He Let Me Drown Now Watch Him Burn

Ice water flooded the boathouse. It was over my ankles.

For a second, I couldn't breathe.

"Open the door!"

I threw myself at it. My hand gripped the frosted handle. I shook it. Hard.

Nothing. The door wouldn't budge.

Through the huge glass window, I could see the shore.

A massive bonfire burned.

The flames lit up the night sky. And the faces of our guests.

The heads of the five families. All here for my engagement party tomorrow.

Right now, they were sipping expensive whiskey. Watching me.

Like it was a show.

Someone whistled. Loud.

Someone else raised a phone. The flash cut through the glass. Right on my terrified face.

"Hell of a show!" a guy in a loud shirt yelled. "This is how the Falconettis do an initiation!"

"That's right! Teach the civilian some respect!"

Their laughter cut through the glass. It hurt.

The water was still rising.

It covered my calves now. The cold was like needles in my bones. Stealing my warmth.

Outside the window, Isabella walked closer.

She wore a stunning, custom-made red gown. The Rossi family's golden girl. Arrogant. Powerful.

A bodyguard held a huge black umbrella over her, catching the light snow.

She stopped right outside the glass. Looking at me.

In her hand, she dangled a key. The key to the boathouse controls.

"Everyone just wants to see, Alessia," she said. "How low will our perfect, rule-following girl go for Nico?"

Her smile was angelic. Her words were cruel.

I was shaking. I pressed my hands against the freezing glass.

"Isabella! Turn it off! Open the door!"

She tilted her head, like I'd just told the funniest joke in the world.

"But the game's just getting started."

"We made a bet. On how long you'd last before you start begging."

She stepped closer. Looking down at me.

"You're always saying how strong you are. How you can help Nico run the business."

"So prove it."

I looked at her innocent face. My heart turned to ice.

The water was at my knees.

The small, sealed boathouse. The rising black water.

The pressure was a hand squeezing my throat.

I stopped looking at the crazy woman. My eyes found the bonfire.

My fiancé stood there. Nico Falconetti.

Tonight was the night before our engagement party.

He was wearing the handmade suit I flew to London to get for him. Tall. Handsome. Untouchable.

I did everything for him.

Everything so he could secure his position as Underboss. Everything for the party tomorrow.

I hid my real identity. Used my winery’s most secret channels to launder his dirty money.

I paved the way for him. I took bullets for him. I settled his two biggest turf wars in the South Side.

He once knelt by my hospital bed. Kissed my fingers. His eyes were red. He swore he’d protect me with his life.

And now?

He was standing less than thirty feet away.

He held a glass of bourbon. Tapped the ash from his cigar.

I pounded on the glass. A desperate scream tore from my throat.

"Nico! Make her stop!"

"Nico!"

The fire danced across his face.

He heard me. He saw me.

He didn't even flinch.

An old timer next to him laughed, clinked his glass against Nico's. Joking about this special "loyalty test."

"Alessia, Isabella's just playing around."

Nico flicked a snowflake from his expensive suit. His eyes were cold, but he was clearly on Isabella's side.

"She’s a Rossi, Alessia. Let her have her fun. Don't make a scene. Just wait it out. I promise, you'll be fine."