Prologue
GIANNA
Los Angeles,California.The city where most of those movies I used to love so much came from.The city of Angels and of dreams.I no longer have dreams.And the girl who loved all those romantic comedies, who could watch three a day while trapped in her golden cage, that girl is not me anymore.I hardly remember her.I don’t want to remember her.Because I’ll never be her again.
A little jolt of happiness sparked in my heart as we flew over the Hollywood sign.But by the time the wheels of the plane touched down, it was gone and my chest was back to being the black hole it’s been since Matteo Rovina stole my heart and crushed it.Since he made me love him, but took everyone I love away from me.
Memories are like a knife to my heart now.The heart that barely beats anymore, but still clings to life, an open wound deep in the void that nothing can reach.
I vowed to make him pay.
And that vow is the only thing that makes sense of my life now.
I ignore his outstretched hand as he tries to help me up, look right through him as I disembark.The hot, slightly tingly wind makes the edges of my black coat and my long black skirt flap.It seems to penetrate my skin, wake a nervousness inside me, a drive to do something, anything, to get my life back.
But I never had a life.Not until Matteo showed me what I was missing.
And then he took away even that.
He craves my forgiveness.But he doesn’t ask for it.
Because he knows there is no forgiveness to be had.
And he didn’t give me the freedom I believed he would give me.
He took me from my golden cage and put me in a black prison.A dark prison that not even his death will free me from.But it could free the rest of my family.
I only wear black now.Only wear mourning clothes.I’d be wearing a black lacy veil too, if I could find one among the clothes he found for me.I couldn’t.
But that’s fine.
Because it doesn’t change the fact that I’m the black widow coming for him.
And soon.Before he can do any more damage to my family.He’s already ruined me.
He still sees me as meek and innocent.And once I was.But not anymore.
I can’t let him destroy my family worse than he already has.They’ll all die in this war of his.All except me.Because he says he loves me and can’t live without me.Meaning he’ll keep me locked up somewhere to keep me safe.But I won’t ever be able to survive watching my family die.My sister might be dead already, the rest will follow soon.
I won’t let that happen.
I have a plan, and I have the means.
He is the one that must die.Or none of my family will ever be safe.And I must be the one to take his life and end this nightmare.Because I’m the only one who can.
I will use that precious knife of his he loves so much.The one he always carries with him.The only weapon available to me.When I use it to end his life, he will know all the hurt I’ve known at his hand.
He will never get the revenge he so desires.
Because I will get mine first.
Chapter1
New York, A few weeks earlier
MATTEO
Dawn is risingand the stench of blood—the blood on me, on the men in the town car with me—is so strong I’m feeling the need to puke.Not just because of what we’ve done tonight, but also because of all the old memories it brought up.But we’re winning this war.I was losing the one I’m remembering.
