Chapter 1

At nine months pregnant, I was in the final stretch of my term, and my body heavy with a baby due any day.

But my husband, Vito Falcone, underboss of the family, had locked me away. He held me in a sterile underground medical room and injected me with a labor suppressant.

As I screamed in agony, he coldly told me to endure it.

Because his brother's widow, Scarlett, was expected to go into labor at the exact same time.

A blood oath he'd made with his late brother declared that the firstborn son would inherit the family's lucrative West Coast territory.

"That inheritance belongs to Scarlett's child," he said.

"With Daemon gone, she is utterly alone and destitute. You have my love, Alessia. All of it. I just need her to deliver safely. Then it's your turn."

The drug was a constant, agonizing torment. I begged him to take me to a hospital.

He grabbed me by the throat, forcing me to meet his icy gaze.

"Stop the act! I know you're fine. You’re just trying to steal the inheritance."

"To get ahead of Scarlett, you'll stop at nothing."

My face was ashen. My body convulsed as I managed a desperate whisper.

"The baby's coming. I don't care about the inheritance. I just love you, and I want our child to be born safely!"

He sneered. "If you were really that innocent, if you had an ounce of love for me, you wouldn't have forced Scarlett to sign that prenup, waiving her child's inheritance rights."

"Don't worry, I'll be back for you after she's given birth. you're carrying my own flesh and blood, after all."

He kept a vigil outside Scarlett's delivery room all night.

It was only after seeing the newborn in her arms that he remembered me.

He finally sent his second in command, Marco, to release me. But when Marco finally called, his voice was shaking.

"Boss... the missus and the baby... they're gone."

In that moment, Vito Falcone shattered.

...

Heavily pregnant, I dragged myself across the floor, crawling toward the heavy steel door.

Just as the heavy door slammed shut with a deafening bang, my fingers were caught in the jamb.

I heard the sickening crunch of bone.

A fresh wave of agony ripped through me, overwhelming the torment of the drug. A piercing scream tore from my throat.

But Vito's mind was entirely on Scarlett. He was deaf to my cries.

Suddenly, warm fluid leaked down. I knew my water had broken.

Fear, cold and absolute, consumed me.

My only light was the faint, ghostly green glow of a single emergency exit sign above the door.

I forced myself to stay calm, pounding on the door and screaming for help.

But this was Vito's private surgical room, isolated and soundproof, where was plunged into near-total darkness, with no windows to the outside world.

No one could hear my weakening cries.

The baby inside me kicked violently, as if trying to break free from this cold prison.

I was soaked through, though I couldn't tell if it was with sweat or blood.

The toxins in the labor suppressant were sapping my strength, draining the life from me with every passing second.

I summoned my last ounce of energy for one final, desperate scream.

Finally, I heard footsteps outside.

"Please, help me!" I shrieked, my voice raw. "I'm locked in the surgical room! I'm in labor!"

I repeated it over and over, thinking my salvation had come.

But then a voice answered, dripping with sadistic glee.

"Well, well, Alessia. Look at the pathetic state you're in. Vito should have taught you to obey a long time ago."

It was Vito's sister, Gianna.

I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting to keep my voice steady. "Gianna, please, let me out. The baby's coming. I can't hold on."

Gianna pushed open the door and stared down at me, her face a mask of pure contempt.

For a fleeting moment, I thought she might help.

The next, she slammed her foot into my ribs. The blow stole my breath, and black spots danced in my vision.

Her voice was as sharp as a razor's edge.

"Let you out? So you can ruin Scarlett's delivery? Just stay put, Alessia. Vito sent me to watch you."

"You're not fit to be Vito's wife. He wanted me to make sure you stayed put and reflected on what you've done.Vito has enough on his plate without you causing more trouble."

"Scarlett's child will be the heir to this family. Your little tricks won't change that."

Another violent contraction ripped a scream from my lips.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I gasped, "My child won't be part of the family business. I'll give up everything! Get a message to Vito. Let me go. I will vanish from this family and never look back. I swear on it."

My screams seemed only to infuriate her.

She scowled. "Slut. Who do you think you're seducing with all that noise? Pathetic."

Then she keyed her walkie-talkie, contacting Vito.

The combined agony of the drug and the impending birth was tearing my soul apart.

"No problem, Vito, don't worry. I'll keep a close eye on her," she responded.

When I heard Vito's voice, a flicker of hope ignited within me. He had to care about me. He had to care about our child.

I screamed with all my might, "Vito! The baby is coming! Right now! Please, have Gianna take me to the hospital! Now!"

I cried out, my voice a weak, uncontrollable tremble.

Gianna hesitated. I heard her whisper into the walkie-talkie, "Vito, I'm starting to think this is true. The way she's screaming… I don't believe she's putting on an act."

"Maybe I should take her to the hospital. He is your only child, after all. If something happened..."

Vito paused for a few seconds, as if considering it.

Then his tone softened. "Fine then, you can take her..."

Just then, a delicate voice purred from his end. "Vito, darling, I'm thirsty. Could you bring me some champagne? The doctor says I need to relax if I'm going to have the strength to deliver our little prince."

"Oh, is Alessia in labor? It's nothing, darling. It doesn't even hurt. Honestly, I feel like I could train for a marathon. Alessia is a strong woman. She'll be fine."

Of course it didn't hurt for her.

The family's entire medical team and resources had been diverted to her lavish, state-of-the-art private delivery room.

She was being treated like a queen.

Scarlett's few words were all it took to change everything. To change Vito's mind.

His voice turned to ice.

"What could go wrong? It's an act. She's trying to trick you into letting her out. Don't believe it.Trusting her will only make you look like a fool. "

The walkie-talkie clicked dead.

Stung by Vito's rebuke, Gianna turned her fury on me.

She reached into a leather case and pulled out a snake, advancing on me.