Chapter 1

As the flames engulfed my body in the underground warehouse, I used the last of my strength to call my brother, the new Don of the Moretti family.

Just as I was about to draw my last breath, Lorenzo finally answered, his voice as cold as the Sicilian winter wind.

"Isabella, what the hell are you up to now?"

"Brother, save me…"

My voice was barely a whisper, but he cut me off without a hint of mercy.

"Can't you go one day without causing trouble?"

"Liliana's debutante dinner is next week. If you don't show up, I'll drag you back here myself."

He hung up without a second thought, completely oblivious to the desperation in my voice.

Despair mingled with the searing agony that wracked my body as the flames danced higher, and I couldn't hold on any longer.

As I closed my eyes, tears still trickled from their corners.

You won't have to drag me back, my brother. I'm never coming back.

...

After I died, my consciousness didn't fade. Instead, it was trapped in a dark space.

A sudden flood of light was the first sign that I was imprisoned within the ring bearing the Moretti family crest.

The one I had designed myself, a gift to celebrate his succession as Don.

He had worn it ever since, never taking it off.

Through the ring, I watched as my charred remains were discovered in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of our territory.

The brutal, horrific murder by fire shocked the entire underworld and was a blatant challenge to the authority of the new Don, Lorenzo.

My brother decided to handle the matter personally, vowing to make an example of whoever was eyeing the Moretti family's power.

Seeing him stand before my blackened, unrecognizable corpse, I felt a surge of guilt.

It was my fault he was saddled with this, forced to handle such a grim affair himself.

Lorenzo's brow was furrowed, his eyes murderous.

"Has the victim been identified? Time of death?" he asked in a cold voice.

Marco, the capo in charge of the investigation, rubbed his temples wearily.

"According to the M.E.'s preliminary report, the victim is a young woman, approximately twenty to twenty-two years old. Time of death was over forty-eight hours ago."

"The body's been completely burned beyond recognition. Even dental records might not help us. The DNA results won't be back for at least two days."

Marco paused, his voice growing heavy. "And, Don, the victim was doused with gasoline and set ablaze while she was still alive. "

"Furthermore… there are severe lacerations to her genital area, indicating she suffered devastating sexual assault prior to this."

A collective gasp went through the family members present.

Even in this bloody world, such brutality was appalling.

"Goddamn animal," someone cursed under their breath.

"I can't imagine the pain that poor girl went through," another voice murmured, full of sympathy.

Lorenzo slammed a fist on the table, the murderous intent flaring in his eyes. "I don't care who did this, I'll make them pay in blood."

"I'm making it clear that no one gets away with shit like this on Moretti turf."

Silvio placed a hand on Lorenzo's shoulder, his tone tinged with regret. "This means you'll miss Isabella's birthday party."

Lorenzo grunted. "Such a headache."

Silvio was the family's Consigliere and our father's most trusted confidant before his death.

After our parents were killed in that ambush, he watched over us like a guardian, guiding Lorenzo on how to survive in the bloody game of power.

At the mention of my name, Lorenzo's expression darkened instantly. "Don't mention that traitor in front of me."

"She does nothing but cause trouble for the family."

"Why would I go to her damn birthday party? I need to prepare for Liliana's debutante dinner."

His words pierced my heart like daggers, and what little guilt I had left vanished in an instant.

After our parents' deaths, Lorenzo blamed me for everything, convinced my recklessness had gotten them killed.

Later, during an operation, he saved a girl named Liliana, and after learning she was an orphan, he brought her home, doting on her like a real sister.

And I became a complete outcast in my own family.

Before I died, my brother was still angry.

Angry that my willfulness might cast a shadow over his precious adopted sister's big night.

If he knew the body lying there was mine, he would turn and walk away without a second thought.

After all, no one in this world wanted me dead more than he did.

I'm really dead now, brother. Are you satisfied?

Silvio punched Lorenzo lightly on the chest, his voice laced with anger. "How can you talk like that? Don't you know how loyal Isabella is to you?"

"After all these years, can't you see how much she cares about you, her own brother?"

"She knows you've loved cannoli since you were a kid, so she still makes them for you by hand and sneaks them over. You ungrateful bastard!"

Lorenzo just scoffed. "I don't need her cheap attempts to get back in my good graces. Silvio, drop it. Let's focus on the matter at hand."

"By the way, have any of the other families reported someone missing recently?"

His subordinate, Tony, shook his head. "No, Don. We haven't received any reports like that."

"Damn it. The girl's been missing this long and her family hasn't even noticed? What kind of family are they?" Lorenzo complained impatiently.

When lunchtime came, Lorenzo went out to eat with some other family members.

Silvio suddenly remembered something. "How come I haven't seen Isabella bring you any cannoli these past few days?"

Lorenzo sneered. "She's probably tired of the act. It's her usual game."

"I told you from the start she wouldn't keep it up for long."

Seeing Lorenzo's attitude, Silvio's anger flared.

"Impossible! For years, she's never missed a day, not even when there were shootouts in the streets."

"Something's not right. She could be in real trouble. Call her, now. See if she answers."

Lorenzo's face was grim, and he clearly didn't want to talk about it. "Silvio, stop worrying about her. It's all just a game she's playing."

"She called me a couple of days ago, probably trying to pull some other stunt. I told her to be at Liliana's debutante dinner, and she hung up on me. She's clearly just throwing a tantrum."

Silvio was about to say more, but Lorenzo's phone rang.

When he saw the caller ID, the hard, chiseled lines of his face softened instantly, and his voice became gentler than I had ever heard it.