Chapter 3

The next day, he showed up outside my parents' building, pleading.

Luckily, my parents had left for Sicily two days earlier. They didn't know.

Which meant I could ignore him freely.

He stood there for three full days.

He sent word through someone, saying that day had truly been a misunderstanding—Valentina had come to him on her own. He couldn't exactly turn her away.

He said he'd transferred Valentina to another capo.

That he'd never contact her again.

He begged me for one more chance.

I didn't respond.

On the fourth day, he didn't show. He had business.

I finally had a moment to myself, and went to the warehouse.

I pushed open the door—and was met with chaos.

Total devastation.

Nearly half the family supplies—the ledgers I'd kept for years—were destroyed.

Some torn to shreds. Some knocked to the ground.

Everything in ruin.

The lock hadn't been forced.

I checked the security logs.

It turned out Valentina had used a key to get in and wreck the place.

And there were only two keys to the warehouse: mine, and Don Carlo's.

I went straight to confront Valentina.

Face to face.

Her eyes were red, her hands clenched into fists, her expression pitiful.

"Miss Isabella, I know you've been misunderstanding everything about Don Carlo and me, and you're taking it out on me—even making him reassign me."

"But I already explained to you. There's really nothing between Don Carlo and me."

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"Don't you think this is too much? Controlling Don Carlo every step of the way—do you really think that makes him happy?"

"Or is it because of what happened to you in high school, Miss Isabella, that you've turned out this twisted?"

"What did you say?"

Instantly, the members of Valentina's crew turned to stare at me.

Whispers broke out.

"Wait—really? She was assaulted back in high school?"

"No wonder she's so messed up. Guess that explains it. Poor Don Carlo—running the family and dealing with a broken wife."

"Picking on a young girl like that. Real classy."

I felt like I'd been dropped into an icy abyss.

My grip on her wrist tightened. "Who told you that?"

She didn't answer. But I already knew.

After all, the only person who knew and would tell her was Don Carlo.

She leaned in, her lips curling upward—a world away from the fragile act she'd been putting on.

"Don Carlo, of course. And that dagger he brought back from Sicily for you? I picked it out."

What...?

I stood frozen.

So Don Carlo had never actually cut ties with Valentina.

Not only had he spent those seven days in Sicily—while messaging me every day—actually with her...

The gift he gave me was chosen by her too.

"The one who doesn't deserve Don Carlo is you, Isabella."

Her eyes were venomous.

Before I could react, a force shoved me aside.

I stumbled, nearly falling.

Don Carlo pushed through the crowd, shielding Valentina behind him. "Isabella, what exactly are you doing?"

"I already did what you asked—transferred Valentina to another capo, cut contact. Why are you still going after her again and again?"

Me, going after her?

I laughed.

I started to speak—but Don Carlo took Valentina's hand and walked out of the warehouse without looking back.

The others filed out too.

Only a few scattered figures lingered nearby.

Whispering.

I left like a ghost.