Scarlet Vows: Trapped in the Mafia's Embrace

three stories high, with windows that glowed amber in the fading light. As Alessi

observed, his breath mak

nsive coat and held it out. The black wool looked

," she said, chin raised d

outh. "It's not charity. It's common

eyes. "You survived prison by being tough. I respect th

s body and smelling faintly of expensive cologne. The weig

e muttered, sur

ard the massive front doors where tw

crystal chandeliers. Paintings in gold frames lined walls covered in deep re

ed, leading her through

eiling, and what looked like a professional gym. Men and women in dark suits nodded r

aff?" sh

rected. "Not by blo

he size of her family's entire living room. A four-poster bed dominated one wall. Plush carpet

," Dante s

ree years in a cell barely big enough for a b

she could stop it. "Why all this?

ng her face. "Let's say I enjoy collecting

ot a t

. "No. You're much more

t carried herself like someone twice her size. A jagged scar ran from her h

, then turned curious eyes

e staying with us. Alessia, this is

ws rose. "The

ng," Alessia snapped,

ante explained calm

stled lo

ted. "Clothes, toiletries, anything. And as

idened. "Your bes

on hardened. "Is

backed down insta

n the main dining room. Rosa will show you the way." The

o what's your story, prison girl? H

ve no idea," A

ace. "That makes you unique already. Come on, let's find y

jeans and a soft sweater that felt like heaven against skin accustomed to rough prison fabrics. Rosa h

bedroom door

suit entered. "I'm Cooper. The boss

babysitter," A

ysitter. Protection. The boss has enemies.

ir. What was she really? A pri

o leave?" Al

should ask the boss t

s were set at the massive table. Dante stood when Alessia entere

ved. "Sit. We have

with herbs, potatoes that melted in her mouth, vegetables in butter

omething like amusement.

simply, reaching f

your sister," h

early cho

someone would frame the

favorite. Pretty, perfect, charming. When I got engaged to Luc

e took

my freedom. My repu

nearby hearth reflecting in his eyes. "Wh

like smoke. Alessia put down

o you

Luca Vincenti-his law firm handles money for people who shouldn't have

raced. "How do

y." He sipped his wine. "Your sister and her fiancé have stepped

in Alessia's mind. "You wa

borate. You want revenge? I want what th

"And what exactly would thi

e understand their operation from the inside." His voice dropped lower. "And whe

years of hatred and planning could finally bear fr

f I re

hat door with enough money for a fresh start somewhere else. But y

f rumors were true. But also the first person who believed her s

me go if I refused?

nished. "I don't trade in people,

lt foreign after ye

antees do I have that you won't just use

with a small wooden box, which he placed between them and opened.

ed the knife, presenting it handle-first. "This says you'r

testing its perfect ba

rected. "Like you could

lessia felt something shift in the ai

softly, "do we h

eemed far away now. In its place stood a n

ed, gripping the dag

the family, Alessia Rossi." He raised his wine

dining room. Blood streaked his face, and he

omeone sold our shipment route. The Brazzi

deadly predator. He stood, all warmth vanishing from th

d. "Only your inner circle an

gaze, suspicion dar

she protested. "I

message. Said your new pet brought bad luck, and

red into Alessia. The deal they'd just made

need to determine if I've invite