All Chapters of The Lipstick on My Don’s Cigar: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

I left the estate that night. I called my father from the car."I'm calling off the engagement. And the alliance. I'm pulling De Luca money and supply lines out of his territory."My father is the Don. The head of the De Luca family. He stayed quiet for two seconds. Then he said, "Done. But keep up appearances. Until our books and ships are clear, smile. Don't let the other families smell blood."After that, the silent treatment started.Nico blocked my number. Just like every time we fought.He was so sure of himself. He thought I'd cave.He waited for me to crawl back to his estate and beg. Just like I did for the last five years.But I didn't.A whole week went by. Complete radio silence.Then the phone rang. It was the Rinaldi Underboss."Miss Isabella. It's the Boss's birthday party tonight. Eyes are on us. If you don't show, the streets will talk. They'll question the alliance."I had to cover my family's withdrawal. I couldn't give them a reason to doubt. So, I went to their p

Six months ago.Ruby was just a pole dancer at a Rinaldi nightclub.Nico broke the rules. Brought her into his inner circle. Called her his "personal secretary."She showed up at the office maybe once a week.The rest of the time? She was in his penthouse. His yacht. His sports cars.Meanwhile, Nico dumped all the real mob work on me. All the dirty, dangerous business. Like it was my job.The first red flag? My promise ring. It showed up on Ruby's finger.At first, Nico would explain. He would coax me. Tell me sweet lies.But soon, he just got annoyed.I stayed. I endured. I tried to please him. And it only made his favoritism for Ruby worse. Wilder. More brazen.She sat right beside him at family sit-downs.Openly rubbing her chest against his arm. Fixing his collar in front of the capos. Flirting.Nico didn't push her away. He pinched her chin. Teasing her right back.She'd sip a martini and hand him the rest.Nico wouldn't even change the straw.He'd place his mouth right over her r

Nico's POVMy soldier’s voice was shaking.“And... the champ lost.”I shot up. My chair crashed backwards.“Who placed the last grand?! The match was over!” I grabbed his collar. Rage exploded in my chest. “Who? Who the fuck ignored my warning and got in the ring?”No one touched that prize pool in this city. It was a trap I set for Isabella.“It was Miss Isabella’s man!” He was literally chattering his teeth.My brain buzzed.“What did you say?”“Her fighter wasn't even wearing gloves. Less than three minutes. Shattered our undefeated champ’s jaw. He’s in the ICU right now.”I let go. I stepped back, stunned.Impossible.Isabella never touched my underground fights. She hated the blood.“He left a message for Miss Isabella in front of everyone.” My man gulped. He couldn't even look me in the eye.“Speak!”“He said the million bucks is a gift for Miss Ruby taking power. He doesn't want it.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “He also said the De Luca family officially cut all ties with us

Isabella's POVThe New York winter wind bit to the bone.But inside the new Michelin restaurant in Manhattan, it was warm as spring. The lights were soft and yellow.Aleksandr just closed a massively profitable arms deal.He took off his stiff suit jacket. He just wore a black dress shirt underneath. His muscles tensed dangerously with every move.He sat across from me. Those hands that usually played with Glocks were holding a knife and fork right now.He didn't let me do a thing. He cut up a bloody ribeye steak himself.The blade was cold. But his eyes were burning. Like he wanted to eat me alive.“Open, Isabella.” He pierced a bleeding piece of meat. Held it right to my lips.I stared at him. I opened my mouth and took the bite.His thumb swiped my lower lip. He wiped away a drop of red juice. His eyes went dark instantly.Right then, a hoarse, shaking voice smashed the heart-pounding silence.“Isabella.”I looked up.Nico stood by the table.His suit hung off his bones. He looked r