ENZO'

h half-opened eyes, I saw a woman frant

hair tumbling over bare shoulders as she struggled into

ered, my voice r

hing her dress to her chest. "Hi," sh

k less intimidating. "W

must have said something wro

be," she said, fumb

your name last n

e says, not me

didn't ask. "Can I make y

utch, pulled out her wallet, and before I understood what's

" she said coldly. "This

r a moment, I can't process wh

his?" I demanded, h

plied, zipping her dress. "

t caring about my nakedness.

d, grabbing her purse. "Thanks for

. I stood there, naked and furious, the crumpled bills in my f

nderstanding straight, but what would be the point? S

caught my eye beneath the bed. A delicate silv

cool against my palm. Prob

m the nightstand.

" I se

one hour. Your father specifically asked me

rate suicide, especially with t

, already calculating how f

the bracelet in my hand. I should t

before heading to the shower. My family does

y mind kept returning to the woman who thought I

already seated in the conference room. It's three

st flicker of acknowledgment, which, for Vi

as tradition dictates. The next

elder brother, he wasn'

. Oswald and his associates

nce of numbers, projections, and veiled

delegation filed out. My father remains seated, his ex

oked," he says w

ntly, waiting for

re near

me to spare," I co

se." He finally looked at me, icy blue eyes identical to my own. "T

The Kingwickes? I thoug

losed his portfolio with

losely behind him as w

th salt-and-pepper hair stands by the window,

r called me, "you r

family, our oldest allies in a cit

im with appropriate respec

erves, clapping my shoulder. "Last time I s

," I confirmed. "A

we have a situation. All rival families have do

amily may operate legitimate businesses now

trategic alliances rather than street w

down," Santino adds, swirling h

t, most powerful organizatio

he Kingwickes?" I asked, though I

es has the upper hand in our grand plan. A partnership w

tnership, y

e," my father said bluntly. "A union between o

ng in my veins. "You're ar

ss business initially, but Edward Kingwicke is bringing his daughter. She'll b

nt to marry a stra

about what you want. It's about everything w

e detached interest of a man observin

as if that made a difference. "Educated at Oxfo

but I know the rules of our wo

I said finally. "

isfied. "Good. Don't

on my shoulders. I'm not going to completely take control of e

rother when she found out he was the next don a

g inexplicably of the

ian

reality of who I am an

elet in my pocket, wonderin

d we arrived at the private dining room in the Kingwickes hot

beckons me over. "M

firmly. "A pleasu

son, Joseph, my daughter-in-law, Martha ,

me Joe" his

d-money way, pearls at her throat, sil

nd poised, with calculating eyes that ass

I thought.

offer another practice

ooking equally st

n, color draining from her fac

this morning, now wrapped in emerald silk, ha

a King

managed to say, extendi

touched mine. "Mr. Lombardo," she gree

erest. Don Santino looked amused, though he couldn't

t is Sophia Kingwicke. But the woman standing

ing her sapphire br