The Stand-In Is Done Being His Second Choice

"Eve, don't throw a tantrum at a time like this."

Victor pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated.

"How could a cheap freebie like this be good enough for someone of Diana's status?"

I looked at him calmly.

"Then how is it good enough for me?"

Victor looked startled, then let out a low laugh.

"You don't understand. Gunfights break out in the North District all the time. Wearing a black diamond would only make you a target.

"You operate in the shadows. Obsidian won't catch the light and give away your position. I'm trying to keep you alive."

Keep me alive.

Diana and I looked somewhat alike, but our lives couldn't have been more different.

When I first joined the family, I knew I was only an illegitimate daughter.

I'd spent years fighting to survive, building up thick calluses on my palms and scars between my thumbs and index fingers.

The family elders always looked at me with contempt.

"So what if she looks like Diana? She doesn't have an ounce of class.

"Forget it. One smart heir is enough for the family. You can be her shadow! The family doesn't need two heiresses."

I followed behind Diana.

I took stray bullets for her.

I did her dirty work in the interrogation room.

For ten years, they called me her shadow.

I'd told Victor countless times how much I hated that nickname.

In bed, Victor would kiss my scars and promise never to call me that again.

But the moment Diana appeared, he'd forget that promise.

"Shadow." The word would roll off his tongue as naturally as ever.

I looked at the cheap brooch on the tray.

"Victor, I want out of this marriage arrangement."

Victor stared at me as if I were a child throwing a fit.

"That's enough. If you hate the brooch so much, I'll get you another one. Is that really worth threatening to call off our wedding over?

"Let's go down to the armory. Pick any gun you want, okay?"

Diana gracefully pushed the black diamond ring back to the center of the table.

"Eve, if you want it that badly, you can have the ring.

"You're getting married, after all. You should have a proper keepsake. Stop giving the Don a hard time."

But Victor reached out and pressed a hand over the ring.

"I bought this at auction specifically for you. Eve's never been in charge of one of our key districts. It'd be wasted on her."

For all his talk about letting me choose, he'd already decided who would get the ring.

Victor stood up, grabbed my wrist, and dragged me out.

"Come on. Let's go find something to make it up to you."

We'd barely reached the manor hall when Diana stopped.

"Victor, I heard a new shipment of miniature defensive wrist crossbows just came in from Switzerland."

Victor stopped right away.

"Then let's look at defensive weapons for Diana first. You can pick your gun later. Things have been quiet in the North District anyway."

Here we go again.

It didn't matter if I'd been first in line. The moment Diana wanted something, I was pushed aside.

Diana spent two whole hours picking through the display cases in the armory.

She liked two engraved sterling silver Browning pistols and couldn't decide between them.

Victor saw her hesitation and told the quartermaster to wrap up both guns.

"Take them both. Keep one in the car, and give the other to Eve."

He signed for them and handed me the wrapped gun.

"There. No need to choose anymore. Diana has excellent taste. You should be thanking her."

I didn't reach for it.

The sight of that silver gun felt like a slap in the face.

Wasn't he supposed to be making it up to me?

"I'll hand command of the North District to my second. I won't be coming to the manor anymore."

Victor's hand hung in midair, and his face finally darkened.

"Eve, my patience has its limits."

That night, he summoned several of his most trusted elders to the meeting room.

My father, Falco Marchesi, led them in and struck the floor with his cane.

"Eve, has living among those thugs in the North District rubbed off on you? How dare you make a mockery of this marriage arrangement?

"If Diana weren't so busy expanding the family's empire, do you honestly think you'd have a chance at marrying the Don?"

I'd heard it so many times I'd gone numb.

I was lowborn. I was crude. I'd never measure up to elegant Diana.

Victor stepped up beside me, blocking the elders' view.

"Calm down, gentlemen. Eve's just been under a lot of pressure. Her loyalty to the family is beyond question."

My father snorted.

"You're lucky the Don still sees fit to protect you. Now get out of here and prepare for the ceremony!

"Bring up canceling the marriage again, and we'll have you shot for treason."

I lowered my eyes and swallowed what I felt.

"Fine."

When I finally gave in, Victor breathed a sigh of relief and patted my shoulder.

I left the meeting room and went back to my bedroom.

I locked the door and took out an untraceable satellite phone.

"Sofia, is there still room for me on your smuggling boat to the South Shore?"

Sofia sounded shocked.

"Are you crazy? You're about to marry the Don! If you leave him at the altar, Victor will throw you to the sharks!"

I stared into the darkness outside, a bitter smile tugging at my lips.

"Sofia, meet me at the docks in seven days."