Chapter 1

For seven years, I fought Sicily's bloodiest turf wars to put Blair Lacey at the head of his family's empire.

After I secured the three shipping lanes that made the Laceys untouchable, he finally dropped to one knee and proposed.

I carried our wedding invitations to his study and stopped outside the door when I heard him plotting with his lieutenant.

"Vincenzo Moretti wants Lily for a bride? He can go to hell."

"Drug Anna on the wedding day and send her to the Moretti estate instead. Then put Lily on a helicopter and get her out of the country."

Mario hesitated. "But Blair, Don Moretti is ruthless. If Anna takes Lily's place, he could torture her to death."

Blair's fists tightened. His voice turned hoarse. "You think this doesn't tear me apart? Lily is too fragile. She wouldn't survive a night with him."

"Anna is different. She's smart. She's strong. She'll find a way to stay alive."

Blair's mouth tightened. "Once Lily is safely gone, I'll use everything I have to get Anna back."

"Right now, Lily comes first."

So that was why he had scheduled our wedding on the anniversary of my mother's death. He needed me to die in his adopted sister's place.

I dropped the invitations in the trash and stopped begging for love from a man who had never once chosen me.

Later, once Blair decided the danger had passed, he came to the Moretti estate expecting to take me home like property.

Instead, he learned that I had already sworn myself to Vincenzo's family in blood.

My eyes burned as I listened outside the study, but I did not storm in and demand an explanation.

In Sicily, tears were cheap. I had already paid enough.

Inside, Mario sounded furious. "Vincenzo has lost his mind. He specifically demanded Lily as his bride. It's an insult."

Blair's answer was ice cold. "He can dream."

Mario sighed. "The wedding date is already set. He chose the same day as your wedding to Anna because he wants to force your hand."

Silence hung over the room before Blair gave his orders.

"On the wedding day, drug Anna and take her to Vincenzo's estate."

"At the same time, get Lily onto a helicopter and out of the country. Have the safe house in Switzerland ready. The moment she lands, wipe every trail that could lead to her."

Mario sucked in a breath. "Anna just won three critical routes for the family. And you only proposed to her last night."

Blair tapped the desk, irritated. "I'll bring her back myself. Anna loves me. She'll understand."

"But Vincenzo is brutal. If he realizes Anna was sent as a substitute..."

"He won't kill her," Blair snapped. "Vincenzo is ruthless, but he isn't a rabid dog."

"If I get there in time, offer him enough money, and give up twenty percent of the route profits, he won't start a war with the Lacey family over one woman."

"Anna is a survivor. What hasn't she endured in the last seven years? Lily is different. A gunshot makes her shake. Vincenzo would break her."

"Lily may not be my sister by blood, but I raised her. I won't stand by while she walks into hell."

Seven years under fire meant less to him than Lily whispering, I'm scared.

At the end of the hall, Lily stood in a white silk dress, pristine and graceful as a swan.

I was still wearing black tactical gear that smelled of gunpowder.

I had just spent three sleepless nights at the docks putting down a rebellion for Blair.

Lily approached and glanced at the invitations in my hand. "Do you really think a wedding dress will wash away the smell of blood on you?"

She lifted a hand, a pink diamond flashing on her finger, and traced the jagged scar across the back of mine.

I had gotten it two years earlier when I intercepted an assassin's knife meant for Blair.

"Those hands were made for guns and killing," she said. "Something as delicate and romantic as a wedding invitation doesn't belong in them."

My voice stayed calm. "Maybe not. But they can still snap your neck."

Lily went pale and stumbled back.

She knew I never made an empty threat.

Then calculation flickered across her face. She dug her fingers into her own wrist until an angry red mark appeared, reddened her eyes, and pushed open the study door.

"Blair..."

He rushed to her. "What happened? Who hurt you?"

She bit her lip and hid her wrist behind her back. "No one. I was just careless."

"Anna looked at me so frighteningly out in the hall. For a moment, I thought she might..."

The instant Blair saw the mark, his face darkened.

He pulled Lily into his arms and stroked her back. "You're safe. I've protected you your whole life. No one gets to hurt you."

He looked at me. "Isn't that right, Anna?"

I touched the diamond ring in my pocket and nodded.

The night before, he had knelt before me and called me the most beautiful rose in Sicily.

He had forgotten that roses had thorns.

After settling Lily in the study, Blair turned back to me. "Is everything handled at the docks?"

He reached for my waist as naturally as he always did.

I stepped aside.

His hand froze in midair. Annoyance flashed in his eyes before he covered it with a smile.

"What's wrong? Still angry about last night's fight?"

He handed me a small box. "Here. I had this brought in from Paris for you."

Inside lay a dull silver chain.

The necklace at Lily's throat bore the Lacey crest, an heirloom traditionally reserved for the woman Blair intended to marry.

A chill passed through me.

"Thank you, Blair. I love it."

He looked surprised by my formal tone. Since his proposal, I had not sounded so distant.

But he did not question it. He merely nodded, pleased. "Good. Go get some rest. I'll have the staff handle the wedding. You don't need to worry about anything."

Lily called his name from the study, and he turned away without a second thought.