Chapter 2

I stood there holding the diamond earrings, stunned.

"What are you talking about?"

Layla gave a soft laugh.

"Before the wedding, of course I had to keep you happy."

"Everyone knows Angelo thinks of you as his little sister. If I upset you and you complained to him, who knew whether those three properties would still go to the Gallos?"

She plucked the earrings from my hand and tossed them onto the table.

"But things are different now."

"I'm the wife of the man who'll lead the Romano family."

I frowned.

"And?"

My reaction seemed to amuse her.

"And?"

"Every family matter of the Romanos, New York's first family—name one that wasn't handled by Angelo."

"The other Dons listen to him. When Romano business goes wrong, they call him. He's the real head of this family, the future Don. What does that make you?"

She leaned over me.

"You think stamping a piece of paper once a year makes you somebody?"

"If Angelo weren't so kind, a useless freeloader like you would have been thrown out ages ago."

I looked up at her.

She laughed harder.

"Angelo told me everything."

"Your mother spoiled you and didn't want you embarrassed because you couldn't do anything. She invented that little stamping ritual so you'd feel important."

"You actually believed it was real?"

I opened my mouth, unsure which part of that to answer first.

So that was what Angelo thought the seal meant all these years.

Layla took my silence for shame.

She pulled a silver card from a drawer and dropped it onto the table.

"I'll be holding on to this."

I looked down.

It was my family card.

When I was six, I'd complained that carrying money everywhere was a hassle. Mother had one made just for me.

That one-of-a-kind silver card let me spend anywhere in New York.

"Why?"

Layla leaned back in her chair.

"Angelo works hard for that money. From now on, you get two hundred dollars a month. That should buy you a crystal necklace or two."

I was even more confused.

"It's my money."

Her smile twisted into a sneer.

"Your money?"

"Everything here belongs to the future Don."

Before I could answer, she had a maid bring in a thick ledger.

A figure on the last page had been circled in ink.

$152,356,789.

"From the sculpture you broke at seven to the beach resort you booked for your birthday last year, this is everything Angelo has spent on you."

"I even knocked off the change."

"You owe him $152,356,000."

I flipped through a couple of pages.

It wasn't just food and clothes.

She'd counted renovations to Romano villas, salaries from senior managers down to household staff, even the new ships bought for our cargo fleet last year.

I almost laughed.

Then Layla pulled an engagement letter from beneath the ledger.

"I spoke to the Draven family for you."

"They'll pay a hundred and fifty million dollars for a marriage alliance with the Romanos."

"Once you're married, your debt will be settled."

I looked up.

"Who gave you the right to arrange my marriage?"

"I'm looking out for you."

Layla touched her still-flat stomach and smiled pointedly.

"Once you're out of the Romano family, Angelo and I can have a child of our own."

"Our child can learn to run the family from his father."

"That beats leaving Romano property to someone who can't even understand the family ledger."

Now I understood.

She didn't just want control of my money.

She wanted to marry me off and push me out so her own child could take my place.

I picked up the engagement letter and tore it in half in front of her.

"Layla."

"I am the Romano family's only Donna."

"You don't get to decide whom I marry."

Her face darkened.

"Donna?"

She came toward me, step by step.

"How many Dons do you even know? How much did the Romanos make last year? You couldn't tell me which route our cargo ships take."

"You only have that pretty title because this family indulges you."

Then I heard Lorelei's voice from outside.

"Miss Gallo, that's enough!"

Lorelei had served my mother since I was small. She came in, saw the IOU and the torn engagement letter, and went pale with anger.

"Mr. Rizzo is only managing the family on Miss Romano's behalf. How can you turn around and charge her for it?"

Layla gave her a cold look.

"On her behalf?"

"How many more years are you going to feed her that bedtime story?"

"Angelo has kept this family standing for twelve years. And you're saying a spoiled girl who won't even read the ledger is the Donna?"

Lorelei shook with anger.

"The appointment is renewed each year because—"

"Enough."

Layla cut her off with a raised hand.

"If you don't know your place, you don't belong in this house. Someone get her out of here!"

I stepped in front of Lorelei.

"I'd like to see you try."

Layla stared at me. The last trace of her smile disappeared.

She seized my wrist and slapped the IOU down on the table.

"Who do you think you are, Vittoria?"

"Put your thumbprint on this and get the hell out of the Romano family!"

She tried to force my hand onto an ink pad.

As I struggled to pull free, an angry shout came from the doorway.

"Layla! What the hell are you doing?"