Chapter 1

"Isabella, do you really have to make this so ugly in front of the whole family?"

Carlos took a sharp step forward.

His hands, callused from years of handling guns, clamped down on the Rolls-Royce's reinforced door.

Veins bulged beneath his skin, and he held on so hard the expensive steel looked ready to bend.

From the leather seat, I gave the South District's celebrated fighter a cold stare.

He showed no sign of joy at marrying the late Don's daughter.

All I saw in his eyes was fury at being humiliated in public.

"Ugly?"

I idly inspected my long ruby-red nails, my voice flat.

"Mr. Rossi, you let your mistress ambush me at our own wedding and demand a place in our marriage. That's about as classy as it gets."

Carlos's face stiffened. Embarrassment flashed in his eyes.

Then he put on a pained, sincere look.

"Isabella, you grew up pampered on the estate. What would you know about life on the front lines?

"The night the rival family ambushed us, if Lily hadn't taken a bullet for me, I'd already be dead!

"She's a fragile woman, and she nearly died for me. She even had my baby out of wedlock and put up with everyone's contempt.

"If I abandoned her, what kind of man would I be?"

He spoke as if he were the most devoted lover in the world.

The mobsters looking on had been whispering and pointing.

At his words, the mood shifted.

Now everyone looked at Lily, still kneeling on the ground, with pity and admiration.

Lily picked up on it at once.

She shuddered like a flower caught in a winter gust.

Tears streamed down her face.

"Baby, don't say any more..."

She bit her pale lip, her voice trembling.

"It's all my fault. I don't deserve...

"I only came today so little Thomas could have the Rossi name. I never meant to compete with Ms. Marino for anything.

"Ms. Marino is so far above someone like me. I'd gladly shine her shoes if she'd let me."

Still holding the baby, she began slamming her forehead against the church steps beside my car.

Each blow landed with a dull thud.

Within moments, blood was seeping from her forehead.

Carlos looked heartbroken and turned to help her up.

But with me still there, he forced himself to stop and glared at me with bitter resentment instead.

"Did you hear that, Ms. Marino?"

He gritted his teeth, as if struggling to hold back his anger.

"Lily's already offered to settle for so little. Why do you keep pushing her?

"You're the Don's high-and-mighty daughter. Are you really so small-minded that you can't make room for one fragile woman?"

I watched them put on their little show in front of the Rolls-Royce.

I felt nothing. The whole thing was absurd.

"Carlos, did you swallow too much seawater at the docks and scramble your brain?"

I lowered the bulletproof window and looked down at him.

"I outrank you. You're a subordinate.

"You let some streetwalker from who knows where cry and carry on in front of my wedding car.

"And you have the nerve to call me small-minded?"

Carlos flinched under my stare.

But the South District gunmen behind him bristled.

They'd risked their lives alongside Carlos and cared nothing for rank in the organization.

To them, Carlos was everything, and Lily had saved their boss's life.

"Ms. Marino! Our boss has shed blood for this family!"

A scar-faced capo shot to his feet and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"All he wants is a place for his woman and child. What's wrong with that?

"Even if you've got the late Don's blood in your veins, you can't let us down like this!"

The other thugs kneeling around him joined in.

"Please, Ms. Marino, have mercy! Make room for Lily!"

More than 100 heavily armed men roared in unison, their voices deafening.

They weren't begging for mercy. This was a show of force.

Carlos stood at the very front of the crowd, his back ramrod straight.

He held my gaze, his eyes gleaming with smug certainty.

His expression said it all: See? The men are loyal to me. You have no choice but to give in.

I slowly looked away and raised the window, shutting out the noise outside.

"Back to the estate," I told the driver flatly.

He immediately started the engine and prepared to turn the car around.

Just then, a cane topped with a sterling silver wolf's head slammed down on the hood.

"I'd like to see who dares take Isabella away today!"