Prologue

                                                                     Gianna Ammassari

The evening felt like a dream. As I stepped out of the sleek black car, I caught my reflection in the glass doors and blushed at the sight. My emerald green Valentino dress hugged me in all the right places, making me feel like I belonged beside Nico Baldocchi—the leader of one of Sicily’s most powerful mafia families and soon to be my husband.

Nico stepped out behind me, and the sight of him stole my breath. He was dressed in a sharp black suit that fit him perfectly, accentuating his tall, broad frame. Every inch of him reflected the power and dominance he held as the man who commanded one of the most feared mafia families in Italy.

But it was his eyes that captivated me the most. Dark, intense, and always so unreadable, holding so many secrets.

“Gianna,” he said, holding out his hand, his voice smooth and commanding, sending a shiver down my spine.

I took his arm, my fingers lightly brushing against his as we walked inside the chic restaurant. We were seated at a secluded table with a breathtaking view of the city below. This was our official first date since both our families decided that I was to marry him, an arrangement to bring together the two strongest mafia families.

The flickering candlelight cast a warm glow on Nico’s face, making him look even more handsome. For a moment, I just stared at him.

He was damn fucking gorgeous.

“This is perfect, Nico,” I whispered. His dark eyes met mine, sending a flurry of butterflies through my stomach as he pinned me with his intense gaze.

“Gianna,” he began, and there was something about his voice that made my heart skip a beat. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

My smile faltered. “What is it?” I asked. Nico set down his glass and leaned forward slightly, his gaze piercing through me.

“I will give you everything a wife deserves—protection, loyalty, power. But I...I will never be able to love you.” For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. His words hung in the air like a dark cloud, suffocating me.

“What?” I managed to croak out, my voice barely audible. He didn’t flinch.

“I’m in love with someone else, Gianna.”

It felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me. I gripped the edge of the table, trying to steady myself as the room spun around me. My heart shattered into a million pieces.

“Who?” I whispered and hated how small I sounded, how broken.

“It doesn’t matter,” Nico said, his voice cold and distant. “What matters is that you understand where we stand. This marriage is a business arrangement, nothing more.”

Business arrangement. The words were like a knife to the heart. I had always known that our marriage was meant to unite our families, to strengthen our power. But I had hoped, prayed even, that there would be more to it—that maybe, just maybe, Nico actually liked me somewhat.

But those hopes were gone now, shattered by his brutal honesty.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “And you’re asking if I still want to marry you?” My voice was surprisingly steady, despite the storm raging inside me.

Nico nodded. “Yes.”

My throat tightened with the effort of holding back the tears that threatened. I had loved Nico for as long as I could remember, and now, just when I thought I was finally getting my fairytale, it was being ripped away from me. But love was a luxury in the world I came from. I had duties and obligations, and no matter how much it hurt, I would fulfil them.

Nico reached into his pocket, revealing a small velvet box holding a stunning diamond ring. Then, to my surprise, he stood and moved around the table, lowering himself onto one knee. My breath caught in my throat as he looked up at me, the ring gleaming between his fingers. 

“Gianna Ammassari,” he said, his voice steady and emotionless, “Will you marry me?”

Tears blurred my vision. This was the moment that could change everything. The truth was laid bare in front of my eyes to see, and I could easily make the right choice and free myself from an eternity of hell.

Yet I didn't. I couldn't.

“Yes, Nico,” I whispered, my voice catching in my throat. “I’ll marry you.”

He slid the ring onto my finger, and for a brief moment, our eyes met. I searched for something—anything—that would show he felt more than just duty. But there was nothing. He rose to his feet, and as he did, I realized that my heart was shattering, piece by piece.

“Thank you, Gianna,” he said quietly.

But there was no warmth in his voice, no affection. Just the cold, hard truth that our marriage would be nothing more than a contract. I forced a smile, even as my heart broke all over again. I would be Mrs. Nico Baldocchi, the wife of one of the most powerful mafia bosses, but I would never have his love.

And yet, as I looked into his eyes, I realized I would do it all the same. Because even if I could never have his heart…

I would still always love him…