She Took The Crown And His Empire

er to a powerful Underboss. I gave him money, power, and pr

bragging about her three-year affair with him. She posted pictures of the b

reassigned my personal guards to protect her, and allowed her to throw scalding soup in my face. Worse, he orchestrated a massive smear

rling. A man must do what is nec

ions if I didn't publicly kneel and apologize to her. He truly tho

Before I was his wife, I was the s

single one of his assets. It was time to

pte

ena

ate's front office accounts. Curiosity, a dangerous indulgence, compelled me to trace the digital thread through a labyrin

rank. As I absorbed the calculated details of her campaign of sabotage, a knot of ice

e "When Will She Find Out." Her post

syndicate dinner, all for the pretext to touch him. She wrote about dressing u

for someone else on the street, merely to feel the p

ross-referenced against my own calendar with growing nausea. Sh

ial status. His words, as she reported them, were that h

er back to his safehouse every time she

f my pupils. The blue light from the screen stung my eyes dry, and the mouse

ountain of cooling bodies to seize his title. He is know

ect from the most hardened criminals in this

incident was last month. The hand-holding happene

, kissed my forehead, and whispered that I was his

h the force of my restraint. I closed my eyes; the memory of the wine splashing across his trousers, the sensation of his

my finger

pers. When are

ound of leather soles on marble. Then the heavy oak door, which required two hands to be opened with any grace, w

own with a rival family. His tailored suit jacket is unbuttoned, and his

ee long strides and slams

, Serena?" he demanded, his

a carefully arranged mask of s

s on his life, invoking the blood oath of

omeone wishes to drive a wedge b

e skills are unmatched. I hold

harsh exhalation of breath. But he reaches into his pock

y birthday, and the biometric lock yielded t

ves. I check the hidden folders. I check the del

was no

beside my chair. He reaches up and c

the wounded husband perfectly, his gaze searchi

I would burn down every building on

e, nod once, slowly, and h

see a late-night weapons shipment. He promises to bring ba

the sun goes down, and I r

ge. She changed her handle

oman's collarbone. There are fresh, dark

punished me for being care

ffice doors, holding a paper bag from the

down to kiss my cheek, and I smelled

ologne was a cloying sweetness of cheap c

r, and I realize just how terrifying

this round. He thinks

ail. Before I was his wife, I was th

r forgives. A Falc