phin

d into the Grand Salon. Her cold, calculating eyes swept over the room, the black rosary beads

factured grief. "Mamma, you must speak to her. Seraphina is throwing

ize to Angelo and your sister at once. Since the Valenti match is broke

hand with a sickeningly sweet smile. "S

ca. "Angelo wants Carissa, and Carissa wants to be the Underboss's wife

y... Who knows what you've been doing behind closed doors to act so brazenly? Perhaps

you questioning Grandmother's strict upbringing, Aunt Sop

ped shut, her face

my eighteenth birthday gala tomorrow, I will choose my own husband. Any

her cane. "Madness! I will not allow

ly, her eyes gleaming with greed. "He has a few bad habits, but his bl

g addict. They wanted to lock me

e to marry a useless addict, you spit directly in the face of my uncle, Christian Gallo, and the entire Moretti family." I let the silence stretch, watch

d the true rulers of New York far more than she hated me. H

ning with venom. "Have your circus. An

I turned my back on them and walked

, a thin girl named Ruby was scrubbing the floorboards. Near my van

e silence. "Wash up and change into somethi

eraphina? You're taking a third-rate scrubber out inst

strides. The smirk vanished from Jasmine

voice a low, dangerous whisper. "Your only job is to shut your mouth

sheer violence in my eyes made her tremble.

iolent memory flashed in my mind-Ruby's pale, lifeless face sinking beneath th

his t

gears of my Vendetta already turnin