Chapter 2

"Belinda, haven't you caused enough trouble?"

Hugh's voice was icy.

"This is the Moretti Family headquarters, not your private playground. You don't get to make a scene over a missed call. What exactly is the big deal?"

The man who was usually impossible to rattle had anger burning in his eyes.

Even six years ago, when he'd taken a bullet meant for me, I'd never seen him this furious.

Behind him, the council room door was still open. His capos and advisers sat around the long table in silence, their expressions saying enough.

By tomorrow, everyone in the Moretti organization would probably know that the Don's rarely seen wife had stormed into a council meeting and tried to fire his secretary over a phone call.

I calmly picked up the pregnancy report from the table.

Hugh's gaze dropped to the paper.

"What's that?"

"Nothing."

I folded it once.

"Just a piece of paper."

Hugh frowned and was about to say something when my phone vibrated.

The screen showed one word.

Dad.

Hugh fell silent.

I answered, and my father's cheerful voice came through.

"Belinda, tell Hugh to put his business aside for a while. I'll personally handle the Akso shipment. His priority right now should be you and the baby. I'll be back in a few days."

I looked at the impatient man standing in front of me and tightened my grip on the phone.

"Dad, there's no need."

There was a pause.

When my father spoke again, the warmth in his voice had disappeared.

"What happened?"

Another beat of silence.

"Belinda, did Hugh betray you?"

I turned away, forcing back the tightness in my throat.

"Don't worry, Dad. I'll handle it."

After a long silence, my father sighed.

He had spent decades building one of the most powerful organizations on the East Coast. There was little that escaped his notice when it came to business, enemies, or betrayal.

But when it came to his daughter, even he sometimes seemed powerless.

Just like six years ago, when I insisted on marrying Hugh.

My father had struck me for the first time in my life.

The slap hurt me, but afterward, the nearly fifty-year-old man was the one who cried.

"Belinda, your mother has never suffered a day by my side. How can you expect me to watch my daughter choose a life where she might?"

My mother had lived comfortably under my father's protection. She had been thirty-six when she gave birth to me, and my father had never allowed anyone in the Family to pressure her for another child.

The first time I met Hugh's mother, Rita, she joked over dinner that Moretti wives were expected to give the Family at least two heirs within three years.

Hugh said nothing.

Across the table, my father nearly crushed the wineglass in his hand.

Back then, I hadn't cared.

Marriage was between two people.

The Morettis had been a minor Family with little territory or influence. Even with a difficult mother-in-law, I'd believed Hugh and I could build a good life together.

Besides, he'd once taken a bullet for me.

For a man who had nearly died saving my life, what sacrifice could possibly seem too great?

Luna's voice came from behind me.

"Don Moretti, the men from the Romano Family will be here in five minutes."

Hugh's voice immediately returned to its usual calm.

"All right."

A moment later, his footsteps faded down the corridor.

I took a slow breath and lowered my phone. The call with my father had already ended.

Then a pair of high heels stopped in front of me.

Luna.

She looked down at me with a faint, mocking smile.

"Mrs. Moretti, Don Moretti said that if you need anything, you can tell me directly. I'll pass the message along."

I looked at her without speaking.

Apparently, even a conversation between husband and wife now required his secretary as a messenger.

The message couldn't have been clearer.

Luna studied my face, barely hiding the satisfaction in her eyes.

Then she smiled.

"Mrs. Moretti, I'll be honest with you. Don Moretti has treated me very well, and I value my place at his side."

She paused deliberately.

"I also know how much this Family means to him."

Her smile deepened.

"So I won't be leaving easily."