Chapter 1

"Protect the Don!"

I instinctively took a step back when I saw the professional snipers in front of me. I had been reborn, and I had returned to when all of this started.

When I realized this, I lowered my hand to see my hand gripping the phone. No one was paying attention to me, so I flung the phone hard into the water fountain at the side, and I gave everything I had to shield Frank Russo from the sniper he was fighting with.

Frank watched in shock as I shielded him with my body, taking a bullet that was aimed at him. The look in his eyes turned from astonishment to incredulity and admiration. That was when I knew my gamble had paid off.

My husband, Victor Villani, was the head of security of the Russo family, and he had to always stay by the Don's side. However, he was missing in action on this very day when there was an assassination attempt against Frank, and it was because he was busy cajoling his mistress, Aurora Blanco, who had left in a huff.

In my past life, I was worried that Victor would get punished for abandoning his post, so I called him to hurry back. Victor saved Frank and was rewarded for his bravery, but he accused me of being materialistic and caused Aurora's death, so he threw our baby and me into the shark tank.

The heavens were kind enough to let me be reborn, and I could not repay that by going down the same road.

I did not budge from shielding Frank. I clenched my teeth and took it silently, even when the bullets hit me. Frank had many bodyguards. All I had to do was hold on until they arrived, and I would survive.

Frank knew that as well, which meant that no matter how reluctant he was, he could only hide behind me.

The assassins started to realize that I was shielding Frank with my body, and they looked at each other before aiming their rifles at my belly.

I was eight months pregnant, and I could feel my body kick me nearly every day. I could still hear him crying, even when I was on the brink of death in my past life. That shot at my belly hurt worse than being torn apart by sharks. I could not hold back the miserable scream gurgling in my throat, and all I could see was red. I could tell that the assassin was about to shoot me.

Intense pain tore me apart as warm blood dripped from my skirt onto the ground, creating dark stains where it touched. I gritted my teeth and held my belly, as I felt my baby stop moving after fidgeting in my belly for a while.

Fear gripped my heart. All I could hear was bullets ricocheting in the air, ringing in my ear as bodyguards rushed toward us while shouting. My consciousness started fading, and the last thing I saw was Frank holding me with reddened eyes as he roared at the bodyguards running toward us, "Get a doctor! Quick! Get me all the best doctors. Right now!"

I opened my mouth, trying to say something, but all I did was cough up more blood. Frank did not flinch as he continued holding me. "Which family do you belong to? Don't be afraid. The doctors will be here soon."

With every last strength in my body, I wheezed, "I'm… the wife… of the head of security… Victor Villani."