Too Late: The Innocent Traitor I Destroyed

tiary with a terminal cancer diagno

urial, I returned to the Vitiello fami

ed since childhood, look

the monster who k

rime I didn't commit to hide the ugly

e, Dante be

me stand guard outside his bedroom door wh

fire, I didn't hesitate

y back burning as debris fel

s and let Sofia take the credit. I could

as the worst of

ad an accident and needed a blood

y shutting down. He didn't know my b

doctors, ignoring my frail, trem

rained dry to save the

ined that his right-hand man fina

e didn't just leave town. You just executed

pte

th five years of darkness behind me and exa

e papers, his eyes filled with a pity that burned more than the bi

had a future to lose. I had nothing but a blood

n the edge of the city. I placed my entire prison wage on the counter,

I told the director. "I

my hollow cheeks. "That is expensi

the rest,"

led me to The

he Vitiello family held court. I knew this because I used to belong to them. I used to be Elena, the cherished ward, the girl w

er liked that I did not speak. I was a ghost

cost more than my life was worth. I balanced a tray of crystal glasses, my h

I hea

a double,

h the floorboards and traveled up my spine, paralyzing me. Dante Vitiello. The Capo d

oxygen out of the room. He was bigger than I remembered, his shoulders broade

d resting possessively on his thigh. A diamond

mony, Dante," she purred, leaning into hi

ray s

heartbreak, I wasn't sure. The glass shattered against the edge of the table.

!" the soldier ro

yourself small. I began to pick up the shards with my bare hands. A jagged piece of crystal sl

r sneered, realizing who I

m went

ld. I looked up. His eyes were the color of a stormy sea, devoid of any war

soldier commanded.

ace toward the alcohol-soaked carpet. I grit my teeth, preparing to obey. I

to

softly, yet it cr

er the soldier. He did not lo

his voice void of emotion. "And Vitiel

ollar and threw him toward the

othing her dress. Dante turned to me. I was still on my k

up, E

invading my space. He smelled of tobacco and rain and danger. He looked at my bleedin

far, little bir

nte," I said, my voi

, humorless sound.

es

and pulled out a thick ro

is," he said. "But

do any

are going to stand guard outside my bedroom door while I fuck my fiancé

designed specifically for me. He knew I loved him

e money. My bloody finger

t," I wh