Chapter 1

At the mention of the Don, Ellie Nobili paled. Her eyes reddened instantly, and tears fell to the floor one after another. "What do you mean? Are you using Father to threaten me?

"I may be stupid... but I truly love this family. How could you doubt that...

"Then I'll prove it by dying!"

In tears, Ellie ran to the window and put one foot on the sill. She swayed like a kite about to be carried away by the next gust.

The Donna raced over, pulled her down, and collapsed to her knees, sobbing. "My darling, I've never doubted your love for us. Please don't do anything foolish!"

Anguish filled my brother's eyes as he roared at the staff, "Call an ambulance! Can't you see the princess is in shock?"

My fiancé, Jack Romano, made one call and ordered his people to prepare his private jet to fly in the world's best specialists.

I watched coldly, an outsider to it all.

In Mafia families, schemes to win favor were hardly rare. I had seen them all before.

When the Calvi family took me in, their adopted daughter, Lucy Calvi, deliberately drained the family accounts to frame me. She wanted to watch me fail to cover the losses, face punishment, and be thrown out.

I chose the fastest way to make money. I went to a casino, placed the biggest wager in the room, and turned the deficit into a profit. The victory made the Calvi family famous, and when the truth came out, Lucy was disowned.

When the Cara family took me in, their adopted daughter, Jessie Cara, secretly conspired with a rival family to eliminate me. She never expected me to use a single well-aimed shell to wipe out the enemy that had plagued the family for years and then take her place as heir.

Now I had returned to the most powerful family in Sicily: the Nobili family.

Yet their adopted daughter thought a few empty displays of affection could drive me away.

She clearly hadn't realized that in a Mafia family, ability was what kept you standing.

"Lilith, do you really think getting rid of Ellie will make us accept you?"

My brother, John Nobili, stood before me, his eyes full of contempt. "Everyone here has seen how Ellie has cared for us all these years. An outsider can't just wedge herself between us!

"You came back and drove her onto a windowsill on your very first day. If she comes to any harm from the shock, I'll make you pay tenfold.

"I don't know why Father brought you back. Does he really believe that prophecy? I think it's nothing but a trick you used to force your way into this family."

From John's vicious tone, anyone would have thought Ellie was his biological sister.

Every word was a blatant defense of Ellie.

Before I could speak, Jack cut in sharply. "Even if you drive Ellie out, I won't marry a woman as vicious as you.

"The Nobili family's losses aren't Ellie's fault. She's still young. Mistakes happen. I'm sure the Don will handle it, and it isn't your place to interfere.

"You'd better apologize to Ellie before the Don arrives. She's the Nobili family's favorite princess. If he finds out you've hurt her, he'll punish you himself."

Their favorite princess?

I laughed out loud. Mafia families didn't have favorites. Everything came down to power and profit.

They still had no idea how serious Ellie's mistake was. It could destroy the entire Nobili family and drag Jack's family down with it.

I chose not to tell them. Instead, I sat down and sanitized my hand after touching Ellie's hair.

"You're absolutely right. I shouldn't come between the three of you.

"I have no intention of going through with this engagement or tying myself to any family. If you hate having me here, I can leave today.

"Before I go, one suggestion. This is only the second floor. Next time Ellie wants to kill herself, she should pick a better spot."