Chapter 1

Author’s note: This book is dedicated to all the girls who love mafia men.

“I wouldn’t have gotten married to you if I knew you were nothing but a cheat!” Aiden screamed. He grabbed my arm, yanking me backward with a force that sent me crashing into the cold wall.

“Aiden, please,” I sobbed, my voice trembling as I slid down the wall onto my knees. “I don’t know what happened! I swear, I—”

“Don’t you dare lie to me!” Aiden cut me off, his finger pointed at me like a dagger. “I caught you, in bed with another man. What could you possibly say to defend that? Huh?”

“Aiden, I… I don’t remember…”

“Stop!” he roared, stepping back as if my presence disgusted him. “I don’t want to hear it!”

I crawled toward him, grabbing at his pant leg desperately. “Please, Aiden. Don’t do this. Let me explain—”

Aiden shook me off, turning to flash me a cold look. “Save your breath. You’ve destroyed everything. No form of explanation would make things better.”

With that, he stormed out of the hotel room, slamming the door behind him. My sobs filled the empty space as I turned toward the bed.

The man lying there stirred slightly, muttering something I couldn’t understand. My mind traveled back to the memory of the night before.

The club.

Tracy.

Mabel.

Mabel handing me that drink.

I clenched my fists, a surge of anger taking over my body.

Mabel, my evil step sister was behind this.

‘She had to be.’ I muttered to myself as I walked out of the hotel room.

***

I walked into the house, still in the crumpled dress from the night before.

“Mabel!” I shouted as I approached the steps.

She appeared at the top of the staircase wearing a smug look on her face.

“What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be gone already?”

“I know you did this!” I snarled, my voice cracking. “You spiked my drink, didn’t you? You set this whole thing up!”

Mabel’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Me? Behind your cheating? Oh, don’t be ridiculous.” She descended the stairs, her blonde hair flowing endlessly as she walked.

“You were the one complaining about how bored you were with your marriage. How tired you were of Aiden. If anyone’s to blame, it’s you.” Mabel continued speaking.

“You’re lying!” I screamed, charging up the stairs toward her.

But before I could reach her, Aiden appeared, shoving me aside with a force that made me stumble.

“Enough!” he barked as he pointed a finger in my face. “Stop trying to drag Mabel into your mess. She’s the only one who’s been honest with me!”

I stared at him, my breath hitching. “Aiden, no… She’s manipulating you! She’s the reason this happened!”

“Don’t you dare speak about Mabel like that,” he snapped, stepping protectively in front of her. “If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have known the truth about you.”

My heart sank as he turned to Mabel. “You’re a virtuous woman, Mabel. I need someone like you by my side.”

“What?” I whispered, my legs threatening to give out beneath me.

Aiden’s next words were like a death sentence. “I’m going to marry Mabel. Everything—the inheritance, the estate—it’ll all go to her. That’s your punishment for what you’ve done.”

“You can’t do this,” I said, shaking my head. “Our inheritance is tied to our marriage—it’s my family’s alliance and my father had handed it to me! She has no right to it!”

“Watch me,” he sneered. “Now, pack your things and get out. Go back to the man you were with since you’re so desperate for company.”

I begged him, but his face remained stone cold. Aiden called the guard and they grabbed me roughly, dragging me through the house as I kicked and screamed.

The gates slammed shut behind me, and I crumpled to the ground, sobbing.

Minutes later, Mabel emerged, a wicked smile lighting up her face.

“You haven’t gotten over the fact that my father gave me everything and left you with nothing.” I said staring at her angrily. “That’s why you did this!”

“Smart are we?” Mabel laughed. “You should have used your brains to save your marriage, but sadly you can’t.”

“You will regret this.” I spat back.

“Rot in hell,” she spat laughing loudly.

I hated Mabel so much. I hated the fact that my mother’s death had made my father marry Mabel’s mother.

Despite, Mabel and I growing up together she never liked me.

She made that very clear and my father noticed it. I wasn’t surprised when the will was read after my father’s passing and she was left with nothing but a condo in the hills.

“What are you still doing here?” I heard a voice say and I saw Aiden heading towards the gate.

“I told her to leave but she wouldn’t listen.” Mabel said.

“Then I would just have to take matters into my own hands.” Aiden was about to take a step forward when Mabel stopped him.

“Don’t waste your time on her!” She said calmly. “Let’s go inside.”

Aiden pulled his gaze away, watching him walk away hurt me more than Mabel’s set up.

I thought he loved.

Broken, I stumbled away from the estate until I spotted a familiar pub where my friend Adam worked.

I approached the entrance, but the bouncer stepped in my path, blocking my way.

“I need to see Adam,” I said.

“Restricted area,” he grunted, shoving me back. “Come back tomorrow.”

“Please,” I begged. “It’s important—”

The bouncer raised his hand to push me away when a voice stopped him.

“Let her go.” The voice said.

I turned to see a man stepping out of the shadows. He had a sharp jawline and dark blue eyes that made him look cold.

“She’s with me,” he said smoothly.

“I’m sorry sir.” The bouncer said stepping aside.

The stranger guided me inside, resting his hands on my waist. I felt a tangling sensation but it disappeared once he pulled away.

“Thank you,” I murmured. “I don’t know how to repay you—”

“Actually,” he interrupted, his lips curling into a sly smile. “There is something you can do for me.”

My stomach dropped. “What is it?”

He leaned in closer. “I need you to steal something for me. Something valuable.”

My breath hitched as his words sunk in. What had I just gotten myself into?