Chapter 1

"Alessia. It's late. Are you keeping Seraphina at your place again?"

Rocco's voice came through the phone. It carried that familiar, ruthless arrogance of a boss.

"I'm sick of you! Can you stop clinging to her like a leech? You think the whole world revolves around you?"

Memories from my past life flooded back.

Every time Seraphina sneaked off to hook up with Marco, she made up excuses.

Either some guy broke my heart and I was too depressed to be alone. Or I lost too much money gambling and needed to hide from loan sharks.

She used every dramatic excuse out of a cheap soap opera.

"Seraphina is married. She's carrying my kid!" Rocco's voice grew louder. I could feel the heavy intimidation of a mobster. "Stop draining her. You make me sick."

I let out a soft laugh.

In my past life, I thought Rocco was gentle. At least to me.

But Seraphina always whispered in my ear. "He's the king of the underworld. He has blood on his hands. He has no real feelings. He's just obsessed with you right now. It's an act. Don't let him fool you."

Every time Rocco treated me well, she insisted he was hiding some betrayal.

Whenever Rocco and I had a fight, she swooped in. She became Rocco's sweetest, most understanding girlfriend.

She made up lies about me. But to my face, she kept trashing Rocco. She urged me to leave him.

If I hadn't walked in on them... Her legs wrapped around his waist. Her lips on his neck. His hands gripping her hips as he panted in pleasure...

I might still be feeling lucky to have such a great sister.

"Or is this payback because I dumped you?" Rocco's voice turned dangerous. "You want to ruin my marriage out of spite? Use her one more time, and I swear to God. I'll make you regret it. Send her home. Now."

A fire burned in my chest. I remembered Rocco's revenge in my past life. I remembered how Seraphina and Marco silenced me.

That night, Rocco stormed into my office with his men. He shoved a loaded Glock to my temple. He interrogated me in front of everyone.

Then they stripped me, shoved me into a car, and shipped me to Atlantic City.

That was when I realized it. I was just a scapegoat all along.

But today is different, Rocco. I'm going to make you tear open the Cianci family's dirtiest scandal yourself.

A cold smirk played on my lips. "Rocco." My voice was light as a feather. "Are you sure rest is what Seraphina needs right now?"

"What does that mean?"

"I mean," I said slowly. "Maybe you should check Cartier at Rittenhouse Square. I heard she's picking out engagement rings. After all, she said you two are renewing your vows."

Dead silence on the other end.

"You're lying."

"Am I? Go see for yourself."

I hung up. Then I turned off my phone.

In my past life, Rocco's men never kept me waiting for more than ten minutes.

At minute nine, the door to my new interior design studio was violently kicked open.

The whole place shook.

Two massive thugs in black suits rushed in. One grabbed my hair. He slammed me hard against my design blueprints. The wooden desk corner dug violently into my ribs. I gasped in pain.

"Don't move, bitch."

Rocco strolled in.

He wore a custom suit and a flawless tie. But the murder in his eyes was naked. It was the look of a man who had actually killed.

His men methodically started smashing my delicate models. They flipped over my expensive custom furniture.

"You know, Alessia." He walked up to me and grabbed my jaw. He forced me to look up at him. "I hate being played."

"My guys waited outside that jewelry store for a whole hour." His grip tightened. My jaw felt like it was going to crack. "Seraphina was never there. She didn't have an appointment with any jeweler."

I struggled to speak. Pain distorted my voice. "Maybe she had a more important date?"

"What date?"

"Maybe," I raised an eyebrow, flashing him a defiant look. "She's with your dear Uncle Marco? You know, mafia family business is always complicated."

Rocco's eyes turned instantly freezing. Like poisoned blades.

He let go of my jaw and grabbed my hair. He jammed the cold barrel of a gun hard against my temple.

The freezing metal bit into my skin. It brought back the terror of my past life.

"Watch your mouth, bitch." His breath hit my face. He smelled of whiskey and mint. " Say one more word about my uncle, I'll blow your fucking brains out right now."

I felt the threat of death. The familiar terror reminded me of that night they threw me into the Atlantic City casino.

But this time, a sick thrill mixed with the fear.

Because I knew what was going to happen tonight.

I knew Seraphina was on that yacht with Marco right now. Drowning in drugs and lust.

She had no idea her perfect web of lies was about to snap.

"No more games," he growled. He pushed the gun harder into my temple. "I'll ask one last time. Where is Seraphina?"