Chapter 2

I was exhausted and about to rest when I heard Leon outside.

My fingers froze on the edge of the blanket.

Five years ago, Leon had hated me with every fiber of his being.

He'd risked being hunted by rival families to wait outside my safe house for three days, demanding to know why I'd betrayed him.

I'd hidden the agony of the poison and told him I was sick of living on the edge of death. He'd put his fist through the bulletproof glass, blood streaming down his hand.

He hadn't pulled the trigger that day, but every bit of love he'd felt for me had turned to disgust.

After that, if he ran into me in the family's halls, he'd turn and walk the other way. Just hearing my name made his lip curl.

He never went back to the underground bar we used to visit.

If any of his men dared to say the name Elena in front of him, he'd coldly have him thrown into solitary.

"Why bring up that woman?"

It was the same on the day he left to expand his territory.

Still reeling from the poisoning, I'd dragged myself to the docks and stood at a distance, hoping to see him one last time.

He'd looked at me coldly, holding the cross necklace that symbolized our engagement and the old phone full of our photos.

Then he'd thrown them into the sea in front of me and boarded the black ship without looking back.

I never imagined he'd willingly set foot in my safe house five years later.

Through the half-open door, I saw his arm around Sofia's slender waist.

"I stopped feeling anything for that treacherous woman a long time ago.

"I'm the Don now. Tell her that old mess means nothing to me anymore. We fought our way up together. We may not be lovers anymore, but that doesn't make us strangers."

Sofia, nestled against him, gave a coy laugh.

"Leon told me all about Elena's so-called heroics last night.

"Sure, she shamelessly switched sides five years ago.

"But she was young, hotheaded, and shortsighted. I don't think it was entirely her fault.

"Besides, I really should thank her.

"If she hadn't thrown away a treasure like Leon, I'd never have landed a man this perfect.

"I had to beg him for ages last night to let Elena help us set up the venue for the blood oath ceremony.

"We've only just returned. We don't know the local crews well enough to handle the handover.

"And if I leave it to those old fossils, their outdated taste will ruin my big day."

Five years ago, the poison had just reached my bones.

Before the pain knocked me out each day, all I wanted was for Leon to forget me and start a new life.

But that was then.

Now I'd heard for myself that Leon had told his new fiancée every detail of my past.

My poison-ravaged heart still ached so badly I could barely breathe.

My adoptive mother stood guard outside the door, listening to Sofia call me shameless and treacherous.

The veins in her neck bulged with anger.

She gritted her teeth, reached for her pistol, and shouted at them.

"You two lowlifes have gone too far!"

My heart sank when I heard her draw her gun.

I can't let her start a fight with Leon here.

Ignoring the stabbing pain deep in my bones, I forced my weak body upright and called toward the door.

"Mom, come in for a second.

"Bring the wheelchair. I want to speak to the Don myself."