All Chapters of The Mafia Bride's 200 Days' To Justice : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The cold hit first. Not the gentle chill of winter, but the absolute absence of warmth that only death could bring. I tried to open my eyes, but darkness pressed against them like a heavy velvet curtain."Isabella Romano." The voice echoed from everywhere and nowhere. "Or should I say, Isabella Constantine?""Who's there?" My words came out as whispers in the void."You know who I am." Candlelight came to life around the edges, illuminating a towering figure clad in an ornate black dress. Where a face should have been, there was a skull that wore a grin at me; marigolds decorated their brow. "You prayed to me as you died.""Santa Muerte." The name dropped from my lips like a prayer. "Then I really am."Dead?" She lifted an antique pocket watch, its face aglow with eldritch light. "For precisely three minutes and twenty-seven seconds."The void stirred around us, memories drifting past like paper lanterns. I saw myself at my wedding, young and stupid in white. Then in Adrian's study, t

The mirror lies. My hands tremble as I trace Valentina's reflection, trying to match her signature stance. Too tall. Too stiff. My muscles fight against unfamiliar dimensions."The Chanel suits you better than the Versace."Nicolas's voice freezes me mid-reach. He leans against the doorframe, dark eyes studying my every move. Testing me."I thought you had meetings this morning." My voice comes out steadier than I feel."Watching my wife recover is more important." He steps closer. Too close. "You're holding yourself differently today.""The doctors said there might be..." I falter as his hand brushes my shoulder, adjusting the blazer's fit."Muscle memory issues?" His breath tickles my ear. "Or something else entirely?"Before I can respond, a cascade of silk hangers clatters to the floor. Damn these extra two inches of height. Nicolas's reflexes are faster—he catches the falling clothes while I'm still processing the noise."You never were clumsy before the accident." His tone carri

The music box smote against marble; its fragile air died in a cacophony of splintering wood and twisted metal. Outside, the rumble of thunder obscured my escape through the servant's passage. I pressed my back against cool stone, my heart hammering, as Adrian's voice boomed through the wall."Find her! Now!"With every step, my stilettos betrayed me. I yanked them off, the ancient stones cold against my bare feet. Father had shown these passages to me when I was a child, teaching me every means of escape in case our enemies ever breached the mansion. It was ironic, considering now I was using those very passageways to hide from him.Elena's voice came through the iron ventilation grate above. "The loose ends need handling tonight. Martinez first, then we find the real Valentina."My fingers found grooves carved into the wall decades ago-familiar initials. I traced the 'E' and 'I', memories of when Elena and I had played here as sisters, before legitimacy divided us, before she chose A

"Val!" Nicolas's voice cut through my nightmare. "You're screaming."I jolted up in bed. "The crash—I saw—""What crash?""Nothing. Just a dream."The bathroom mirror flickered between faces. "Look at yourself," Adrian's voice echoed in my head. "Playing pretend in my sister's body."A child's voice called from down the hall. "Mama!"The twins stood in their cribs, pointing."Tía Val says hello," they said together.Elena backed toward the door. "Señora, something's not right with them.""What do you mean?""The way they speak together. The things they know." She crossed herself. "I need to make a call.""Stay right there.""I'm sorry, Señora. This can't wait." Her heels clicked away.In the kitchen, whispers followed."Did you see her face this morning?" Maria asked another maid."Shh, she'll hear you.""She's changed since the accident."The coffee cup slipped. Blood dripped from my cut hand."Here," Nicolas appeared with a towel. "Let me—"His touch sparked a vision. The garden. A

"Left here." Valentina's voice pulled at my mind. "The stones remember, even if you don't.""Talking to ghosts now, Valentina?" Adrian's voice sliced through my thoughts.I whirled around. "What are you doing in this part of Venice?""I could ask you the same." He adjusted his silk tie. "These aren't your usual haunts.""Everything's changed since the accident.""Have they?" He stepped closer. "Or is it just you?""What do you mean?""The way you move, the way you speak..." His eyes narrowed. "Even the way you look at me.""And how do I look at you, Adrian?""Like you've seen a ghost.""Maybe I have." I moved into his space. "Do you ever think about how things used to be?""Every day." His breath hitched. "Val—"I kissed him before he could finish, letting muscle memory guide me. His hands gripped my waist, desperate and familiar.I pulled back. "Nothing.""What?""I needed to know if any feeling remained." I stepped away. "It doesn't.""Valentina, wait—""Let me go, Adrian. We both