the servant's room is just how you left it. Cozy, right?"

His words were followed by a chorus of malicious laughter.

"The Boss is being a gentleman, offering you a way out."

"He's just asking you to look after the kid. It's a damn sight better than whatever shithole you crawled out of."

Vivian toyed with the diamond bracelet on her wrist, her voice dripping with false sincerity.

"Don't worry, Adriana. If Angelo gives you any trouble, I'll handle him for you. After all, he listens to me more than anyone now."

Joey shot me a cold, dismissive glance. "What's she got to complain about? She took off over some stupid little thing, and now that she's hit rock bottom, she's back. She deserves to be taught a lesson."

His words sent a chill through me.

Even now, he thought betraying our marriage, our vows was just some stupid little thing.

I should have realized it long ago. The Joey I once loved was truly dead.

He was no longer the boy who had gritted his teeth and carried me through a hail of bullets after being slashed by rivals.

He was no longer the penniless kid who swore to give me the world, and was no longer the man who had nothing, but whose eyes were filled with only me.

It didn't matter. It was all in the past, not worth another thought.

Besides, the genius child who would one day inherit this empire… he was already mine.