Substitute Bride: Taming The Masked Mafia Don

o P

Damien Valachi i

the thick, suffocating air of the study. It wasn't a request. It was a com

inner. This was the first time in a month that Burde

allowed into the main house when they needed to put on a show of family harmony to the outside world. Burdette's voice was restrai

behind her mother, Anita. A flicker of triumph, qu

ce dripping with false sweetness.

love, a role she played with nauseating skill. "Cleo, darling. This is your duty. You know, your birth i

her heart to another man, and the Jenningses simply refused to let their

concern, the way her eyes never quite reached mine-it was all a script she'd perfect

just enough. Her fing

know who's begging now. What makes you t

r painted smile tigh

over your head! If it weren't for your pretty face, we would never hav

flew up, aime

ht her

t made her gasp. Her eyes widened, first in shock, then in pain, as my

shrieked, struggli

nst the heavy oak desk with a dull thud. Sh

ice was a whip crack.

f it were made of lead. I flexed my fingers, d

urdette's furious gaze. The air

ed. A cold,

marr

f washed over their faces, smug and se

I continued, my voice low

"Once you're married to that cripple, he'll break you. And when he does, don't expect anyone to come for you. You'll be forgotten, just like y

incessant whining-it's nothin

nty million dollars. Cash.

g in the air, a beau

he price f

A vein throbbed in his temple. "Are you i

e dropping to a near whisper. I took a step closer, invading his personal space. The scent of

efer I tell the Valachi family that their intended bride, Miss Jalynn

s the k

cks. He knew. Of course he knew

white. Anita, who had been rubbing her wrist, froze, her eyes wide wit

earching, pleading, threatening. He s

the frantic ticking of the grandfather clock in the corn

e finally rasped, the wo

in my spine. "Enough to burn the Jennings name to

t to rot in obscurity was gone. In her place stood something he

expensive suit. When he opened them, they were f

out. "I'll gi

t her have it. Once she's dead,

ol

. I walked to the door, my steps measured and

w," I said, not bothering to look back. "If it's not, the whole

, leaving the wreckage of their

rdette's muffled voice on

ready... And yes. The

click shut, a sound

had no idea who th