na De

filtering through the high-arched windows. Dust motes danced in the

he opposite end. He was cutting his steak with surgical precision, t

velly, like stones grinding togeth

It was bitter, mirroring the taste o

o," I said, keeping my voice smooth, devoid of emotion. "I noticed some

mine. He was a predator by nature, and he recognized the shift in the atmospheric pressure. He

he asked, his

"Starting with the discretionary allowances for non-core family member

en, a small, almost imperceptible smile touched t

liere, who was blending into the sh

and began tappi

, the shockwave

ion designer handbag in the city, only to have her Black Card declined. Ru

I hadn't turned a page in twenty minutes. The air was frag

commotion be

a mottled red. She looked ready to scream, to tear me apart. B

ask of sweet, wide-eyed concern. It

eaning several Capos' wives were present, sipping champagn

a custom riding outfit that likely cos

r arm with mine. "Is everything okay? I heard

nted a reaction, a public

her touch. It was like having

trike her. I simply stepped back, disengaging

I said, my voice dipping

to trip over. She threw her arms out, unbalanced herself on purpo

ankle and grimacing in feigned pa

r the pavilion s

ls sinking into the turf, clucki

hissed at me, kneeling besi

r whispered loud enoug

e storm. The gaslighting was instant. Col

e heavy, urg

ainst the earth. He didn't look at me. He went straight to Aria,

oice dripping with a tenderness

n the crook of his neck, hiding her smirk. "Sh

. His eyes met mine, and t

ze," he

at the woman acting out a

" I

warned, his voi

I stated calmly, ref

ling his lip. "You are

n house. The wives glared at me, shaking their heads in j

the mud, the si

"compensate" Aria for her distress, Alessandro wo

m the second-

standing behind her, his chest pressed flush against her back. He whispered som

, his favorite stallion. He never let

my ballet rehearsals. The empty seat in t

ortant than life,*" D

trampled into the dirt of that p

ust cheating on me.

nto my retinas. I needed a new strategy. I was a queen on

to stop play