Chapter 2

She hung up the phone, that smug look plastered all over her face as she turned to me.

"Heard that? Ethan said you're mine to deal with."

Her eyes dropped to the ring on my left hand.

"Come on. Hand it over."

She strutted toward me in those ten-centimeter heels, reaching for my left hand like she had every right to it. "A sapphire ring on some intern? Seriously, who do you think you—"

Before she could finish, my hand shot up and came down hard across her face.

Smack.

Georgia went down like a sack of bricks. Five red marks bloomed across her cheek instantly, half her face already swelling up before my eyes.

"You—you hit me?!" She screeched, clutching her left cheek, then whipped her head toward the frozen crowd. "Are you all blind?! Get her! Pin her down!"

They exchanged glances, hesitated, then finally moved toward me.

One manager reached for my wrist, already running his mouth. "You're an intern and you dare lay a hand on Mrs. Clark? Don't bother showing up tomorrow!"

I sidestepped his grab, twisted, and drove my fist into his gut.

He flew backward like he'd been launched.

Another one lunged from the side. I kicked his shin hard—he grunted and dropped to one knee.

The rest pulled up short, forming a loose semicircle around me. Nobody dared step forward. But their mouths kept running.

"You're dead! The CEO will never let this slide! You won't find work anywhere in this state!"

"Mrs. Clark's upset now—when the boss gets here, you're finished!"

I let out a cold laugh. "Then I guess I'll see for myself how 'finished' I am."

The doors slammed open—bang—like someone had kicked them in.

Ethan.

Stone-faced, a line of bulky bodyguards trailing behind him.

Georgia's eyes went wet the second she saw him. She flung herself into his arms, sobbing like her world had ended. "Ethan! It was her! She hit me! Look at my face—it hurts so bad! And she wouldn't give me the ring..."

She tilted her head up, shoving that swollen cheek right into his view. Pitiful little act.

Ethan's face went dark as thunder.

He pulled Georgia close, soothing her, then turned that frozen glare on me.

"What are you waiting for?" He snapped at his bodyguards. "Grab her."

They moved in without a word.

I stepped back, my hand instinctively going to my waist—empty.

Forgot my gun.

Stupid. Really stupid.

No time for regret. I dodged a fist from one guard, grabbed his wrist, twisted, dropped low and swept another off his feet.

I took them down one by one. But there were too many, and I had nothing.

One moment of carelessness—a boot caught me in the gut. The pain doubled me over just long enough for two of them to pounce.

I fought, but I couldn't break free.

Arms twisted behind my back, they forced me down to my knees right in front of them.

Humiliation burned through me as I tried to stand—but they held me down, hard.

Georgia peeled herself out of Ethan's arms, chin high, and sauntered over to me.

"Remember that slap you gave me?"

She didn't wait. Her hand came down, full force, across my left cheek.

My head snapped to the side. Blood filled my mouth instantly.

"That's for the first one." Georgia shook out her reddened palm, her grin spreading wider. "But honestly—getting hit by someone like you? One slap back is barely fair."

Ethan walked over, took her hand, and pressed his lips to it. Then his cold gaze swept down to me, crumpled on the floor. "Don't hurt your hand, baby. Do whatever you want. Teach her a lesson she won't forget. I'm always on your side."

My heart sank, piece by piece.

This was the man my father chose for me. Arrogant. Blind. A bully wrapped in a suit.

Georgia was practically vibrating with excitement now.

She looked around, picked up a cup of boiling water, and walked right up to me.

Then she tipped it.

Scalding water poured down from the top of my head.

"Ah!" It wasn't hot enough to burn badly—but it stung like hell, and I jerked against the hands holding me.

She nudged my stomach with the toe of her heel. "So? Learned your lesson yet?"

I bit through the pain, lifted my head, and stared her down—cold, flat, unbroken.

That look infuriated her.

"What's that expression supposed to mean? You think I can't have Ethan kill you right now? Do you even know who he is? He's the only son of the governor of Sicilia State!"

She raised her foot and drove her heel straight into my shoulder.

Her weight came down. The spike pierced into my skin—blood soaking through instantly—and the grind of bone crackled underneath.

"Ah—!"

I bit down hard, refusing to scream, but a groan still slipped through my teeth.

"Stop!" My voice came out ragged, but it carried authority.

Georgia flinched—actually flinched—stumbling back a step, her foot lifting off me.

The pressure let up. I slowly raised my head, pale face turning toward Ethan, who'd just stood there watching.

"Ethan." My voice was raw, each word deliberate. "Do you know who I am?"

His brow furrowed, impatience dripping off him.

"I don't give a damn who you are. An intern. You hurt my woman. Even if Georgia let you go, I wouldn't."

Georgia laughed beside him. "You heard him, right?"

She crouched down, grabbing my hand, trying to pry the ring off my finger. But I clenched my fist, holding tight.

"Let go, or I'll have Ethan kill you right now!"

My whole body screamed in pain. With everything I had left, I pressed a button on the ring.

The Gambino family's highest distress signal.

Once activated, every family member within range must arrive within thirty minutes.

Then I lifted my head, voice cracking but clear.

"I'm Olivia Gambino. Your fiancée!"