"What are you talking about?" I demanded still trying to remain calm. In truth I wanted nothing more than to get the hell out of there.The woman let out a derisive chuckle. "Your husband isn't exactly who you think he is, my dear."Confusion swirled within me as her words sunk in "Just tell me why you brought me here. What do you want?"Panic slowly set in, and an overwhelming urge to flee took over. Were they going to kill me? Who on earth were they? "Let me out of this car," I said, hating how my voice trembled. "My husband is probably looking for me right now"Another chilling laugh. "You talk to much, maybe I should get on with it and kill you now". My heart sunk and cold sweat broke out on my face. "W-What?" I whisper. The car was silent, I was surprised the beating of my heart didn't cut through the silence. "But that would be a waste, you see Emily Rivera, you are going to help me and im going to help you, do you understand?"She says, she looks at me through the mirror."Un
I stared at Giovanni in disbelief, the anger boiling inside me. "He can't be serious," I exclaimed under my breath. That son of a bitch can't be fucking serious"I clenched my fists, struggling to maintain my composure. I couldn't let Giovanni see just how livid I was. Glancing down, I realized I was still clutching Anastasia's card in my hands. I swiftly concealed it behind my back."Calm down, Emily. I'll take care of it," he said with a wink. Take care of it? I narrowed my eyes at him."And by 'take care of it' I hope you don't mean anything...unwise," I said carefully. Giovanni let out a chuckle that made my skin crawl. I spent the rest of the day waiting, fuming, in Giovanni's office - replaying the incident with the card over and over in my mind. What game was he playing at? As evening fell, Giovanni ordered his men to take me home without him. That night, I tossed and turned, haunted by questions. Where was Giovanni? Who was Anastasia? By morning, I had gotten little sleep.
"We wouldn't want anything unfortunate to happen to you."I look at the strange woman across from me, a self-satisfied smile plastered on her face. Who did she think she was trying to threaten me?"I don't believe you," I said flatly. Her eyebrow raised in amusement. "I don't even know who you are. Why should I believe anything you say?" I continue."And yet here you are," she replied, that smug look not leaving her expression. I didn't respond, suddenly feeling like I had made a mistake coming to this place."I know many, many things, my sweet Emily," she continued. "I also know that the Sigerna are after you."My breath caught in my throat at the mention of that name. "S-Sigerna? What do you know about them?" The words tumbled out before I could stop them."You'll find out soon enough. As for you not knowing who I am, you don't need to. Just know that I am on your side, Emily. And I want you to help me...let's help each other."I shake my head, my voice hardening. "What you're askin
"What do you want, Zachary?" I asked flatly. My patience with Zachary was already paper thin."Emily, I need your help," he pleaded. A mirthless laugh escaped my lips."I'm hanging up. I warned you never to contact me again." I moved to end the call."No, wait! Emily, please don't hang up on me!" There was an almost frantic edge to his words now. Against my better judgment, I paused, curiosity getting the better of me."Fine, what is it Zachary?" I practically spat the question."I need you to be my escort to a family dinner." He paused, then added in a rush, "I...broke up with my fiancée." He says more like an order than a request. The absurdity of his request hit me like a slap in the face. An unbridled laugh burst from deep in my chest."Are you kidding me right now? Are you actually stupid?" I shook my head in disbelief. "I'm married now, Zachary. Happily married. Why the hell did you think I'll do that for you?""I know, I know," he pleaded frantically. "But I need a date to bri
What? Take charge? I look at Russo shocked. My breath caught in my throat as I whipped my head towards Giovanni. His face was unreadable, but I detected no hints of surprise at Russo's proclamation. Because he knew...he knew all along that this was their plan for me.As if sensing my inner turmoil, Giovanni squeezed my hand hard under the table. A silent warning not to make a scene, not to ruin whatever game they had going here. But I couldn't hold it in any longer."Now now, Emily, let's not be rash," he admonished lightly. "This is a family business. You said you wanted to be a part of this.”"The Colombos, the Gambiners, the Buteris - they all crave the same insatiable power and control over the drug trade's lucrative routes." His eyes glinted with a mixture of greed and ruthless ambition. "But we will be the ones to take territory from them. To expand our reach farther than those bastards could ever dream."He pierced me with a pointed stare then. "Which is why your direct invol
"What the hell is going on here?" I demanded, my voice trembling slightly as I took in the scene before me. "Put the guns down, both of you! Now!""Stay out of this, Emily." Talia's says looking at me menacingly.“This is none of your business, so go take your seat like a good little girl."Her condescending tone struck a nerve and White hot fury blazed through me. “Shut the fuck up”, I spat vehemently at Talia, she was clearly taken aback, as shock was written all over her face. I turn to the man holding Giovanni at gunpoint. “Drop your weapon right now!" He doesn't budge and continues staring at me blankly. Annoyed, I look at Russo, who had a nonchalant look on his face despite being held at Gunpoint too. "Call off your dogs, Russo!" I tell him. He casually raised his hand. "I would do so gladly, Emily. If my nephew would be kind enough to drop his weapon."I flicked my desperate gaze to Giovanni, silently pleading with him not to push this further. After a beat of taut silence,
Somehow I found myself hoping, just maybe it was my mother calling. The voice that came through could have frozen my blood in my veins. Cool, distorted, and profoundly disembodied...almost metallic sounding."Soon we will meet in Las Vegas, my dear sweet Emily" the eerie, genderless voice said before the call abruptly ended.I didn't even know when the phone slipped from my trembling hands until Giovanni's calloused palm cupped my cheek, gently urging me to meet his concerned eyes. I tried to speak but it came out in a jumbled torrent of words. "That...that was not my m-mother," I stammered out shakily.They said..." I swallowed hard, trying to compose myself. "They said we'd meet in Las Vegas soon. It's the Sigerna." Giovanni's brow furrowed deeply at what I had just said. He muttered somethin under his breath, his jaw tensing but I didn't hear what he had said. I remembered the strange man from upstairs in Russo’s house and what he had said. "The man from dinner tonight… the one
After watching Giovanni's car speed away from Anastasia's estate, I took a deep breath and drove my car into the estate. The same butler from before opened the door at my knock. "Ah, Mrs. D'Errico," he greeted with a courtly nod. "The mistress was just about to depart.""I'll wait for her return," I stated, leaving no room for argument as I swept past him into the marble foyer."There's no need." A familiar feminine voice rang out from the curved staircase. I looked up to see Anastasia descending the steps, she was certainly dressed like she was going somewhere. Wearing a….she looked like a model."You'll get your chance to see me now," she continued with a sly smile. "Since you've come all this way uninvited.""Why was my husband here?" I asked without hesitation.Anastasia let out a rich peal of laughter that raised that grated my nerves “ Did you follow Giovanni here? Does he know you're here?” She asks, as she raises her two eyebrows in glee I clenched my jaw and say in irritati