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The thought of his hands on her…

His name tied to hers…

His ring on her finger…

The edges of my vision went dark.

I set the phone down, my breathing heavy with fury. For a moment, I didn’t move, my hands gripping the counter as I tried to think clearly. But I couldn’t. I pushed off the counter, grabbed my keys and jacket, and headed for the door.

I didn’t care if it was a trap or a lie. The thought of her standing next to Gìovanni, signing papers that would chain her to him –to the Cosa Nostra– was enough to set me in motion.

Gìovanni DeMone was a dead man.

Chapter 53

Present

The message from Gìo had sat in my inbox for hours before I finally decided to open it.

Backstabber: I heard you found out about what happened with Trevor four years ago. Meet me atThe DeMoneat noon. I can explain everything.

I hadn’t responded. What was there to say?

But after the conversation with my father and finding out the truth about my mom… There was a part of me that wanted –needed– answers.

So, after nearly talking myself out of it a dozen times, I found myself stepping out of a town car in front ofThe DeMoneskyscraper.

The first sign that something was off was the valet, who gave me a surprised look as I got out in my jeans and a baby pink sweater. His hesitation made me glance around, and that’s when I noticed the luxury cars pulling up, men in tailored suits and women in couture stepping out with an air of importance.

An event.

I bit my lip, annoyed.Gìo hadn’t mentioned this.

Before I could decide whether to leave or stay, I caught a glimpse of my father through the massive glass doors.Salvatore Moretti.My pulse quickened. He was standing there, talking to a group of men I didn’t recognize, but who carried themselves with the same kind of authority he did. Next to him was his wife, my stepmother, who looked flawless in a silk dress, her arm looped casually around his. And then there were my half-siblings. The perfect picture of a family.

The family I wasn’t a part of right now.

I stepped inside, keeping my head down as I moved through the crowd, heading to the ballroom. I wasn’t sure why I stayed, but curiosity kept me rooted.

Kim spotted me first. Her eyes widened slightly before she gave me a small wave, before crossing the room to me.

She was so different now than when we first met five years ago. She was nineteen now, a grown woman in a sense. And drop-dead gorgeous with dark Sicilian features. Even I could see the vultures of the New York Mob were already catching her in their sights.

“What’s going on?” I asked, keeping my voice low.

She rolled her eyes. “Some Cosa Nostra thing. Something about alliances and territories. Enzo invited Dad and his associates.”

I hummed. “So? Where’s Gìo? He’s supposed to meet me here.”

Kim frowned. “Not coming. He’s out of the state.”

“What?”

Before Kim could say more, the room fell into a sudden, hushed tension.

The sound of heavy footsteps on marble echoed through the space, and when I turned, my breath caught.

Trevor.