rina

alty and order above all else. Before this nightmare with Aria began, he had seen the cracks in his son. He had set up a contingency, a "purification" plan for me, should the worst happen. An escape route. Now, I activa

e wives of the family's leaders. It had felt like a collar for years. I placed it in a velvet box, drove to an old Catholic church

ographs from our wedding, letters he wrote me in the early days, a dried rose from our first anniversary. I

ght to find the silver fram

o?" he asked, his brow fu

I lied, my voice smooth as s

too consumed with his own lies to notice mine. He was thinking only of how

uca family to our home to witness our "perfect union." Standing by his side in a custom Dior gown, accepting kisses on my c

n, she

last year. She was escorted by one of Alex's younger Capos. Her presence sucked the air o

ud enough for me to hear. "She looks just

a distant cousin of the family, Aria." He introduced her, but his hand lingered on the small of her back, a gesture of owne

in place, but my ears were open. I heard

house in the Village alm

. "The Don won't tolerate this kind of di

y position as the "perfect queen," had been a lie from the start. I was a political

wn back in a coarse laugh. He was so consumed by his cheap fire, he couldn't see

lence that would end with