Chapter 2

On the phone screen, Bianca and Carmine were raising glasses at the club.

The caption read: [Closed a huge deal with the Don. All this hard work, it was worth it.]

I couldn't help but laugh coldly.

Every proposal was signed off by me. She just drank with Carmine.

I shut off the phone and stared at the IV bottle by the bed.

Saline dripped at a constant rate, like someone's tears.

By the time the IV ran dry, Carmine arrived at the hospital.

But the first thing out of his mouth was a defense of Bianca.

"Bianca has to entertain clients with me. Don't make things awkward for her."

"Don't be so petty, like she's after your piece of the pie."

"You're pregnant. I had her take over for you so you could rest."

His breath reeked of alcohol. He glanced carelessly at the IV stand.

"Why are you in the hospital? You look fine to me."

"You kept saying Bianca blocks your requests. Didn't she approve this one pretty fast?"

I gripped the edge of the blanket.

The pain in my heart pressed down on my lips, kept me from speaking.

Disappointment wrapped around my heart like moss climbing the walls of an abandoned well.

Enzo's parting words echoed in my ears.

"If you decide to join us, there's a ship leaving Boston Harbor in nine days. It'll take you away."

Carmine sat for five minutes, then hurried off.

He said he and Bianca had to get to Palm Beach for another deal.

Watching his back as he left, I finally made up my mind.

I signed my name on the agreement. I was getting on that ship.

After I came home from the hospital, Carmine tossed me a supplementary credit card like he was doing me a favor.

"You don't have to submit requests to Bianca anymore. Just use my card."

"Just send me the transaction history afterward for review."

I stared at the card. Didn't take it.

Carmine let go. The card grazed my skirt and landed in front of my toes.

"Don't be difficult, Claire."

He leaned back in his chair, spinning his wedding ring slowly.

"Think about how many people I had to shut up to marry you. Have you forgotten?"

"Don't turn what I fought for back then into a joke."

I pulled my skirt up over my knees. I didn't bend down.

On the calendar by the window, the day after tomorrow was circled.

Nine in the morning.

The agreed departure time.

Carmine still didn't know. He thought I was just throwing a fit.

Seeing my silence, Carmine frowned and said in a low voice, "Did you hear me?"

I nodded calmly.

Not everything he said was a lie.

The Marchetti family came from Sicily. The old guard insisted the Donna had to be pure Sicilian too.

But my surname was Ashford. I was half English.

Carmine pushed back against all of them and walked me into the Old North Church.

In front of everyone, he said his Donna was his to choose.

That day, I gripped his hand tight, thinking I'd found someone to lean on for life.

I didn't know all of fate's gifts come with a price already marked.

After we married, I handled the books for the family. Enormous sums.

Carmine personally set the rule. Every cent I spent had to go through an approval process.

I could manage the books, but I couldn't spend a single cent of it.

He even kissed my forehead and said softly, "Claire, I'm protecting you."

There was some truth to it. Every elder in the family was watching every cent I handled.

Because I wasn't Sicilian.

But I never imagined I'd have to submit a request to take a taxi, buy clothes, buy medicine.

And every request went to Bianca Lombardi.

She was Sicilian. Now the family's consigliere.

And in the family's words, "one of us."

I believed Carmine loved me. I was willing to follow the rules he set.

Until I was backed into a corner.

Carmine bent down, picked up the credit card, and put it in my hand. His tone softened.

"From now on, send your requests straight to me. No need to go through Bianca. I'll approve them."

I pulled out the stack of documents I'd prepared.

The divorce agreement was tucked in the middle, the title clear as day.

But he only flipped to the signature line. The pen moved in one stroke.

After signing, he leaned down and kissed my cheek. Said he had to go audit the casino.

After he left, I pulled out the signed divorce agreement.

The circle on the calendar caught my eye.

Two more days.

This time, I was boarding a ship without him.