Chapter 3
3.
Dante ate every last bite of that lunch.
Looking at the empty plate, the tension in my shoulders finally eased.
But before I could even catch my breath, the Don's underboss knocked on my door.
"Ma'am, there is a joint banquet for the North American Syndicate at the Victor Hotel tonight. According to the rules, as the Lady of the Casillas family, you must attend."
His tone was respectful, but his eyes held a trace of pity.
Everyone in the underworld knew I was a debt payment. Three days into our marriage, the Don hadn't even shown his face. Sending me alone to face the Syndicate's elites was a clear setup to make me the laughingstock of the night.
But I had no right to refuse.
At eight o'clock, wearing a black velvet gown, I stepped into the glittering banquet hall alone.
The moment I appeared, the music seemed to dip.
Countless gazes, heavy with scrutiny and disdain, locked onto me.
"Is that the bankrupt heiress used to pay off a twenty-million-dollar loan shark debt? Nothing special."
"I heard Don Lorenzo left on their wedding night. Hasn't even touched her. Probably thinks she's dirty."
"Carmen Rossi is here tonight. This is going to get ugly."
Expressionless, I picked up a flute of champagne and walked to a quiet sofa in the corner.
No sooner had I sat down than a figure in a flashy red dress blocked my light.
Carmen Rossi.
The daughter of the second-largest Mafia family in North America, and a socialite who made no secret of wanting Lorenzo.
"So you're the twenty-million-dollar collateral."
Carmen looked down at me, swirling her wine.
"I thought you'd be some stunning beauty, but you're just a pathetic stray dog. Lorenzo tossing you here alone—is this his way of telling you you're not worthy of stepping into his world?"
The chatter around us died down. People watched eagerly, waiting for the humiliation.
I slowly lifted my eyes to Carmen's arrogant face.
"Whether I'm collateral or whether I'm worthy of his world is internal Casillas family business. In what capacity, and with what right, is a Rossi questioning me?"
"You have a death wish!"
A flash of violent intent crossed Carmen's eyes.
"A cheap bitch like you dares talk back to me!"
She abruptly raised her glass, ready to hurl the red wine right into my face.
Gasps echoed around the room. No one moved to stop her.
My eyes went ice-cold. My right hand slipped into the hidden pocket of my gown, my fingertips gripping the cold steel of a surgical scalpel.
If she wanted blood, I had no problem crippling her hand so she'd never hold a glass again.
Just as the blade cleared its sheath, a deafening gunshot ripped through the hall.
BANG—!
The wine glass in Carmen's hand shattered instantly.
Wine and razor-sharp shards of glass exploded into Carmen's face.
Everyone whipped around toward the heavy carved doors.
They had been brutally kicked open.
Two rows of heavily armed Casillas men flooded in, instantly securing the room.
Right behind them, a tall, commanding figure strolled in, flanked by high-ranking bosses.
In his hand, he casually twirled a silver Browning. A faint wisp of smoke drifted from the barrel.
Lorenzo Casillas.
"Lo... Lorenzo..."
Collapsed on the floor, ignoring the blood on her face, Carmen stared in terror at the man.
Lorenzo didn't even look at her.
He walked straight through the parted crowd and stopped in front of me.
I tilted my head up, getting my first clear look at my husband.
"Since when does an outsider discipline my wife?"