“He’s a secondary character. Riley will marry Leah to secure her brother’s safety, and then she’ll become the consort to Leah and take over the family business!”
“I couldn’t do it,” Kelley says, shaking her head. “I mean, sure, mafia queens are hot! But to marry one? No, I don’t think so.”
“Not even to save your brother?”
“I haven’t got a brother.”
“Hypothetically, you wouldn’t marry a hot mafia boss to secure your family’s safety?”
Kelley puts down the book and tilts her head. She’s doing some deep thinking, which leaves me a few minutes to collect the receipts and put them in the till.
“No,” she suddenly says. “I mean, what would my family be doing anywhere near a bunch of mobsters? It’d be their own fault. Why should I give up my freedom?”
“Cold,” I laugh, “but you’d still fall in love with the mob queen. That’s the whole point of it!”
She shakes her head. “I just don’t believe it. In books, yeah, obviously, that’s why it’s fiction. In reality? No way.”
The doorbell jingles, catching my attention because we are ten minutes from closing. Who in their right mind thinks ten minutes is long enough to browse a bookstore? Crazy people, that’s who.
Kelley is still waffling on about how inconceivable marrying a mobster to save a family member and then falling in love would be. My attention is on the three humongous blokes who have just stepped inside.
Without taking my eyes off them, I bat Kelley until she shuts up. She goes to ask me what’s wrong but then clearly spots the men, who are now splitting up, each taking a different aisle. Why are they still wearing sunglasses? They’re indoors!
Placing my book under the till, I straighten and smile. I’m intimidated by the sheer size of them, but I’ll try not to show it. Kelley is not doing such a stellar job either as she steps behind me to hide.
“May I help you?” I call to them.
Silence.
The door jingles again. Tearing my eyes away from the men, I look towards the entrance. I really hope it’s a police officer.
It’s not.
A woman, clad in all black, with platinum-blonde hair slicked back into the tightest bun I have ever seen, stands staring at Kelley and me. The term “deafening silence” comes to mind. It’s as though the world outside of the shop has been muted, and the only thing registering is the thick atmosphere these people have created.
“C-can I help?” I ask again, my voice thankfully holding steady—sort of.
The blonde slowly drags her sunglasses off her face. I’m met with stunning eyes; one blue and one green. Jesus, she’s like a baddie in one of the thousands of books I’ve read.
“Bonnie Moorside?” Her voice is rich and deep. Her accent is Italian, I think.
Straightening my back, I pull myself up to all of my five feet and four inches. “That’s me,” I answer, and then berate myself. Why did I just willingly identify myself to a stranger who looks like she could break my neck with a flick of her wrist?
Her eyes squint ever so slightly, and her gaze roams the top half of my body. I’m sure she’d do a full sweep if the cash desk weren’t in the way.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
2
Allegra
Isitintheback of the Land Rover as it cruises along the motorway, listening to Toni and Mia talk. Like me, they are wondering why we have been sent on this mission. We had a full schedule of appointments set for today, all of which are now cancelled. We never cancel, so I understand their curiosity. It matches my own, although I doubttheircuriosity has turned to burning anger, like mine.
If it weren’t for the fact I am devoted to Don Ferrante, I may have lost my cool by now. I cannot abide being kept in the dark, but murdering everyone I know is a little premature, even though my ire calls for it. Until I know exactly what I’m dealing with, I need to keep my temper under control.
For the past six years, I have led the Ferrante family. I might not be blood-related, but Don Ferrante has always treated me as a daughter. He personally told me I would become Donna Malgeri once he was ready to officially retire.
Unlike many other families, he never batted an eye over the fact he hadn’t sired an heir. Don Ferrante took me under his wing after my parents were killed by a rival family, and taught me everything I needed to know for my future standing, which was crystal clear until today. He hasn’t said anything, but I can feel something is off. My future as head of the Ferrante family is in jeopardy.
