Chapter 2

The next day, I went straight to the Moretti family's underground casino.

When I entered the main hall, a few younger members were whispering.

"Look, that's our Donna. She's also the Bellini family's heir."

"If it weren't for her, Don Moretti might never have risen to power."

"Shh, keep it down. Don't bring that up."

The whispers stopped as I walked past.

I didn't pause. I went straight to the office at the back of the casino.

Before I opened the door, I told the bodyguard behind me, "Bring Rosie here."

The bodyguard returned a few minutes later with Rosie.

She wore an ill-fitting black suit, and her loose hair did nothing to hide her large chest.

The moment she saw me, she deliberately pushed her chest out. "Donna, you wanted to see me?"

I leaned back in the chair behind the desk, my gaze fixed on the side of her neck.

"Move your hair."

She hesitated, then suddenly lifted her chin.

"You have no right to give me orders."

My voice dropped. "I said, move your hair."

She didn't move.

My bodyguard stepped forward, his hand already on the gun at his hip.

Only then did Rosie slowly sweep her long hair over one shoulder.

Sure enough, she had a tattoo on the side of her neck.

DAMIAN.

The black letters stood out against her pale skin like a brand of ownership.

I studied it for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled. "Get that tattoo removed."

Rosie's expression shifted. "It's my body."

"That's why I'm paying you. Ten million dollars."

I slid a check across to her. "Once it's gone, take the money and leave. Europe, South America, wherever you want."

She glanced down at the check and snorted.

"10 years ago, I risked everything to save Damian. And you think ten million dollars is enough to make me leave?"

"I'm not here to negotiate. This is your reward for saving him. Otherwise, do you think you'd still be alive to talk to me?" I stared at her. "This is the last of my patience. Take it and go."

Rosie didn't touch the check. Instead, she ran her fingers over the name on her neck.

"He came with me when I got the tattoo. I was afraid of the pain, so I bit down on his hand while he kept kissing my forehead."

I raised an eyebrow. My hand froze on the desk.

She noticed, and her smile turned even sweeter.

"Whenever I traveled with him on business, he couldn't fall asleep unless he was holding me. If he woke in the middle of the night, he would reach for me to make sure I was still there.

"One night, I got up to take a shower, and he ran into the bathroom without even putting on his shoes, just to make sure I hadn't left.

"Even in New York, he sleeps with me in his arms at the club."

Rosie looked me up and down. "Isabella, has he ever treated you like that?"

My fingers slowly curled into my palm.

Rosie folded her arms, looking smug.

"Besides, he set up a trust fund for me years ago. It pays me more every month than I can spend.

"How lonely you must be, Donna. Still, they say good things come to those who wait. Keep the money. At least it'll keep you company."

"Are you done?" I stood. "Remember this: as of today, you're no longer part of the Moretti family."

The smug look froze on her face.

"You have no right to kick me out!"

I smiled. "I could throw Damian himself out. What makes you think I can't throw you out?"

At my signal, my bodyguards grabbed her by the arms and dragged her toward the door.

Rosie struggled. "Damian will never allow this!"

I barely looked up. "Then let's see whether he can save you. Good things come to those who wait, right?"

The office door shut, finally cutting off her voice.

Less than 10 minutes later, a commotion broke out at the casino entrance.

Rosie shoved open my office door, her eyes red. Damian was right behind her.

"I told her we're just friends, but she wouldn't believe me. She's determined to throw me out of the Moretti family."

She pulled up her sleeve to reveal the red marks the bodyguards had left on her wrist, then burst into tears.

"Why don't I just get out of the way and let you two have each other?"

"Isabella!" Damian's eyes were frighteningly cold. "Who said you could touch my people?"

"Your people?" I leaned back in my chair. "Last I checked, my name is still at the top of the Moretti family's ownership documents. When did she become your private property?"

"She saved my life!" Damian clenched his jaw. "I won't let you insult her!"

Rosie hid behind him and deliberately swept her long hair to one side.

The name tattooed on her neck faced me directly.

I stood. "Damian, I'm not trying to insult either of you. She can't stay for that very reason. You've put her in the spotlight, and there's no going back into hiding now. From this point on, anyone who wants leverage over you will come after her. I'm doing what's best for the family."

Damian stepped toward me. "No. Everything you're saying is hypothetical. Even if it happens, I'll handle it. Rosie stays!"

"She goes!"

"She stays!"

Everyone watched Damian and me in tense silence.

I locked eyes with Damian, my earlier calm gone.

"Fine. If that's how it is.

"You can choose—

"Rosie goes, and our partnership continues—

"Or Rosie stays, and I leave."

Every eye in the room was on him.

Damian looked at me. His lips moved, and for a moment, he seemed to be in pain.

But when he glanced at all the faces waiting for his orders, his jaw tightened.

Without warning, he drew his gun and fired at the ceiling.

The gunshot sent everyone ducking.

Everyone except me.

Damian lifted his chin. "Why are you forcing me to choose? I don't have to choose. Don't forget, I'm the Don now."

Rosie pretended the gunshot had terrified her. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed with her hands over her ears.

"Damian, I'm so scared..."

The next second, Damian scooped her into his arms and walked out without looking back at me.

I watched them leave, my expression cold.

A moment later, my phone buzzed.

An unknown number had sent me a photo.

In the back seat of a car, Rosie was curled up in Damian's arms.

The tattoos on their necks lined up perfectly.

RAE & DAMIAN.

I turned off the screen and looked up at the black bullet hole in the ceiling.

It looked like a void sucking the last bit of warmth from my chest.