Chapter 2

Lucas recoiled as if I'd burned him. When he finally spoke, his voice was terrifyingly hoarse.

"Drag this carcass out and burn it," he ordered the guards. "From now on, anything that displeases the Madam dies."

Mia flinched at his tone, scrambling away from the bloody mess as the guards hauled the dog out. She bit her lip, forcing back her sobs. Lucas looked down at her, his eyes swimming with unmistakable heartache.

I was done watching this pathetic soap opera. I grabbed my cane and walked out.

I needed the cane because of my leg. And my leg was ruined the year a rival family ambushed Lucas.

I had carried him on my back through a hail of gunfire, hiding in an abandoned factory for seven days and nights. A bullet shattered my kneecap, binding me to this cane for the rest of my life.

The night we finally escaped, he whispered in my ear, swearing he would protect me forever.

Now, he stood like a sentinel guarding Mia. He didn't even try to help me walk.

By the time I returned to the estate, my shirt was clinging to my back with cold sweat.

Later that night, my butler knocked urgently on my door. He looked furious.

"Madam, Don Lucas transferred the private management rights of your Miami port network to Mia. The core property belongs to the Russell family—it's your final leverage, well outside his authority to give away. But with the management rights, Mia will siphon off the vast majority of the profits."

I didn't say a word.

I just stared at the encrypted video playing on my phone. Mia had sent it to me five minutes ago.

It was a party at a Miami beachfront villa. A few capos were joking around, suggesting a business marriage for Mia.

In the video, Mia swirled her champagne and smiled coyly. "No way. Marriage isn't a game."

She turned to Lucas, who was sitting right beside her, and leaned in to kiss his cheek.

"I'm only interested in the Godfather." She looked dead into the camera lens, enunciating every word. "I'm officially making my move."

The room erupted in cheers. Mia leaned in again, aiming for Lucas's lips.

I counted to three in my head.

Lucas didn't pull away.

I fought down the bile rising in my throat and tossed the phone onto the bed.

"Get the car," I told the butler. "We're going to Miami. Mobilize a squad of the Dark Raven Syndicate to follow."

Outside, a thunderstorm raged. My shattered kneecap throbbed with a piercing ache.

When we arrived at the villa, I ordered the mercenaries to stay hidden in the shadows. No one was to move without my command.

Inside the dining room, the feast had just begun.

Mia carelessly bit into a piece of scorching hot steak and gasped. Lucas instantly held out his cupped hand beneath her chin. "Spit it out."

Mia froze, her eyes wide.

Lucas sighed softly. He reached out, parted her lips with two fingers, and gently pulled the scalding meat out of her mouth himself.

I watched the entire exchange from the darkness of the hallway. My blood turned to ice.

The only person who could make the ruthless Godfather of the Gambino family act like a doting servant was Mia.

I pushed open the heavy oak doors and stared at them.

Lucas paled instantly. Guilt flickered across his face.

"Selena? What are you doing here? I scheduled a doctor for your physical therapy tonight..."

Mia didn't flinch. She met my gaze with blatant provocation.

It was the exact same look I used to have when I fought in the street rings. Ambitious, aggressive, hungry. No wonder Lucas was addicted to it.

"Donna," Mia purred, "you really should've handed over the Don a long time ago."

Before she even finished the sentence, a flash of steel cut through the air.