CHAPTER 1

ADRIAN’S POV

“My wife is dead.”

I stared down at the limp body of my wife in my blood covered hands as I spoke to my father on the phone, saying words that I never thought I would.

My father was silent for a while. “What are you saying?”

“My wife is dead, father. Serena is dead.” I looked straight ahead at what used to be our home, now forever haunted.

“Adrian…”

“Stefan and Sofia have been taken to the hospital. Serena tried to…” I couldn’t bring myself to say that my wife had tried to kill our children by filling them up with sleeping syrup, so I took a deep breath. “Please inform Rico and send someone to clean everything up, I don’t want the kids to come back to this.”

*******

I didn’t have time to sulk over my wife’s death. In the mafia world, when a person died in the way that Serena did, they were buried immediately in a closed casket ceremony.

I should have felt sorrow and longing as I watched her casket being lowered into the ground, but all I felt was anger and resentment.

Serena and I had been married for six years, and on our wedding anniversary, death ended our marriage.

I felt my father’s steady hand on my shoulder, but was he comforting me or trying to steady himself? He met my gaze with worried eyes, and I could see how old he had gotten. I put on a brave face, because the older my father got, the stronger I had to be.

And this was the mafia, there was no space for vulnerability… even if your wife had just died.

Every member of the brotherhood was there. Even Rico Romano, our Don, had travelled all the way with his wife. He was the only one who knew the truth about Serena’s death. I had a duty to report everything that happened to him.

Soon, everyone would pat me on the shoulder and whisper fake words of encouragement, when in reality, they were already spreading rumors about my wife’s sudden death among themselves.

“She was so young.”

“He killed her.”

“How could she just suddenly die the night after their big public argument?”

I was thankful that my children were too young to understand what people were saying. They didn’t even really understand what had happened. Stefan, at five years old, didn’t fully understand that death was permanent. And Sofia… she hadn’t even gotten to know her mother.

A new wave of fury raced through my body, but I shoved it down. Few of the men around me were friends; most of them were looking for a sign of weakness. I was a young Underboss, too young in many eyes, but Rico trusted me to rule over Chicago with an iron fist. I wouldn’t fail him or my father.

After the funeral, we gathered in my mansion for snacks. Mother took a sleeping Sofia from my arms and laid her down, and my sister, Gemma picked Stefan up.

They had offered to look after the children, but my mother was too old, and Gemma had her own kids to look after.

“You look tired,” father said.

“I haven’t really been sleeping,” I admitted. Since their mothers death, the children barely slept through the night and I had to stay up with them.

An image of Serena’s bloodied body crossed my mind and I shoved it down.

“You need to find a mother for your children,” my father said, leaning on his walking stick.

“Ernest!” My mother exclaimed just low enough for only us to hear. “It hasn’t even been two hours since we buried Serena.”

Father ignored her and looked at me. I didn’t need time to grieve Serena, he knew that. I wasn’t sure I wanted another woman in my life, but my wants didn’t matter. Only the rules and traditions of the mafia did.

“The children need a mother in their life, and you need a wife to take care of you. You know what will happen if you remain unmarried. Your position as the king of Chicago will be threatened!”

“Serena never cared for him,” Gemma said, scrunching her face. She, too, hadn’t forgiven my late wife.

“Keep quiet, Gemma,” I snapped. She rolled her eyes but obeyed.

“I suppose you already have someone in mind for Adrian,” mother said with a scowl.

“He doesn’t have to,” Gemma said. “Every member of the brotherhood with eligible daughters will have contacted father already.”

My sister was right. Even though my father hadn’t spoken to me about it yet, I knew that he was already receiving proposals. I was the only underboss who didn’t have a wife right now— I was hot commodity.

Rico and his wife walked over. “If you need a break from your duties, let me know.”

“No,” I replied almost immediately. If I took a break, Rico would perceive it as weakness, and I would never get my position back. Chicago was mine, and I wasn’t letting anyone else rule over it.

Rico smiled in satisfaction. “Listen, I know it’s not a good time right now, but my brother has approached me with a proposal.”

“A proposal about what?” I asked even though I already had an idea.

“My brother has a daughter who isn’t promised to anyone. She could be the perfect bride for you. And think about the union between your Chicago and their city. It would solidify your position forever.”

The only thing I could remember about Rico’s brother was that he was a shitty underboss. He had no real power. I was unable to remember his daughter.

“Why isn’t she married yet?” Despite his flaws, her father was still high ranking. She should be betrothed to someone by now… unless there was something wrong with her.

“Her engagement was called off because the man she was to marry ran off with a prostitute.”

Quickly recognizing my trouble expression, father added. “She didn’t know him. He ran off before they could even be introduced.”

“You can marry her in three months,” Rico said. “At least then it wouldn’t be so close to Serena’s funeral.”

I frowned. “Why three months.”

“That’s when she turns twenty one.”

I stared at him and my father like they had suddenly grown horns. “The girl is ten years younger than me!?”

“Look around, Adrian. Look where you are. This girl is your best option. The only option.” Father said.

I clenched my fists. “I don’t think we should be having this conversation.”

Rico stared me down. “You know the rules, Adrian. You know them better than anyone. Don’t take too long to think about it.”

I watched him go. His message was very clear. I knew the rules. No one dared to disobey the Don. I had killed people for way less, so yes, I knew better.

I called Paul Romano the next day, the father of the girl I was supposed to marry.

“Hello, Paul. It’s Adrian.”

“Adrian! What a pleasant surprise. I suppose you’ve come to a decision about my daughter.”

“Yes. I’d like to marry her.”