Scarlet Vows: Trapped in the Mafia's Embrace

had unlocked last night. For a moment, she forgot where she was.

back-Dante, the attack,

The house seemed quieter now. No r

to test her

ard, but her attention was on her phone. Taking a deep breath,

es up. Not

could use as handholds. Alessia tucked the dagger int

on had made her arms strong. Near the bottom, sh

ard the tall hedge that

somew

a leaned against a

fresh air,"

k. "Sure. That's why you're sneaking ou

er dagger. "I'm not going

erned about the weapon. "Most prisoners do

ges are st

u. Trust is hard after betrayal. But

o," Aless

om the tree. "Boss wants to see you

f I re

drag you there, and we

ight, but Rosa clearly knew what she was do

ring her hand from the

e. Dante sat at a small table, reading something on his tablet. H

ue eyes took in Alessia's appearance-her slig

rning exercise?"

. "The view is better f

chuckled. "Sit. Eat som

e chair across from him. The table held fresh f

tried to escape?" Al

e. "You've been trapped for three years

ords stunned her. "Ho

"I spent two years in a cell when I wa

d this. The mighty Vip

ou telling

nemy." He pushed a plate of food

The sweetness exploded in her mouth,

said, sliding his tablet to

was a bank record-transfers from her

e for," she said, fingers tremb

look at

rs continued after I went to prison." She looked up

is voice gentle. "Isabella kept stealing after you were gone

f maybe, somehow, she had made a mistake. If she deserved her

ed. "Why would she

nd seeing others happy. Your sister saw everything you

a tear. "How did yo

r family's finances." His lips curved into a dangerous smile. "Your

's chest. "Is this eno

ud." He took a sip of his coffee. "That's where my offer comes in. Help

is strange man. One minute he was a feared maf

me?" she asked suddenly.

sion serious. "Because you deserve

out of kindness?" She laughe

connections I want to break. But-" He paused, seeming to choose his

respond, Cooper hur

a situation. There's a man at the ga

ood turned t

ncenti," Cooper confirmed

ned dangerously. "How di

rom you." Cooper couldn't hide her s

oned her when she needed him most. N

he said. "He wor

ng from relaxed to lethal in seconds. "

thinking. His muscles tensed under her touch

y not," Da

"This is our chance to find out

ce. "You'd face the

that moment." Alessia's grip tigh

didn't respond. Then he p

e said softly. "I'm r

nding with a mix of fear

arlor," Dante told Cooper

rned back to Alessia. "A

ut she knew one thing-this was her chance to

e said, squarin

ost like pride. "Then let's go meet your ex

small of her back-protective, steady. She should have pulled away. Instead, she