Shattered Vows: The Mafia Queen Escapes

nna

in the underground cl

ing rapidly," he whispered, eyes darting toward the corners of the ceiling

knot. There were no tears le

ht hours.

shop in a black-market blind spot. With methodical movements, I pulled my hood lower and removed my diamond wedding ring. I had spent an hour

d face. He was a man who recognized desperation when he saw it. He offer

it," I

phone. Serena had posted on social media: a limited-edition luxury

s all my wedding ring was worth

o Elena's room, t

le sister. Julian was right behind her, his pr

Elena's continued treatment," Serena announc

y do her luxury purchases require no overs

ft. Serena operates under my direct authority." He handed me a humiliating requisition form-the kind given to low-lev

pressing against my abdomen. Di

ch. He was looking through me, al

me. Serena glanced back at me from the doorway, and for one fraction of a second, her mask slippe

ss Julian's cruelty. "Her organs are fail

he operating room for three hours, praying

ack-market medications cannot stop. Her body cannot endure much more trauma. If we don't

s. I had forty-e

nstairs to a restaurant near the clinic to buy th

le. Wine. Laughter. A jarring counterpoint to t

ena sat up straight, feigning professionalism. "We

sition forms to spend h

am rewarding Serena for her exce

y good at keeping me

ed voice: "She's so unstable lately, Julian. I worry about her mental stat

an would have me confined to the estate f

ddenly, fireworks exploded outside the window, painting the dark sky

ireworks," one chuckled. "To

rare blood-diamond necklace. I knew that necklace. I had seen it once in Julian's private vault, and h

f his heirs. Draped around the neck of t

d typed: Thank you for your hard work, Serena. You even get to wear the jewels the Mafia Que

erena's theatrical tears through the receiver. "I didn't

Gianna. You are humiliating a loyal woman who

eds surgery. Twenty-four

ne wen

e had hung up whi

eart monit

into a piercing, horizontal stroke-a line that forever sealed Elena on the