Chapter 4

It was the Moretti family crest pendant.

Passed down from the first Don, it was the ultimate symbol of our bloodline.

When Dominic and I were born, our names were engraved on the back.

It was the only thing left from our dead parents.

It was my last piece of hope.

Even when I was starving, I never sold it.

Now, the engraving had been polished off. It bore Lena’s name instead.

Under the bright lights, Dominic secured it around Lena's neck for everyone to see.

"My little princess," he whispered. "Congratulations. Your wish came true."

I didn't know how I walked out of there.

My phone buzzed endlessly in my pocket.

"I recognized you at the Stardust Club."

"Do you see the truth now?"

"The crest is mine. Dominic is mine. You’re just an abandoned stray."

"Your life is a joke. Just go die, Scarlett."

When I didn't reply, Lena sent one last text.

"I had Dominic send a birthday gift to your place. Enjoy."

I wandered the streets.

By the time I returned to my old apartment, the door was wide open.

The place was completely trashed.

Dominic was pinned to the floor, struggling like a dying dog.

The scene was terrifyingly familiar.

My old broken ribs throbbed with phantom pain.

"Long time no see, little girl. Where's the tribute for this month?"

I stared at the muscle from the Falcone family, my face pale. "I paid off the debt. We don't owe your boss anything."

The enforcer spat his toothpick onto the floor. "I say you owe, so you owe. I wonder how many hits the former Don can take."

He tapped a heavy steel pipe against Dominic's back.

"Scarlett, run!" Dominic yelled. "I'm just a cripple now. Let them kill me! Don't let me drag you down anymore."

It was the exact same script. I had heard it a thousand times over the last five years.

Exhausted, I looked at the room full of made men and street soldiers.

Then, I looked at Dominic.

He looked messy, but his eyes were perfectly calm.

It was so perfectly clear now.

In five years of constant shakedowns, they never actually broke his bones.

But I did. To protect my lying brother, I had my ribs broken. I had a leg shattered.

I carried endless scars to keep a fake cripple alive.

I swallowed the bitter taste of blood in my throat. "What do you want?"

The enforcer smirked, eyeing me up and down. "I hate your stubborn pride. You still act like a Mafia princess. Here’s the deal. Get on your hands and knees. Crawl between the legs of every guy in this room, and bark like a mutt. Do that, and today’s debt is clear."

Dominic acted furious. "No, Scarlett! Don't do it!"

I smiled, completely numb.

The last spark of warmth in my heart turned to ice.

"If this is what you want, let's call it even."

Even though my words were clearly directed at the enforcer, Dominic was struck by a sudden, inexplicable panic.

He wanted to stop me.

But then he remembered his promise to Lena. This was supposed to be my final punishment.

He thought he was doing this for my own good.

The underworld was ruthless, and a Moretti princess had to be forged in absolute pain to become truly unbreakable.

He believed this ultimate humiliation would finally bleed out my stubborn arrogance, forcing me to accept Lena as my equal.

He told himself that after this, he would bring me back to the estate and crown me the undisputed Donna of the family.

He foolishly believed we had a whole lifetime for him to make it up to me.

Convincing himself, he looked away.

He secretly recorded my humiliation and sent the video straight to Lena.

Hours later, the gang finally left.

I lay on the floor, my heart turned to cold ash.

Dominic dragged himself toward me, ready to play the victim again.

But when he saw my dead, ash-like eyes, the words died in his throat.

The next morning, the clinic staff arrived to take him to Switzerland for his "treatment."

At the door, he kept looking back. "Wait for me, Scarlett. I’ll come back and make you the untouchable star of the underworld again. No one will ever dare to hurt you."

I just smiled. I didn't say a word.

The moment their convoy disappeared, I covered my mouth.

Blood spilled through my fingers.

The doctor had warned me. Once the brain tumor ruptures, it’s the end.

Strangely, I wasn't scared at all as I fell to the floor.

My mind was flooded with memories of how my brother used to treat me.

Wiping the blood off his knuckles before gently braiding my hair.

Sneaking me imported Italian cannolis when the mansion was on lockdown.

Sitting by my bed all night with a loaded Beretta on his lap when the rival factions declared war.

"When I take over the syndicate," he used to say, kissing my forehead. "I'll build my Scarlett an empire. I'll make you the happiest, most feared princess in New York."

I swallowed my tears.

With bloody, trembling fingers, I typed one last text to Dominic.

"I'm not waiting anymore, Dominic. My life pays for whatever I owed you. Just bury me in the family crypt with Mom and Dad."

I hit send.

Exhausted, I finally closed my eyes.

On the cold floor, the phone screen lit up.

It began to vibrate like crazy...