Chapter 1

"Corinne, your brother-in-law's in trouble. You need to handle it."

On the other end of the line, my mother's voice was as demanding as ever. An order, not a request.

I swirled the red wine in my glass, looking out the floor-to-ceiling window at the glittering New York skyline. The irony was so thick I could've choked on it.

Six years ago, my sister Rosalie and I both fell for Edmund. But he only ever had a smile for her, the one who played sweet and innocent. I was always the odd one out.

The day they got married, I overheard my parents whispering in a back room. "The company needs cash. Let's marry Corinne off to that old partner of ours. It'll get us out of this hole."

That "partner" was over fifty, twice divorced, with a nasty reputation.

That night, I took my last five thousand dollars and fled to Sicily.

Rage was the only thing I had. In that cesspool of blood and bullets, I clawed my way up.

Four years. I united dozens of small-time crews and founded the Vexille family. Two more years, and I was back in New York. Today, I'm the queen of the underworld, the one who controls the East Coast ports—a name whispered in fear.

And Edmund's Falcone family? After a war with a rival, they were on the brink of collapse.

"I'm busy," I said, my voice cold.

"Busy? How busy can you be, messing around with your shady business in Sicily?" Her voice rose. "I heard that new Vexille family started there. Since you were in Sicily, you must know people. Get Edmund an introduction!"

I took a sip of wine, my tone flat. "The fate of the Falcone family is not my problem."

"How can you be so heartless!" she shrieked. "When I was sick last year, your sister sat by my bed for seven days and seven nights! Not like you. You don't give a damn about me, and now you're just as cold to your own sister!"

"Besides," she went on, "if Edmund gets back on his feet, isn't that better for all of us than you running around doing God knows what? Don't you understand family loyalty?"

I couldn't help but correct her. "I did care. I sent half a million for your medical bills."

Silence on the other end.

My voice turned to ice. "As for family loyalty... six years ago, when you were ready to sell me to that old man with one foot in the grave, where was your family loyalty then?"

"You... you're still holding onto that! Your father and I told you, we had no choice! Besides, would we ever really hurt you?"

"Enough. This isn't a discussion. You will help Edmund." Humiliated and angry, she snapped and hung up.

I sat in the silence of my study.

A few minutes later, a text from Rosalie popped up.

【Sister, I remember you have a little casino in Sicily, right? So you must know something about that Vexille family.】

A second message followed, dripping with condescension.

【Edmund needs their port access. Go ask around for him. If you pull this off, he'll consider finding you a decent, respectable job in New York. Save you from embarrassing yourself all the time.】

I almost laughed out loud.

Embarrassing myself? They had no idea. The untouchable Don of the Vexille family, the one who held the fate of the Falcones in his hands... was me.

I didn't reply. I just tossed the phone on the desk.

Then, my secure line rang.

It was my advisor. "Don, tomorrow's schedule is full. At 9:30 AM, Edmund from the Falcone family will be at headquarters to discuss a partnership."

"I know."

"Also, Boss," my advisor paused. "Edmund just sent a request through a middleman. He's asking for ten minutes alone with you beforehand."

I glanced at the financial report on my desk detailing the Falcone family's imminent bankruptcy. A small smile touched my lips.

"Boss, should I grant his request?"

"No. Tell the front desk to treat him like any other capo. When 9:30 hits, he can wait his turn with the rest of them."