Chapter 2

Clara

It was Friday. The day Isabella finally returned to New York.

She and Vincenzo had been college sweethearts. They were engaged to be married. But exactly a month before the wedding, she dumped him for a French businessman and left for Paris.

Vincenzo spiraled. That was when I stepped in. I wasn't a mafia princess; I was just his executive assistant, handling the paperwork for his legitimate front company.

Then, one drunken night ruined it all. I got pregnant. I became his underground wife, trapped in a bulletproof mansion with a son he never wanted.

I sat at my desk at Marchesi Imports. The divorce agreement I drafted last night was sitting next to my resignation letter.

Looking at those documents, I felt nothing but relief. Seven years of this invisible, suffocating marriage was enough. I was finally ready to cut my losses and walk away.

"You're really quitting, Clara?"

Sarah, one of the accountants, peeked over my cubicle.

I gave her a polite smile and fed her the excuse I had rehearsed. "Yeah. Leo's dad got transferred overseas. We're moving to go be with him."

Sarah nodded. "Honestly, good for you. It's about time. We all thought you were a single mom around here."

I managed a bitter laugh. I wasn't a single mom, but I might as well have been.

My eyes started to sting. I quickly looked down at my paperwork before she could notice.

I grabbed my resignation letter and walked toward the executive suite. Before I reached the door, the private elevator chimed.

Vincenzo walked out with Isabella.

She was leading the way, smiling warmly at the office layout. Vincenzo followed. The dangerous, untouchable Don of New York couldn't take his eyes off her.

Sarah nudged my arm. "Wow. Look at the boss," she whispered. "Hell must've frozen over. I've never seen him look at a woman like that."

My chest tightened.

Hell didn't freeze over. Vincenzo just cared about exactly one person in this world, and it wasn't me.

As they walked past my desk, I couldn't stop myself. I stepped forward. "Vince—"

He snapped his head toward me. His eyes were pure ice.

"Is there a problem, Clara?"

The formal name hit me like a slap. His tone was a blatant warning. Shut your mouth. Know your place.

I dropped my gaze, swallowing the lump in my throat. "No, Mr. Marchesi. My mistake."

Vincenzo gave a brief, dismissive nod. He immediately turned his attention back to Isabella, guiding her down the hall.

He was my husband. The father of my child. But he didn't care about flaunting another woman right in my face.

It was humiliating, but it made things perfectly clear.

I walked back to my desk and tossed the resignation letter into the trash. There was no point. He didn't care about my job or this dead marriage. I'd just leave the divorce papers at the house when we vanished.

My phone buzzed. It was a call from Leo's smartwatch.

"Mama?" his small voice came through the speaker. "School let out early for conferences tonight. Paulie dropped me off at your office."

I stood up immediately. "Stay in the lobby, baby. I'm coming to get you."

I hurried down the hall. But right before the reception area, I stopped dead.

Vincenzo and Isabella were standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows. The AC vent blew a strand of hair across Isabella's cheek. Vincenzo actually reached out and gently tucked the hair behind her ear.

Standing just ten feet away was my son.

Leo had his heavy backpack on his shoulders. He was staring blankly at his father. He was watching the man who terrorized him at home be gentle and patient with a total stranger.

I stepped forward to grab Leo. At that exact moment, Vincenzo saw him.

Vincenzo's body went completely rigid. He dropped his hand. But out of sheer reflex, he stepped in front of Isabella to shield her.

He guided her past Leo with quick, stiff steps. He treated his own flesh and blood like a threat. Like a dangerous stray animal he had to protect his true love from.

He walked right past Leo without a single word.

I rushed over, grabbed my son's hand, and pulled him into my office.

Before I could even try to explain, Leo looked up at me. His eyes were completely red.

"Mama," he whispered. "Is that the lady Sir likes?"

My throat closed up. I couldn't speak. I just nodded.

Leo didn't say another word. He walked to the small table in the corner of my office, unzipped his backpack, and pulled out his math homework.

He sat there quietly, writing down numbers. But he couldn't stop crying. Silent tears fell from his chin, leaving dark, wet spots all over his worksheet.

I walked over and wrapped my arms around his small, shaking shoulders.

That's strike one, Vincenzo. You have two chances left.