Chapter 1

On our five-year anniversary with Daniel, he showed up at the city hall where I work.

Only he wasn't alone. Emma Miller from the second-largest mafia family was right beside him.

And in their hands—a marriage license application.

Daniel saw me and forced an awkward explanation.

"Sophia, you know this is just a merger. It's not real."

"Once I take the Don's seat, I'll divorce her."

I'd heard that line so many times.

The Bonanno family's highest rule: no government employee can become the family's Madre.

And I just happened to be a government employee.

Ever since we got together, Daniel's people had been coming at me one after another, threatening me to leave him.

At first, I actually thought about ending it.

He was the son of the biggest mafia don, the future Don himself. And me? Just some ordinary civil servant.

We were never from the same world.

But Daniel kept telling me—over and over—that he only loved me, that I was the only one he'd ever marry.

And I believed him.

Until a year ago, when the Bonanno family set him up with an arranged match. Forced them to date, to spend time together.

At first, he just went through the motions, clearly annoyed. He'd come back and cling to me, needing me over and over, whispering all the sweet things to make up for it.

Back then, his eyes were still full of me.

But slowly, his dates with Emma got longer.

Her heavy perfume started showing up on him. Then lipstick stains. Then hickeys.

Now? There was even a bite mark on his neck—hers.

My eyes stung, but I forced them wide open, refusing to let the tears fall.

Emma's saccharine voice pulled me back.

"She has to approve you marrying me?"

She flashed the marks all over her skin, like she was showing off trophies.

"I don't get what you see in her. She doesn't understand a thing about how our families work—"

I swallowed the burning in my throat and cut her off.

"The future Don's wedding? None of my business. Congratulations."

Daniel nodded and slid the papers across the counter.

"Good. You understand. And you know I'll marry you eventually. You and me."

No, I thought. You won't.

I should've realized it a long time ago. Two different worlds? Then they should stay separate.

Emma clung to Daniel's arm, her eyes dripping with smug challenge.

I took their documents. My fingers were cold, trembling slightly.

This man had once sworn he'd love me forever.

And now, on our five-year anniversary, he wanted me to process his marriage to someone else.

What a joke.

I shoved the ache down and typed away at the computer, fast.

Emma leaned in close to the window, her pale chest covered in fresh marks. She mouthed the words, no sound, just for me:

"He was mine last night."

My fingers froze for half a second. I took a breath, pushed down the nausea crawling up my throat.

Then I looked up, slid two forms across the counter, and gave them my perfect professional smile.

"Please sign here."

If this were before, I'd have thrown a fit by now. Demanded to know if those vows he made even meant anything anymore.

But now? No point.

My calm clearly threw them off.

Daniel's brow knitted tight, something uneasy flickering across his face.

But I didn't even glance at him. I waited for them to sign, stamped the certificate, and handed it over.

Just like I did for every other couple. Smile bright, voice warm.

"Congratulations. Happy wedding."

Watching their backs as they walked away, arms wrapped around each other, I swallowed the lump in my throat and pulled out my phone.

"Set up a fake death. Wipe everything about me."

"Three days. I'm gone from Daniel's life for good."