Scarlet Vows: Trapped in the Mafia's Embrace

road lined with bare trees. March winds rattled the windows as

brushing the hidden shiv in her shoe. Pris

rearview mirror. "Your father has

sia's veins. "P

see soon

chest tightened as her childhood home came into view. The house look

Mama's hair had more gray now. Papa's shoulde

. "Get out," th

sneakers crunching on the stones. Three years of dreaming ab

ed as if to hug her daughter, then stopp

er eyes. "Come insid

no comfort now. Alessia stood in the living room, refusing to sit. Family photos still

rs without a single visit or letter, and

ed. "We had

as the prison floors she'd scrubbed. "You chose Is

rmchair. "The bank found evidence months ago that the

unded. "What do yo

all jump. The driver entered w

here," he

owed money-a lot of money. When you went to prison,

wisting her wedding ring. "From peo

" the driver clarifi

orettis controlled the city's underworld-drugs, gambl

h me?" she asked, though part

ed-two hulking guards flanking a tall figure

ing-broad shoulders under an expensive black suit, dark hair cut short, and eyes so pale blue they

this is the daughter," he said, his voic

. Moretti, we can work s

rs," Dante cut him of

a pleaded. "Just

. "You misunderstand. I'm n

perfectly still, the way she'd learned to do when gu

ed, as if discussing the weather. "With interest, they now

a as his words sank in.

aid his criminal daughter was being released.

son shiv could. Alessia turned to he

g Isabella did-after I rotted in prison for cr

bbed. "She's engaged now. Respect

" Bitter laughter bubbled from Aless

urious eyes. "Did I miss somethin

the sister who framed me. Ask why the

oss Dante's face-surpri

e?" he asked

lla manipulated evidence, made it look like Alessia stole from

as expendable,"

Then he did something unexpected-he laughed. The

he Rossis. "And I'm a monster by most stand

cket and draped it over a chair. The movement r

," he said calmly. "

d snapped

omes with me-not as pay

did favors without expecting something in re

c in people, despite what you may have

hy

"These people threw away a d

enly. "You can'

whatever I want. The question is-" he

eld her pictures, at the parents who had abandoned her and now tried to

she asked Dante, "wh

eyes narrowed. "Though the

d survived prison by making hard

d firmly. "But not

urved slightly.

th a light touch on her elbow. Her parents called after h

wait! We

, three years of hurt cryst

uietly. "When she loses everything lik

e led her to a different car-a sleek black Bentley with

the door for her. "Mine taught me that family is

ather seat, she kept her hand near he

careful distance between them. "My home. Whe

the house of betrayal.

ckname was Ghost, correct? You learned to use knives. You helped a

ed. "How do you

it my business to know everythi

do I inte

recognize the look of someone who survived betray

wooded hill. Trees parted to reveal a massive st

said as the gates swung open. "F

one prison only to enter another-or was it a sanctuary? One th

e her skin tingle. "Tell me, Ghost-if I helped you destroy th

them, the gates closed with a heavy clang, seali