All Chapters of The Mafia Bride's 200 Days' To Justice : Chapter 11 - Chapter 16

"Mama Val!" "Sofia, Luna—""Your light," Sofia whispered. "It's all wrong.""Two flames," Luna added. "Dancing together.""Girls, we shouldn't—""Valentina!" Elena's voice cut through the ballroom. "Darling, you remember Madame Rousseau?""Of course."The old instructor's eyes narrowed. "That Swan Lake performance when you were twelve...""You were quite demanding.""Yet you never complained. Unlike that disaster with the broken toe shoe.""Aunt Elena!" Luna's scream pierced the air. "The flowers are burning!"Guests scattered from the smoking roses."Such dramatics." Nicolas's hand found my waist. "Dance with me.""Not the best timing.""You seem tense.""Just watching our backs.""Worried about my dance card?""More worried about the bullet with your name on it."His steps faltered. "What do you know?""Less than I should. More than they think."The orchestra's melody shifted. "Something wrong?" Nicolas pulled me closer. "You've gone pale.""Just warm—""The shadows!" Sofia's scre

"The Carboni family will agree to—" "Mrs. Salvatore?" Carboni's gravelly voice cuts through the fog. "You were saying?""I..." My eyes fix on the wine glass."Perhaps my wife needs a moment," Nicolas says. "Gentlemen, shall we take five?""Of course, of course," Carboni says. "These negotiations are delicate.""Excuse me." I push back from the table."Isabella." Nicolas catches me in the hallway. "What happened in there?""I lost time again. Five minutes, maybe more.""This is getting worse.""I know." I turn to the bathroom mirror. "I—""Get out." The voice from my mouth isn't mine. "Get out of my body!""Valentina?""Stop pretending to be me. Stop stealing my life!""Mom?" Sofia's voice breaks through. "Luna says you're fighting with yourself again.""I'm fine, sweetheart.""No, you're not," Luna calls out. "Other mommy is sad.""Other mommy?" Nicolas asks sharply."The one who holds her coffee different," Sofia says. "See? Like this.""And likes different flowers," Luna adds. "We

My head spun as I gripped the bathroom sink. Valentina's face stared back at me in the mirror, but her eyes held my desperation."Get out of my body." Her voice came from my mouth. My fingers trembled against the cold porcelain."Your body is dead," I whispered. "I'm trying to protect your family.""They're not yours to protect." The words came harsh, bitter.The mirror cracked. Blood dripped from my knuckles. I hadn't even felt myself punch it."Isabella." Nicolas's voice carried through the door. "Everything okay in there?"My heart hammered. I pressed my bleeding hand against my chest. "Fine. Just dropped something.""Open the door."I yanked paper towels from the dispenser, wrapping them around my hand. "One minute."The door handle rattled. "Now, Isabella."The name hit me like a slap. I froze, staring at the locked door. "What did you call me?"Silence stretched between us, heavy with implications. Then his voice came again, softer. "I know who you are."My legs gave out. I slid