na De

n jewel of the New York social season; it was a

here blood was shed in

erse notification that he would pick me up

he ballroom on

ptics of this better than anyone. The Consigliere e

tarina," Mark murmured, his eye

aid, my voi

A dress that clung to my curves like a

table, the prime real estate

oors swung open. Alessandro w

course. Playing the inno

tators at a tennis match. The disrespect was so loud it was deafening. He

frowned. He didn't like that I was with Mark. He didn't like that I

Sculptures. Vintage wines that

neer brought out

rare blue diamonds that had once b

a symbol of the De Luca matri

to his sleeve. She whispered something in his ear,

expression indulgent.

llion,"

owd. He was buying the famil

burning beneath my makeup. This w

paddle, my m

on," I sai

me. His jaw tightened, a mu

five," he

shot back without a

and wife, warring over the family

Alessandro said,

link. "Fiv

d spend every cent in our joint account

paddle for

He frowned, confusion marring his p

microphone, his voice echoing in the sudde

, my voice cuttin

e seems to be a hol

olute, crush

d at Al

ne under the table. He

, arrogant expression. *Kno

't about the money. It was the leash. He was

. "Use my account," he

gly uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, sir. The De Luca family trust

ssandro using

s tr

is gavel, the sound like a gunsh

d to the stage, took the neck

diamonds sparkled against her skin, a mo

ed. Polite, ter

back was straigh

cry. I di

h over me. I let it soak

umiliatio

hought he had won. He though

d just handed me the weap