Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 1 - Chapitre 10

Given a second chance at life, I decided I was finished competing with Bianca.When I opened my eyes, my father, Vittorio Moretti, was sitting behind the long walnut table in his study, his fingertips resting on a photograph.The man in the photograph wore a black suit and sat on the terrace of a seaside restaurant. His expression was cool, his right hand rested on a cane, and his right leg looked noticeably stiffer than his left."Niccolo Vitale." My father watched me as though he expected me to flip the table over. "The Vitale family's only son. If you don't want to meet him, I'll turn them down right now."I looked down at the photograph and said nothing for a while.As I lay dying in my last life, Matteo knelt in the rain, holding me, his hands covered in my blood. Our baby was already gone, and I was down to my last breath. He kept saying he'd been wrong to have me investigated, to keep me at the estate, and, worst of all, to call any of it protection.All I felt then was disgust.

For the first few months after the wedding, Matteo rarely came to the main bedroom.He was never rude and he never went out of his way to humiliate me. He was simply cold. In the morning he would ask the driver what time I was going out. At night he would leave the charity paperwork I had to sign on the table. Beyond that, we were more like two business partners forced to live in the same house.At first I didn't care.I was too busy watching the Rossi family.I grew up on stories about mafia families. Brothers turning on each other over territory, uncles and nephews selling each other out for money, women used as bargaining chips in marriage pacts and alliances.I assumed the Rossi family was the same, just better at keeping the filth out of sight.But none of that happened.Rosa remembered every child's birthday. However late Matteo got in, he went to the main house to look in on her first. After Bianca married, she brought Luca back for dinner every few days. Cousins fought over the

Two days later, I went to the Vitale family's seaside restaurant.My father was still uneasy when his car stopped outside. He reminded me again, "Niccolo wasn't always like this."I turned my head. "Meaning what?""When he was 18 or 19, he was the star of the Vitale family. A good shot, and ruthless. Everyone thought he'd take over the family at a younger age than his father had." My father paused. "Then something happened. He injured his leg and rarely appeared in public after that. The Vitale family has kept a low profile these past few years. People say they're in decline."When he finished I only asked, "Is that everything?"That stopped him."I'm warning you, that's all. If you truly don't want this, there's still time to turn back."I pushed the car door open."I've already made a mess out of a marriage once."My father frowned. "Meaning what?""Meaning I'm clear-headed now. I know what I want."The restaurant's second floor overlooked the sea.Niccolo was already there.He was t

The Ferro Foundation dinner was held in an old hotel.Caterina owned hotels, funds, and galleries. Now that she was older, she rarely showed up anywhere truly dangerous, but the families still treated her with respect.Niccolo was supposed to come with me, but his follow-up appointment ran late that afternoon.His voice on the phone was flat. "You don't have to go.""I'm already dressed.""Then I'll come later.""Don't."I looked at the dark red suit in the mirror."I'll go on my own."The dinner was crowded.I paid my respects to Caterina and went looking for somewhere quiet to wait for dinner to be served. But as I passed the wine cellar at the back, I came face to face with Luca.He saw me too, and he didn't bother hiding his wariness."Bianca is here."It took me a second. "And?""Serafina." He frowned. "This is Caterina's evening."I almost laughed."What exactly do you think I came for?""You know what you've done.""Yes. I do."Over the years, I had done more than enough to make

I wore the dark red suit to the charity shoot.The first thing my father did when he saw me was frown."Your mother always hated you in that color.""Which is why I want to try it."He looked at me for two seconds and in the end said nothing.The Ferro winery was outside the city, and the shooting events took place on open ground behind the vineyard. People had signed up for clay targets, moving targets, and a two-person covering-fire event. Familiar faces crowded the sidelines.I had barely gotten out of the car when somebody called my name.A few young women were standing under a sunshade. Back when Bianca and I were at our worst, they never missed a chance to watch."Serafina."One of them looked me up and down, smiling."All dressed up today? Have you finally found a new target?"I kept walking.Another one raised her voice deliberately. "Luca is a married man now. She can hardly keep staring at him. I hear she's set her sights on Matteo Rossi."I faltered for a moment.Not out of