Chapter 1

My boyfriend was the heir to one of New York's most powerful mafia families.

The day before his family's private gala, everyone I loved suddenly decided he wasn't good enough for me.

My best friend, Paige, was the first to warn me.

“Blair, don't go tomorrow. I had someone look into Renzo. He's just a low-level bodyguard for the Vieri family. The guy's practically broke.”

My older brother, Graham, shoved his phone in my face.

“I checked too. No property, no savings, and a shitload of gambling debt. You seriously want to date a loser like that?”

Before I could respond, Mom called.

“Your father and I have discussed it. You're breaking up with him. We didn't raise you to marry some broke thug who carries a gun for a living.”

I almost laughed.

Because I'd already looked into my boyfriend myself.

Lorenzo Vieri wasn't some low-level bodyguard.

He was the eldest son of New York's most feared mafia Don, and the man everyone expected to inherit the Vieri crime family.

The watch he'd given me for Christmas was worth more than my entire annual income.

And apparently, my family thought I was an idiot.

I smiled and told them I'd think about it.

The following evening, I put on my best dress and headed straight to the Whitmore Grand.

My parents owned five hotels across New York and New Jersey. The Whitmore Grand was our flagship property, and the Vieri family had booked its entire top floor for a private gala.

I arrived just in time to see a waitress spill an entire glass of red wine down my boyfriend's expensive suit.

Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward.

The waitress flinched, but she didn't run.

Instead, she grabbed a clean napkin and held it out to Renzo.

“I'm so sorry, sir. I'll pay for the damage.”

Renzo looked down at his jacket.

“Do you have any idea how much this suit costs?”

She shook her head.

“Fifty thousand dollars.”

Her face turned pale.

For a moment, she looked ready to cry. Then she straightened her shoulders.

“I'll pay you back. Even if I have to work extra shifts for the next ten years.”

Renzo raised an eyebrow.

“That's a lot of shifts, sweetheart.”

“I don't care. I made a mistake, and I'll take responsibility. I don't need your charity.”

He smiled.

I knew that smile.

It was the one he wore whenever something genuinely amused him.

“What's your name?”

“Sienna.”

My little sister.

My sweet, innocent little sister, who'd never worked a day in her life.

The same girl who'd cried for three hours when Dad bought her a BMW instead of the Porsche she'd wanted for her twenty-first birthday.

And now she was standing in our family's hotel, wearing a waitress uniform, pretending she couldn't afford to replace a ruined suit.

I almost admired the commitment.

Almost.

Renzo took the napkin from her hand.

“Relax. I'm not going to make you pay fifty grand.”

Sienna shook her head.

“Please don't do that. I don't want special treatment.”

Something in Renzo's expression changed.

He was interested.

Wonderful.

I was about to walk over when a low laugh drew my attention to the other side of the ballroom.

A tall man in a black suit stood near the private lounge, holding a glass of whiskey.

His dark shirt was open at the collar, revealing a glimpse of his chest. He had sharp features, dark hair, and the kind of lazy smile that probably got women into serious trouble.

He was ridiculously handsome.

An older man approached him with two bodyguards.

I couldn't hear what they said, but I noticed the way the older man lowered his voice.

The stranger merely smiled, took another sip of whiskey, and said something that made the other man's face go white.

Then he laughed.

I had no idea who he was.

But judging by the way everyone gave him space, he wasn't someone you wanted to piss off.

Before I could look any longer, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

“Holy shit, it's actually working.”

Paige.

She was standing with Graham behind a partially open door near the ballroom.

I stopped walking.

Graham chuckled.

“Told you Sienna could pull it off.”

“Look at him. He's totally into her!”

Paige sounded delighted.

“Men like Renzo are surrounded by gold diggers. Of course he'd fall for a sweet little waitress who doesn't care about his money.”

Graham laughed.

“Good thing we convinced Blair he's just some broke bodyguard.”

“Does she actually believe that?”

“Why wouldn't she? Mom and Dad told her the same thing. She thinks we're looking out for her.”

Paige giggled.

“God, she's gullible.”

I stood there, staring at the back of my brother's head.

Graham lowered his voice.

“Once Blair dumps him, Sienna can have the future Don all to herself.”

“And your parents will finally get what they want.”

“Exactly. Dad's been trying to expand the hotel chain for years. Imagine what having the Vieri family behind us could do.”

Paige laughed again.

“And Sienna gets to be a mafia princess.”

“Future Don's wife,” Graham corrected. “That's the whole point.”

I looked back into the ballroom.

Sienna was accepting a business card from my boyfriend.

She lowered her eyes, looking terribly shy.

Renzo was smiling at her like he'd just discovered something fascinating.

So that was the plan.

The bodyguard story. The gambling debts. The sudden concern for my love life.

All bullshit.

My parents, my brother, and my best friend had found out exactly who Renzo was.

And instead of telling me, they'd decided my little sister deserved him more.

They'd even arranged for her to work as a waitress in our own hotel, just so she could accidentally spill wine on him.

I had spent years working my ass off while my parents handed Sienna everything she wanted.

Apparently, even my boyfriend was up for grabs now.

I watched Renzo slip his business card into Sienna's hand.

Fine.

If my sister wanted him that badly, she was welcome to try.

But I wasn't walking away empty-handed.