Chapter 3

I gave his gun a cold glance and didn’t even flinch.

“If anyone is swearing an oath tonight,” I said, my voice dangerously calm, “it won’t be me.”

Cassian’s jaw tightened. He thought I was challenging his authority as Don.

“Serafina, don’t push it. Your mother was a worthless dog. No power, no brains, no value to this family.”

He pointed the gun at me contemptuously.

“Camilla is my right hand. She has a bright future. Are you really going to ruin her standing in this family for a dead thief?”

Bianca scoffed.

“Exactly. Your mother was a waste of space. Or are you planning to play the victim? Using this corpse to secure your spot as our Donna? You manipulative bitch.”

Camilla pretended to wipe away tears.

“Boss, this is all my fault. If it will calm our future Donna down, perhaps I should surrender my gun and atone…”

“You don’t need to atone for anything. Serafina, this is my final offer. Are you swearing or not?” Cassian pulled Camilla behind him protectively, his eyes locked on me like a viper.

I watched their pathetic performance and shook my head with a cold smile.

“You idiots got it all wrong. The person in that body bag isn’t my mother. The only people who should be begging for mercy are Cassian and Bianca.”

The entire hall fell dead silent.

Bianca’s face turned beet red.

“Are you fucking insane?!”

Her voice was sharp enough to shatter glass.

“How dare you curse the former Donna to death in front of all the family Capos?”

She jabbed a finger hard against my collarbone.

“Take it back. Right now. Or I’ll have my men put a bullet in your head—”

Cassian raised his gun, pushing her back.

“Serafina, I was going to let you live, since you’re pretty enough. But my mother is the goddess I worship.”

“I don’t care if you’re my fiancée in name. I don’t care what my father promised you before he died. You will not disrespect my mother in such a disgusting way.”

He gestured to the bloody corpse with his chin, issuing a final command.

“Take this body to the plant. Acid vat. Leave nothing behind.”

His enforcers hesitated.

“Boss… with all due respect, she’s already dead. Do we really have to go that far?”

“Do as I say,” Cassian commanded.

“She refused to drop the vendetta. She dared to curse my mother. Fine. Then she can watch her worthless mother melt into a puddle of blood.”

“That way, whether she swears or not, there will be no evidence.“

The enforcers immediately bowed their heads and reached for the body bag.

The surrounding Capos shook their heads, whispering and pointing at me.

“This is what happens when you’re stupid enough to provoke the Boss.”

“Cassian’s father died in a gang war. His mother climbed over bodies to put him and Bianca in power. She has no idea how pathologically devoted he is to his mother.”

“The mother steals diamonds, the daughter curses the Don’s mother? This pair is just lining up to go to hell.”

I ignored their insults and sent a quick text.

“Cassian, are you sure you want to do this?” I said without looking up. “You’re going to be on your knees begging me in a minute.”

He spun around, the muzzle of his gun aimed directly between my eyes.

“You’re the one who should be begging. Your mother ended up like this because she couldn’t control her greed and touched what was mine.”

“And even now, you keep pushing. Testing my limits. Insulting my mother. Turning our alliance into a war. Even if your mother came back from the dead right now, you’d drive her straight into her grave again!”

The moment the words left his mouth, the sound of a car door opening echoed from outside the hall.

“Who’s coming back from the dead?”

My mother swept into the hall in the latest Paris couture. Her flawlessly maintained face turned toward the room, mild curiosity in her eyes.