Chapter II

reins of the family at twenty-six, following his brother’s death, and adopted Leo as his own.

Truth or fiction, I didn't give a damn. In this dog-eat-dog world, power is the ultimate aphrodisiac. Even if he really was a cold-blooded monster,While Vittorio was nominally Leo’s uncle, he wasn’t his biological father.

Rumors ran wild that Vittorio had been gravely injured in a shootout years ago, leaving him emotionally hollow and perhaps... incapable of functioning as a man. That explained, the gossips claimed, why he remained unmarried. He had taken the change my gown. The pristine white of the fabric against Vittorio’s jet-black suit felt like the perfect marriage of light and darkness.

The guests caught on quickly. Leo’s disappearance became irrelevant; what mattered was that the eldest daughter of the Rossi family was marrying the Don himself. The sharp-nosed cons

Vittorio studied me for a long moment, his gaze piercing, before finally nodding. "Done."

His large, calloused hand engulfed mine, and my heart skipped a beat.

The ceremony proceeded, merely with a groom who carried far more weight in this world. I didn’t even need tothat useless spendthrift—Vittorio was an upgrade in every conceivable way, from power to looks. Even if the rumors held water, simply standing beside this man would force the entire New York underworld to its knees.

It was certainly a hell of a lot better than the humiliation of being jilted for a waitress. I’d just match his energy as the icy matriarch of the mob.

Vittorio raised a brow, seemingly amused by the naked ambition in my eyes. "Are you certain? Marrying me means there is no walking away. Ever."

"Absolutely," I answered without hesitation.

Compared to Leo—iglieres were already whispering, calculating the shifts in power this alliance would bring.

As Vittorio slid a family ring—a heavy symbol of authority—onto my finger, I did the same for him. I quickly realized the fit was off. It had been sized for Leo, after all, and Vittorio’s fingers were longer, more powerful.

Given the haste, it would have to do.

Then came the moment for the groom to kiss the bride.

A wave of nervousness washed over me. Vittorio was legendary for his ruthlessness—legend had it he could execute a traitor without so much as blinking. Would he actually deign to kiss me in front of everyone?

A pang of regret hit me for dragging him into this charade on a whim.

But before the thought could fully form, I felt the press of his lips, carrying the faint, earthy scent of tobacco.

My eyes flew open in shock, filled with the sight of his handsome face inches from mine.

Seeming to sense my surprise, Vittorio’s large hand clamped onto the small of my back, crushing me against him. He deepened the kiss, staking his claim. I let my eyelids flutter shut, surrendering to the sheer dominance of the moment as thunderous applause and cheers erupted around us.