Chapter 1

I pressed a hand to my stomach. A dull ache throbbed low in my belly.

Aurelia moved closer to Vincenzo. "Sofia is just soft-hearted by nature. Don't be mad with her." His frown only deepened and he pressed his lips into a line.

I laughed bitterly. Of course. I was the only daughter of a Mafia family, yet I was kind and timid. No wonder my uncle was disappointed in me.

Raphael mistook my laugh for mockery and scoffed, "Sofia, Lia was trying to smooth things over with the underboss for you. How could you laugh at her? You're always like this. You never appreciate it when someone is trying to help you."

I pushed myself to my feet. All the anger I'd been holding back finally boiled over. "Raphael, no one told me the signing had been postponed. Worse, I was summoned all the way from Sicily to Lipari. I get seasick, yet you had me running back and forth three times in one day, by car and by boat. Why don't you ask who lied to me?"

Raphael was caught off guard and turned to Aurelia.

Aurelia clung to Vincenzo's arm, and the tears came right on cue. "Raphael, I told her we were vacationing on the island. Maybe Sofia misunderstood and thought I was telling her to come here to marry you."

My head snapped toward her. "But you told me—"

Vincenzo cut me off. "Enough. Sofia, you're going back to Sicily alone. Right now. Every time you show up, everyone ends up miserable. Why can't you be more cheerful?"

When my father was still alive, this same man had called me the most sensible girl in the Ferraro family. He'd said I was the one he never had to worry about, the girl he adored. The hurt spread through my chest. I bit down hard on my lip. "Can I leave tomorrow instead? It's late, and I get seasick."

Aurelia wiped her eyes and spoke up. "Since Sofia is already here, why don't you and Raphael stay and enjoy the island with her? I'll be perfectly happy on my own."

Raphael looked at me with open disgust. "We've gone on countless trips with you since we were kids. This is the one time we're here for Lia, and you still have to ruin it? Leave. Now."

I stared at him, then turned to Vincenzo in disbelief. Vincenzo nodded and motioned for his men to take me away. I shoved one of the bodyguards away. Tears filled my eyes before I could stop them. "I never wanted to ruin anything. Lia told me Raphael had planned a wedding ceremony for me on the island. That's the only reason I came. Why else would I have gotten on a boat?"

Vincenzo gave Aurelia a suspicious look before turning back to me. "Where's your proof?"

I grabbed my phone, but all I had was our video call history. There was no way to prove what Aurelia had said during the call.

Lia let go of Vincenzo's arm and stepped back, looking hurt. "Sofia, I would never take any of them away from you. Why are you doing this to me?"

Raphael immediately went to her and pulled her into his arms. "Get a boat ready. Take Ms. Ferraro back to Sicily."

I clenched my phone tight as the bodyguards marched me down to the dock.