Chapter One
NICO
The receptionist’s voice is very far away.
Sitting in the waiting room, my mind spirals over everything I might have done to prevent my life from unraveling. Serenity had gone to the doctor to find out what was causing her illness.
At some point, she made a concrete decision to uproot her life and leave town.
For good.
I straighten my black tie and smooth it against my black dress shirt for the hundredth time.
My hands shook so badly this morning it took four tries to slide my diamond-encrusted N cufflinks through the buttonholes.
There’s a hole in my chest where my heart used to be.
Can’t believe she’s gone.
I squeeze my eyes shut and force myself to breathe. Dressed in a tailored black suit with my hair slicked back, and a fiveo’clock shadow covering my jaw, I’ve done all I could to appear the composed mafia boss.
Inside, I’m falling apart.
The receptionist stops in front of me with a sympathetic smile.
“Mr. Cichello will see you now.”
I rise to my feet, buttoning my suit jacket.
“Thank you.”
She asks if I want something to drink. I tell her no. My throat is closed anyway.
I cross the threshold into Tizáno’s office.
“Good morning.” The words taste bitter on my tongue.
Nothing about this morning is good.
“Good morning, Nico.”
He steps around his desk and extends his hand.
I shake it firmly.
“Thanks for seeing me on such short notice.”
“It’s not a problem. Have a seat.”
He returns to the oversized leather chair behind his desk. I unbutton my jacket and settle into one of the two chairs opposite him. His office screams CEO. The gleaming wooden surfaces, with exquisite paintings decorating the cream-colored walls.
“How does it feel?” he asks. “Being boss.”
“Not much different,” I tell him. “I have been an earner long enough that the title is mostly a formality.”
A knowing smile tugs at his lips.
“I’m sure you made your father proud.”
