Vows of sin

Estate,

e from their chignon. Below, the estate was alive with light and laughter, the elite of the mafia world gathered lik

ept

silk, strapless, slit to the thigh. A calculated display, a silent message

ne glass, jaw clenched tight enough to ache

was the

lass in the center of the grand ballroom. His voice

lliance forged not through bloodshed, but through unity. And t

ilings. Alessia's pulse pounded in her ears as her father

e Mo

eemed to narrow around him. No fanf

hered with the pretense of civility. His hair was dark, tousled just enough to hint at recklessness,

s. Steel-gray. C

etti didn

ver h

lid down

er father continued, "my daughter,

e sentence that

utched pearls and whispered approval, and the men-rivals and a

lips pressed into a tight li

her to hide every emotio

d to me

law school abroad. But it had all been a smokescreen, a di

e crowd like a blade. With every step, the tension

a didn

efuse

hin slightly to meet his gaze. Up close, he was even more dangerous. Re

ured, voice low an

er voice sharp as cr

his eyes. Amusement.

what I expec

exactly wh

a smirk. "Good. Fear ke

idestepped him smoothly, placing her glas

he said, voice barely above a whis

ience is earned. Not demanded. I don't expect a pet

d. Damn him for knowing exa

he whispered, "but

Didn't threaten.

his voice to command obedience. His silen

e offered a slight no

crowd. But Alessia could still feel

lway, her heels clicking against the ancient stone. Her bedroom

ng fingers, trading it for a silk rob

. A calculated power move to end decades of blo

ibbon tied around

man with a reputation that even the most harden

him like smoke-women disappearing after one night in his bed, enemies bur

d her most was

way he lo

y owned her. B

d red, her eyes lined with smoke, but the girl beneath it all-the girl

won't disappear. I won't become a shadow

at the door.

oice. "They're asking for you again.

teady breath before tightening the

to find a way out. Or at l

e her future husband, but she

thout

e wanted

y for the war that