Chapter 1

"Ella, I have to go into Victor territory to rescue Lilith. She's been kidnapped. Take care of the Family while I'm gone."

The sound of Andrew's voice told me everything: I had just been reborn.

In my previous life, he had handed me over to the Victor Family and watched as they broke each of my limbs. Then he abandoned me among wild beasts and let them tear me apart.

I would never forget it.

In my previous life, I had stopped him from going to the Victor Family. He blamed me for Lilith's death and had me tortured to death.

This time I didn't stop him the way I had before.

I even stepped aside with a considerate smile and opened the door for him.

"Go ahead," I said, looking at him. "A life is at stake, after all."

Andrew had just picked up his coat. When I agreed so readily, he visibly stiffened.

He looked puzzled. I had always put the Family first, yet this time I was letting him leave without a fight.

But the kidnapper's recorded threat was still playing on his phone.

So he hesitated no longer and rushed out without looking back.

He had no idea that both families were already in danger.

The marriage alliance had only just been arranged, and both families were already divided. They needed someone to take command. Everyone believed Andrew, the Don-to-be, was the obvious choice.

If he stayed and completed the ceremony, he could use my grandfather's prestige as the former Don to take swift control of my Gambino Family.

For Andrew, I had set aside my pride as the Gambino Family's heir and devoted myself entirely to supporting him.

I had asked for nothing but his companionship. For that alone, I had paid with my life.

After Andrew left, I took a deep breath, turned around and went back into the study.

Barring any surprises, everyone inside the Family who coveted power would make a move at tomorrow's ceremony.

In my previous life, Andrew had left every internal dispute between the two families and every outside threat for me to handle. I loved him, so I accepted without hesitation.

Once I resolved everything, I stepped behind him and let him claim all the credit and power.

That was why everyone believed Andrew was the best man to become Don.

But in this life, Andrew would get nothing from me.

The title of Don was not meant for trash obsessed with first love.

"Miss Ella, where's Andrew?"

The study door swung open. The Family's advisor, Vincenzo, stood outside with his customary deference.

He had personally brokered the alliance between the two families and worked tirelessly to ensure Andrew's smooth succession as Don.

I shook my head and walked over to Vincenzo.

"Andrew has gone into Victor territory to save Lilith."

Vincenzo's eyes widened behind his glasses. "The marriage alliance ceremony is tomorrow, and he left at a time like this for a woman? Has he lost his mind?!"

A woman?

It was true. To the Mafia capos, Lilith was insignificant.

To Andrew, she mattered more than anything.

Perhaps he acted that way because he had always had me to clean up after him. In my previous life, no matter what he did, I stayed behind him and secured whatever he wanted.

Maybe he believed nothing else mattered.

At the sight of Vincenzo's anxious expression, I picked up the desk phone, switched on the speaker, and called Andrew.

He took his time answering.

"Andrew, I forgot to ask you something."

I kept my voice calm. "When will you be back? Tomorrow's marriage alliance ceremony is crucial for you."

Andrew sounded frantic on the other end. "Ella! Can't you postpone the ceremony? Lilith could die any minute. I don't know when I'll be back, so handle everything for me."

Andrew hung up before Vincenzo could get a word in.

Even from where he stood beside me, Vincenzo had heard the impatience in Andrew's voice and his contempt for Family business.

I put the phone down and looked at Vincenzo.

He had believed Andrew valued tomorrow's ceremony.

Andrew had always appeared to take such matters seriously. Vincenzo didn't know that I had arranged nearly everything Andrew had ever accomplished.

Tomorrow, the leading capos and senior capos of both families would attend, including those who had never accepted Andrew and were waiting for a chance to seize power.

"Tomorrow's ceremony will begin on schedule."

I smoothed my cuff. "Even if Andrew fails to appear, I will not let the Gambino Family and the Colombo Family be humiliated."

"But, Miss Ella..." Vincenzo faltered.

He understood the Family's situation. Trouble at tomorrow's ceremony was inevitable.

Without Andrew, the nominal Don-to-be, could a woman like me keep those men in line?

Hmph.

I sneered inwardly.

The ceremony had never been Andrew's alone. I was just as essential.

Besides, in my previous life, I had resolved every crisis and challenge at that ceremony myself. Andrew had contributed nothing.

From beginning to end, he had been nothing but a selfish bastard.

Now more than the Family's honor was at stake. So was the position of Don and the power it represented.

Everything Andrew had gained through me in my previous life, I could claim in my own right.

When he returned, I wanted him to discover he had nothing left.