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Prologue
Elia
I felt sick standing in front of that great big door.
Growing up, whenever Father called, I’d always felt a massive knot twist up in my stomach and yank terribly at my nerves. But back then, and every time for years, I’d feel a warm hand take mine away from my lips and give me a warm squeeze to spare my teeth from gnawing my fingernails down to nubs. My big brother Luca would always give me a teasing grin and ruffle my hair to annoy me. Back then I always thought he was just adding on torture to the wait…
Now, I realized how much he was trying to keep me steady.
But Luca was dead. Gone. And now, I was alone to face whatever waited for me in my father’s study.
I sucked in a breath as the doorknob twisted and swung open.Be strong, Elia,Luca would say. I tried to imagine him standing beside me, smiling and teasing.The Tarallos have always been made of stronger stuff. You just have to find it.
Find it.Like it was something I could just dig for and discover, like some hidden treasure on a map.
“Elia,” I heard my father, Ludovico, call, his voice pulling me over the threshold.
I took my place in front of the massive mahogany desk and waited in silence as my father turned from the large window and faced me with flat eyes. The testament to our lineage was clear in the way his eyes stared at me, vacant of emotion. It was the same look I had seen every morning in the mirror after Luca died.
“I have great news,” my father said and motioned to the desk where a few documents were laid out—I realized—to face me. I glanced at him before I approached and peered down at the papers, frowning as I reviewed the information. But none of it made sense to me.
A familiar yet hated face stared back from a photograph atop the papers. In another life, I might’ve found him handsome. But now, all I could feel was a curl of hatred and revulsion. It filled me so abruptly that I had to look away.
“What is this?”
“Our ticket to peace,” my father said.
I blinked up at him, bewildered. He remained silent for a moment as he pulled out the silver case of cigars he kept in his drawer. The smell wafted toward me, and I bit down on my cheek to keep my face from wrinkling with distaste, waiting for him to elaborate. He took a puff before pointing at me with the cigar like it was a dagger.
“Aleksey Korolev,” he began. “Is finally leaving New York to take up his position as the Pakhan of the Korolev Bratva.”
You mean the bastard who murdered Luca, or did you forget that?I kept my venomous thoughts to myself, but I knew my father wasn’t blind to the clear disdain on my face.
“And as you know, I have been thinking about your prospective marriage for some time now,” he continued. “I’ve made my decision. One that guarantees our family’s future.”
I swallowed tightly, the knot of anxiety in my gut squeezing and unwinding all at once. It was some relief to confirm my deepest fears. But something wasn’t right. I could tell from the way my father stared at me.
“Who?” I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral.
He sighed, as if my question was the most ridiculous suggestion he’d ever heard. “You’ll be marrying Aleksey himself.”
My heart stopped in my chest, and I felt the blood drain from my face and hands. A chill unlike any other stifled my chest. It was impossible to hold back the expression of shock and horror on my face as I processed the news.
“Preparations are already underway.” He ignored my reaction. “Once Aleksey returns to Chicago after Fyodor’s funeral, we’ll be making the announcement at a dinner with both organizations present. I expect you to be cordial and prepared. And after—”
“Are you out of your mind?” The words fell from my mouth before I could stop myself.
The shock on my father’s face told me that he didn’t expect this response. Why would he? When did he ever expect anything less than absolute obedience from me?
“Elia.” His voice dropped an octave in warning. A surge of panic twisted my insides, and I moved to slap my hands to the top of his desk.
“AlekseymurderedLuca!” I searched his eyes to find a sign—any sign—that showed even a hint of humanity. “Your son! Your only son! Butchered him in cold blood and left his body to rot in the streets! He’s the reason you’ve lost an heir, and if you think I’m going to just bow down and accept this—”
“Enough!” Father rose to his full height. “You think I have forgotten?”
I shrank against his gaze. And for a moment, I was a child again, cowering before him as he berated me.
“You are my daughter, and you answer tome,” he snarled. “Talk back like this ever again, and I will not hesitate to beat you until you haverespectbranded into your flesh. Am I clear?”
