جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

"Isabella, do you really have to make this so ugly in front of the whole family?"Carlos took a sharp step forward.His hands, callused from years of handling guns, clamped down on the Rolls-Royce's reinforced door.Veins bulged beneath his skin, and he held on so hard the expensive steel looked ready to bend.From the leather seat, I gave the South District's celebrated fighter a cold stare.He showed no sign of joy at marrying the late Don's daughter.All I saw in his eyes was fury at being humiliated in public."Ugly?"I idly inspected my long ruby-red nails, my voice flat."Mr. Rossi, you let your mistress ambush me at our own wedding and demand a place in our marriage. That's about as classy as it gets."Carlos's face stiffened. Embarrassment flashed in his eyes.Then he put on a pained, sincere look."Isabella, you grew up pampered on the estate. What would you know about life on the front lines?"The night the rival family ambushed us, if Lily hadn't taken a bullet for me, I'd a

The tension was suffocating.Carlos's gunmen blocked every way out.My driver was shaking. He gripped the wheel tightly, barely daring to breathe.This was one of the four great families.This was the so-called good match my wonderful father had handpicked for me.I looked at the gun barrels outside my window. What a joke."Carlos," I said slowly, my voice carrying through the car's loudspeaker."Do you really think a few hundred gunmen can trap me?"Carlos frowned, clearly angry that I still dared to talk back."Ms. Marino, I'm only doing this for your own good."He sighed as if he were trying his best to reason with me."All you have to do is get out of this car like a good girl, take Lily's hand, and walk down the church aisle together."I promise you'll still be the lady of the estate."Lily is very sensible. She'll never put herself above you."Lily played along at once, lowering her head to show her pale, delicate neck."Don't worry, Ms. Marino. I'll make your coffee every day an

He said my name with quiet tenderness.Silence fell. The cold wind snapped at his black coat.I took Alexander's outstretched hand without hesitation, my white lace glove against his skin.His fingertips trembled when they touched mine."Alec, you're a little late."I let him help me out of the Rolls-Royce, the elaborate skirt of my wedding dress sweeping around me.Alexander drew me close and shielded me from the wind with his black cashmere coat."It's my fault for being late. My queen should never have had to put up with this."He lowered his head, his voice tight with barely restrained violence."What do you want me to do with these idiots? Give them cement shoes and drop them in the sea, or hang them from the Brooklyn Bridge?"His casual tone made every kneeling member of the Rossi family go rigid with fear.This time Maria really did pass out. Several maids scrambled to pat her cheeks and bring her around.Carlos looked up sharply, shocked."Mr. Ricci! What did I do wrong?!"He s

At my command, the Tribunal's shadow soldiers descended on the South District thugs.At gunpoint, the men who'd been so arrogant moments ago didn't even dare resist. They threw down their weapons, dropped to their knees, and begged for their lives.Two heavily armed soldiers pinned Tyson to the ground. Terror and despair filled his scarred face.He'd never imagined that the boss he worshiped like a god was a fool who'd sold out to the enemy and couldn't even tell whose child he was raising."Ms. Marino, spare me! Please, spare me!"He groveled, all his bravado gone.I didn't look at him. I let the soldiers drag them away like dead dogs.Two broad-shouldered guards held Carlos upright. His hair was disheveled, his face bloody. Nothing remained of the kingpin he'd been.He looked at me, shaking like a leaf."Isabella... I was wrong. I know I was wrong..."He somehow found the strength to break free of the guards and crawl toward me."We grew up together. For old times' sake, just let me

He laughed until tears streamed down his face, mixing with the blood and grime. It made him look even more grotesque.His laughter echoed through the empty basement, full of despair and regret.He'd destroyed everything for a con artist who treated him like dirt, pushing away the woman who'd once loved him more than anyone.Now he was disgraced, abandoned, and alone. If that wasn't karma, what was?"Carlos, enjoy the rest of your days."Watching him suffer, I finally let go of whatever feelings I'd still had for him."At noon tomorrow, the entire Rossi family will be exiled to a drug den on the Mexican border."As for you, you'll stay in this flooded cell and slowly pay for your sins."I turned and, without another look at him, walked straight out of the dungeon."Isabella! Don't go!"Carlos's anguished cries rang out behind me."I was wrong! I know I was wrong! Please, give me one more chance!"Even if I have to be your servant for the rest of my life, I'll do anything, as long as I c