Chapter 2

The consigliere paused in surprise. “Are you and the Don planning to leave?”

“I stand or fall with the Marchetti Family.”

The door opened before I could hear anything more, and from the way Damian looked at me, it seemed as though he had known all along that I was standing outside.

He handed my passport back to me.

“You'll leave on the plane first thing tomorrow morning,” he said with a small nod.

“I'm not leaving.” I looked up at him. “You're not the only one willing to stand or fall with the Family.”

Damian looked at me as though I were being unreasonable. “Vera, you have no idea how serious this is. Please listen to me and leave first.”

“The place I've arranged for you is beautiful, and I know you'll like it. I'll make sure you have more than enough money, so even if I'm no longer there, you'll still be able to live exactly the way you want.”

I didn't understand what he meant by that last part.

“What do you mean, you won't be there?”

Before I could press him for an answer, Sofia came striding toward us, her expression filled with contempt and hostility the moment she saw me.

“Vera, is money really the only thing you care about?”

“The Family is already in this state, our two older brothers have been taken and no one even knows where they are, and my brother gave you every cent of liquid cash he could get his hands on just to make sure you'd be safe. After all that, you're still thinking about running away?”

From what she was saying, I could tell that Sofia must have overheard only part of our conversation from the stairway. I had no idea what version of it she had pieced together in her head, but I didn't let it bother me.

“Sofia, don't speak to Vera like that.”

“Damian, how can you still be defending her at a time like this?” Sofia's eyes were red as she turned on me. “Don't you love money more than anything? Then stop asking questions and just leave. Don't stay here and become another burden on this Family.”

I had always known that Sofia was deeply prejudiced against me, but after giving her words some thought, I decided there was not much point in arguing. I really did love money more than most things.

I returned to my room and began sorting through my belongings, hoping to find anything valuable that I had brought with me before, or anything else I could sell.

I did not particularly care what happened to the Marchetti Family, but I cared about Damian.

By the time I had gathered everything valuable together and was about to take it to him, my vision suddenly went dark.

As my consciousness faded in and out, I heard Damian's voice beside me.

“This isn't something you should have to carry. I want you to live a happy life from now on, because that's the only way I'll be happy too.”

There was a commotion downstairs, and through the haze, I could hear what sounded like someone forcing their way inside and arguing with the Don.

...

When I became aware of my surroundings again, I was already aboard the private jet Damian had arranged to take me to the place he had mentioned the day before.

My luggage had been loaded onto the plane, and beside the suitcases sat several beautifully packaged boxes. I recognized them immediately as the blue-diamond jewelry set I had failed to purchase at the auction the previous day.

I looked toward the cockpit and asked the pilot, “Why am I here?”

“Damian arranged everything for you,” the pilot replied. “We're about to take off.”

“I need to go back.”

The pilot shook his head. “I'm afraid I can't take you back.”

I looked straight at him. “If you won't let me go back, then once we're in the air, I'll find a way to jump out of it.”

The pilot stared at me for several seconds before reaching for his phone and making a call.