SOLD TO THE RUTHLESS MAFIA

PTE

in the tiny apartment on the edge of Laventine's

rled at the corners, and dust floated in brown shafts of light that streamed t

fingers flew across the keyboard, eyes focused on a sea of code. She was deep inside a ba

shifts at Lorenzo's Diner. But to the dark web, she was "Sable", the

er's familiar coug

rse from years of chain-smoking and heart

nd minimized her s

ds. Maria looked thinner than usual. Her cheeks had hollowed more than last week. H

t night?" Isabella as

o. Haven't heard a word since yesterday afte

sank. Her father

ype to make women swoon and men follow. But life had a way of dulling the shin

t for survival. And this time, Isabella

he take?" Is

he savings jar. Even the cash I tucke

her eyes and g

e say befor

this was the one. That he was gonna f

all before. Every li

y where?"

ut the 'Valenti game.' I didn't ask for

's heart

As in Dant

, realization dawni

wer. She turned awa

d he once shot a man for coughing too loud during a poker hand. He didn't just run games-he owned entire networks of debt collectors, hi

ht when Enzo stumble

face pale as chalk. Isabella was seated at the table, arms crosse

e you been?" Isabel

es. He dropped into a c

Bella. I...

hrowing our

wear. I sat down and I had it-I had the winning hand. And then...

an

loses. It's like he sees y

" Maria whispered,

idn't

bella slammed her

ed. "The

asped.

omething else

yes narrowed

n't look

d you be

.yo

rely a whisper.

out and she colla

s voice cracked, tears al

ouldn't fold. I thought-I thought I could win! He said I c

daughter in

n't lik

t like that. Explain how you put my life o

ing. She backed away, fist

nzo repeated helplessly. "

g," she hissed. "You ru

sed. No o

e disappeared. Isabella didn't say a word. She sat by the window

calls. Tell him we're

name. Just

ed the screen

n't open the door. We'll

te Valenti," she said b

e window. Her face

're h

streetlight, a sleek black Maserati pulled up to the c

t. Broad. Dressed

back do

cuffs of his tailored coat. He didn't lo

e Va

dark as midnight. He didn't smile. He didn't frown. He simply wat

pered, frozen, But her eyes