The Mafia King's Pretend Wife

The West

lights of Chicago sparkled below like a field of fallen stars. But Elena saw only the darkness-the fortress beyond the glass

pour a glass of red. The wine tasted like iron-bitter, strong, a

nocking beh

ath stu

is

sme, standing impeccabl

t is

at 1:00 A.M. in the priv

trust. Yes, Dante trusted Esme - a Phoenix-level operator, ex-MI6. She'

uca the guard team rotates every fifteen m

tightened. "

lick, she clo

allahan Pr

couches, crystal decanters, and a wall of black books-th

elbow resting on the armrest. Esme stood at attention at the d

mooth as silk and sharp as g

if I'd be inc

, slicing rare steak and aspa

fuel, Mrs.

ith her for

ows. Syndicate forces are watching. Bodies ha

hest - already? She put down he

w b

d. The wall planted w

yed, with dee

you power. Tonight, your husband's w

it, cut

ing us. But this wen

ped th

died in separate drive-by shootings. Ruinou

burned. And because they married Dante, she lost loy

om was

said softly. "Unless you'd

emples. "Headaches

ood wine instead

es nar

ea

no

ed two

liances,"

, noting the tension

ive," sh

Room, Under

nd banks of mon

s from the De Luca estate. Shot at one of her

Chicago highlighted wit

ed by muted chatter

ed pacing.

er forehead.

g look. "You're p

ned transcripts. "These mes

file labeled

lkan connections. Gun traff

his jaw. "Mil

a fr

s were coordinated. Three separate te

ht of that. "Who do y

ith resources. Someone who

wants us to

who knows fear - and wan

hed her hand. "If you want t

e'd ever said. She recognized it - h

se somethin

didn't survive my father

her, eyes

e stre

s phone

ante's Pri

e a hunted animal. Esme popped the hood; the car

clim

into the dr

sat

ted the

are we

at her. "

ssan

omeone

ind of

the road. "Rec

e don't doubt

wed hard.

eeting an associate

fened. "

. "She'll

rivate Waterf

floodlights that s

se sat on a

red on a wooden p

e

pulse

d out, offer

ous, stacked with shipping crates and

splintered in half - charred wood, s

or the first time, an

ing t

- years ago, just befor

's mansion

no concert in

pt, fingers dan

one new - a tall

er mo

one

d - graceful, confident, scar

ena's past

le

me rich accent - but

ened. "Who.

died her. "I'

Re

echoed,

- w

er, letting the

ay when I was born. To

Lucas

dn't a

world

zed. "How-eve

reached in

led out

- two mothers in the ba

en

cked in

dn't r

ster swall

He wasn't ready. Not while two families w

, this

oice broke. "I

d closer.

n. It was my father's insurance policy. And now

ays knew where I was. My

stared

ash. Milo survived - and

s head

st. Her gh

ade no

ster- rais

s soft. "A small conv

clenched. "Wha

ster p

spered. "I want my inheritance. My name

breath

oulder

rap U

taut. "You lie

of war. Out of her

't choose this - but I'll pl

eated a st

ouse swal

know you're tel

held up b

irthmark - a rose - behind

ught her

on Betwee

ared her

y n

rother survived. I could have stay

oked a

took everythi

trembled. "T

ed forward. "You

what do

a ex

nfu

ster n

to

tepped

you want

turned, eye

e. Or a

lowly. "And

on at

l rippled beneath the

Vs screeched

me emerged,

automatic, echo

dove behi

s hear

is sidearm and cov

y do

nced - protective g

twenty seconds that

e sh

fell.

pped behind Elena, sho

ce re

n, checks fo

fed the woun

d her sister

brought int

against a cra

tepped

hy

Begin

ed at her with

t thinks you owe me everythi

nelt be

ven know y

r gave a

ria

r hand. "Mariana.

Day

silent vigil as the nig

he dock, the sunrise spli

join

exhaustion and someth

ister," she

dn't

didn't

ed for h

held

e: Firs

wnridge Esta

iana a single

n

al

ort

ce was

d out h

na to

riana De Luca - the