All Chapters of One Mask, No Mercy : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The camera was shoved so close to my face that I couldn't look away."She still hasn't figured it out!" Valentina squealed. "You should've seen her face when Matteo grabbed me and ran. She went completely white!"Laughter rolled through the engagement party. Several heads of minor mafia families crowded around the staircase, congratulating my sister on her brilliant idea. They assured her that once she uploaded the footage, her engagement-party prank would go viral.I lay curled on the steps, clutching the black overcoat a security guard had thrown over me. I was freezing. Waves of pain twisted through my lower abdomen.Where I'd struck the stairs, it felt as if someone had pressed a red-hot iron against my body. Every movement sent another searing stab across my stomach and back."Hospital," I managed.My mother's smile faded. "Why would you need a hospital? Nothing actually exploded."She bent down, caught my arm, and tried to haul me upright.The moment I raised my torso, pa

Matteo softened his voice, as if he were generously offering me a way out."Valentina's been through enough today. You need to make it up to her. From now on, if she wants to film something, just cooperate. She's your sister. What's it going to cost you?"Valentina peeked out from behind him. Satisfaction flashed across her face before she hid it behind another sweet smile."Matteo, forget it. Elena doesn't like being on camera. I just won't film her anymore."The more gracious she acted, the more he admired her.He patted her shoulder and turned to me, more disappointed than ever."Look at Valentina. Then look at yourself. She thinks about your feelings, and you won't do one small favor for her."Mom nodded. "Exactly. We're family. What's the harm in a few videos? If Valentina becomes famous, you'll get some recognition, too."So that was what I was worth to them.Not only was I expected to sacrifice whatever my sister wanted. My fear, my dignity, even my marriage were suppos

"She's unconscious! Her blood pressure is dangerously low!""Get an IV in, now!"Matteo instinctively moved toward the medical team, but a paramedic shoved him back."We're trying to save her life. Stay out of the way!"Mom stood frozen in the doorway."How did this happen? She was walking just a little while ago."Valentina still had her camera raised. The moment she saw my condition, she hurriedly stopped recording."This has nothing to do with me. Elena locked herself in here. I had no idea she was really hurt."The paramedics cut away the parts of my gown that were preventing them from examining me.Dr. Greco looked up. "How was she injured?"Matteo opened his mouth, then closed it again."She fell down the stairs."A young woman from one of the minor mafia families couldn't keep quiet any longer."We were all there. She didn't just fall. Don Rinaldi pushed her away, and then..."The room went silent.Matteo wheeled toward her."I didn't know she'd fall! I only want

"Pregnant?"Matteo stared at the nurse."You mean Elena might be carrying my child?""When was her last period?" the nurse asked briskly. "Has she been nauseated, unusually tired, or eating differently lately?"Matteo opened his mouth, but no answer came out.We'd lived together for two years. He couldn't even remember when he'd stopped paying attention to my life.I took care of every part of his daily routine. Yet he knew nothing about what was happening to my body."She can't be pregnant," he said, almost as if he could make it true by saying it aloud.Mom shook her head, too."She's been busy with the engagement. Stress can make a woman's cycle irregular."Then she stopped.Two weeks earlier, I'd mentioned at dinner that I had no appetite. I'd even asked whether stress could explain why my period was so late.Mom hadn't looked up from her plate. She'd warned me that our engagement was approaching and I shouldn't do anything to embarrass the Vitale family.Matteo had be

My father had only two daughters: Valentina and me.Our family's influence in Valmont's underworld was legally separate from its legitimate business holdings. My uncle's son had inherited the title of Don, while the controlling interests in our lawful businesses were held through an offshore trust.Originally, Mom, Valentina, and I were entitled to equal shares.But before he died, my father had included an unusual provision in the trust. If two direct family members seriously and maliciously harmed a third, the trustee could transfer control of the business assets to the victim. The other two would receive only a modest monthly living allowance.Ironically, Mom had begged Dad to add that clause to protect Valentina from me.I'd been building my own businesses since my teens, and for years I'd tried to compete with my cousin for the family's leadership. Mom knew I was ambitious. She'd always been terrified I'd hurt my sister to get a larger inheritance.Now it was Mom and Valenti