Chapter 3

I left the heavily guarded manor and flagged down a cab. Then, I gave the driver the address to my parents' old house that they'd left behind.

Dad used to be Don Gambino's most loyal Underboss. However, during the bloody battle that determined the fate of the Gambino Famiglia, Dad got shot three times in the chest while covering for the Don and died on the spot.

Not long after that, Mom also passed away.

I was only eight years old then, two years younger than Luca.

When the Gambino Famiglia took me in, Rosa gathered me in her arms and cried with me, promising that she would treat me as her own daughter.

However, as time passed, the kindness began to sour, and to quote in her words, "The Gambino Famiglia took you in. You should be grateful to us for that."

It was true that the Famiglia had given me a safe haven when I had nowhere to go. However, the price was that I had to be obedient and compliant at all times just to be worthy of taking up space in their household.

Luca was the only one who never saw me like that back then. He would sneak into my room on long, dark nights filled with the sounds of gunfire and whisper words of comfort into my ear.

He would also stand up for me when I was bullied by the other people in the Famiglia, telling everyone that I belonged to him.

Some time after that, I became his fiancee.

And then, this fiancee of his eventually became a burden that only caused him trouble during critical moments.

I walked through the gates of the old house, and my phone rang just as I set my suitcase down.

Luca's name appeared on the screen as the caller ID. I answered the call.

"Elena."

Luca's voice was laced with barely suppressed frustration. "Did you talk back to Mama? And you even moved out?

"You're not a kid anymore, for god's sake. Can you stop making me worry all the time?"

Carmela Coppola's voice came faintly from the other end of the line, sounding soft and innocent, "Is it because of me, Luca? Has Elena misunderstood us? Should I go explain myself to her and apologize—"

"No."

Luca's voice softened at once. "This has nothing to do with you. Don't overthink things."

I gripped my phone tightly.

Then, Luca's commanding voice reappeared next to my ear.

"Elena, you will return this instant and apologize to Mom. Then, I will forgive you.

"Do you not know how busy the Famiglia is right now? We're cleaning up our territory, comforting the people, replenishing supplies, and more, and I'd barely even slept a wink. And this is the time you choose to cause trouble for me?"

"I'm not going back," I said.

There was a moment of silence on the phone.

"What did you say?"

"I said, I'm not going back. I never did anything wrong, so I don't owe anyone an apology. Also, I'm already home. Your place is not my home."

"Elena, I'm giving you one more chance to repeat what you just said to me," Luca said, his voice as chilling as ice.

"I don't need it," I said, interrupting him. "I was the one always giving you chances, Luca. I gave you chances to remember the promises you made to me. I gave you chances to prove that you still loved me. I gave you chances to prioritize me in your life again.

"But this time, I'm not giving you any more chances."