Chapter 1

The thugs were scared out of their wits. Their steel pipes clattered to the floor.

My punch had sent Isaac into one of the meat hooks. Half his face was already swelling, and blood ran from the corner of his mouth.

He stared at me, still trying to process what had just happened.

"Who... who are you? You dare lay a hand on me in Blackhaven?"

I didn't bother answering. I walked deeper into the slaughterhouse, one step at a time.

A few thugs scrambled to stop me. I flung them aside, and they staggered into the wall.

Marcella lay beside the pool of blood.

She was painfully thin, almost gaunt, her face black and blue and covered in cuts.

Her eyes were just as blue as they had been five years ago, and she still clung stubbornly to the last of her dignity.

She looked at me, and a spark returned to her clouded eyes.

"Gi... Gian?"

"It's me, Marcella."

Before I could say more, she struggled to get up, but her injured leg gave out and she fell back hard.

The light in her eyes died, and she turned her face away in shame.

"What... what are you doing back here?

"Don't look at me... I look awful."

Five years ago, her father had humiliated me with a suitcase full of cash and forced me to leave. Then I'd vanished.

I thought she would have married someone else by now and settled into the steady life she deserved.

I never imagined she'd end up like this, all to protect a lighter I'd left behind.

My chest tightened at the thought.

I hurried over, crouched in front of her, and reached toward the cuts on her face.

She flinched away from my hand.

"Gian, you shouldn't have come back.

"The Leoni family owns Blackhaven. I don't want to drag you down with me. Get out of here!"

I didn't go. I took her cold hand and rubbed my thumb over the dried blood on the back of it.

"Marcella, I'm back. No one is ever going to mistreat you again.

"Today, no one touches a hair on your head."

Isaac, holding his face, finally got to his feet and staggered a few steps toward me.

"Well, well. I thought you looked familiar. Isn't this the broke little punk who got cash thrown in his face and hopped a freight train out of Blackhaven in the night?"

He circled me. His gaze lingered on my leather jacket, which had no visible logo, and his eyes filled with contempt.

"What happened? Your sugar mama out there get bored of you? So you ran back to beg scraps off this stray?"

The spoiled rich boys behind him burst out laughing.

"Marcella, you're defying Mr. Leoni over a piece of trash like this? I think you've lost your fucking mind."

He walked over to Marcella and bent down, but kept his eyes on me, taunting me.

He stroked her cheek with an insolent finger.

"Well? Have you thought it over? I know a lot more tricks than that loser. I'll make you see stars.

"While I'm in a good mood, I might even let this guy leave Blackhaven in one piece. Otherwise..."

He raised a hand and snapped his fingers. The thugs closed in and surrounded me.

Marcella went white.

"Isaac, come at me! He doesn't know anything. Let him go!"

She struggled to get up and shield me, but a thug kicked her in the stomach. She curled up on the floor.

"Mr. Leoni, if you'll let him go, I... I'll do anything..."

She was about to give up the last of her dignity and give in completely.

I stepped forward, moved her behind me, and looked up at Isaac with a cold smile.

"A few lowlifes like you can't make her bow to anyone."