Chapter 2

Isabella slapped the phone from my hand. It shattered on the floor.

"Done with the act?" Her voice was shrill. "Get your bastard on his knees and apologize to my son! Kneel!"

I held Leo close, glaring at her. "You hurt him, and you want the victim to apologize?"

"Ha!" Nico swaggered over, grinding the shattered phone under his heel. "Didn't you tell Mommy, Leo? At school, the other kids get in line to shine my shoes for me."

He looked at Leo, his smile wicked.

"After you use the bathroom, you get on your knees on that filthy floor and wipe my shoes with your own shirt. You’re the dirtiest little servant in the whole school. Why pretend you’re clean now?"

The awful memories hit him. Leo curled up in my arms, choking back sobs. "Mama, I didn't… I just…"

Seeing Leo like this, a sharp pain shot through my chest.

How dare they bully my child like this…

"It's okay, baby," I stroked his back, my voice trembling. "The doctor will be here soon. Mama will make these people pay."

Isabella shrieked with laughter. "A doctor? You think any doctor would dare to come now?"

She snapped her fingers. Several men in black suits immediately surrounded us.

"I've had the Falcone men block every road to the estate," Isabella said, triumphant. "Not even a fly can get in."

My blood ran cold.

She dared to use the Falcone family's soldiers?

"Isabella Moretti." I shot to my feet. "You have no idea what you're doing."

SMACK!

I backhanded her. Hard.

The entire gym went silent.

Isabella clutched her cheek, her eyes flashing with shock and fury.

I stood in the center of the ring, scanning every person in the room. My voice was cold and powerful.

"Who the hell do you think you are, talking to me like that?"

"The Falcone family owns this city. Who are you to deny my son a doctor?"

The air in the room was frozen.

I looked around, my voice steady and strong.

"My name is Arabella Falcone. I am the Donna of this family. Any doctor in this room—you will treat my son. Now. The Falcone family will make it worth your while."

But everyone seemed nailed to the floor.

Then… nothing.

The guests just stared at each other. Some whispered. Some sneered.

No one knelt. No one bowed their head. Not a single guard moved.

Marco’s poison had seeped into every corner of my family.

Isabella recovered. The red handprint on her face made her look even more monstrous.

"Guards!" she screamed. "Get this crazy bitch!"

Several of Marco’s bodyguards rushed forward. They grabbed my arms, forcing me to the ground.

"Kneel!" Isabella stalked over to me in her heels. "Kneel and kiss my son's shoes! Apologize!"

I struggled to get up, but their hands were like iron clamps.

"Let go of me! You dare—"

The next second, a brutal kick landed on the back of my knee. I slammed down onto the hard steps.

Warm blood trickled from my mouth, blurring my vision.

"Dare what?" Isabella sneered. "There's only one Don in Chicago now. Marco. And I'm the woman he loves."

Isabella admired my humiliation as she made a call.

Her man on the other end heard her seductive tone and immediately patched the call through to Marco, who was in a private meeting.

"Marco, darling," her voice dripped with honey. "There's a crazy woman here. She's bullying me and Nico…"

Marco's doting voice came through the phone. "What's wrong? Who dares to touch my baby?"

"It's some lunatic calling herself the Falcone Donna. She even hit me…" Isabella whined.

"What?" Marco didn't even let her finish before he exploded.

"I don't care who she is. No one in Chicago touches my woman. Do what you have to do. I'm on my way."

The guests started talking again.

"Looks like Marco is serious about this one."

"This Arabella talks a big game, but the Don doesn't even know her name."

"Hitting Isabella? She's a dead woman walking."

I knelt there, drowning in humiliation.

"Leo…" I struggled to turn my head towards my son.

Leo looked at me, pinned to the floor, his eyes filled with tears.

"Let my mom go!" he struggled weakly to stand.

Nico kicked him in the shoulder. Leo fell back hard.

"You want to protect your mom?" Nico looked down at him. "Then get on your knees and beg me."

Leo bit his lip. He slowly crawled in front of Nico and knelt, trembling.

"Please… let my mom go… I'll do anything for you…"

"Anything?" A vicious glint appeared in Nico's eyes. "Then you know what to do."

He pointed to his expensive Italian leather shoes.

Leo looked at me, his eyes full of pain and despair. He slowly bowed his head…

"NO!" I screamed, but it was too late.

Nico suddenly lifted his foot and kicked Leo square in the chest.

Leo slammed backwards, his back hitting the ground hard.

"Hahaha, this is so much fun!" Nico walked over and ground the heel of his expensive shoe into Leo's injured hand.

"AHHHHHH!" A bloodcurdling scream ripped from Leo's throat as fresh blood bloomed through the gauze…

Just then, a powerful roar thundered from the entrance:

"GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF HER! NOW!"