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He flicks his gaze to the man standing by the vehicle. Luca’s man.
“Alma, you look stunning,” he says, bringing me close to him. Placing a kiss on my forehead, he whispers, “Thank you.”
There aren’t enough thank yous in the world to repay what I’m doing for him. If only he’d kept his word and stayed away from the criminals who promise riches in exchange for loyalty, when all they actually give is pain and death.
But I don’t say that. Instead, I nod and hook my arm through his. “Let’s get this over with.”
We go up the marble steps to the double doors that are opened by the two guards posted. An impeccably dressed man wearing a black-on-black suit and an earpiece escorts us through the main foyer, toward the hall where the ceremony will take place.
My heart beats louder in my ears the closer we get. It’s as if I’m heading to my execution, where the drumming becomes almost deafening, drowning out the sounds of the violinists beginning to play Pachelbel’s Canon in D.
That’s our cue to enter.
Hell, here comes the bride.
I tighten my hold on my father when the doors to the chapel open, slowly revealing the hundreds of guests standing at attention. Waiting for me.
Yet they’re not what hitches my breath in my throat as my feet attempt to root to the floor. It’s the man standing at the altar at the other end of the aisle.
Luca turns to us, his hard gaze locking onto me. He doesn’t smile, doesn’t give any hint of his emotions. He doesn’t need to, because I know them all too well. He wanted her, not me. And if he ever learns of my deceit, he will make me pay.
A vise seems to wrap itself around my chest as my father tugs me toward him. The doors slamming shut behind us gives finality to our choice to follow through with this lie.
In a few moments, I will be Luca Sinacore’s wife.
To save my family, Carina Di Persia must die.
1
LUCA
Three Months Ago…
Crimson floods my vision as sheer, unadulterated rage sets my blood to boiling. I take a step toward my brother’s body lying naked on the bed, his throat flayed open. A penny over each eye.
I take one of the copper coins, almost wincing when I feel the cold flesh against my fingertip, even through the latex glove.
“Pennies,” I say, aware that Uncle Ray is observing from behind me. I glance at him over my shoulder. “That bitch got Tony.”
My uncle swallows thickly and wipes a lone tear that dares to slip down his scarred cheek. “We have five minutes before we need to leave so the police can begin their investigation. Put that penny back.”
“I don’t give a fuck about the police,” I grit through my teeth.
“Well, you should,” Uncle Ray scolds. “We need them to find out who killed Tony, and you messing with things will only contaminate the scene.”
I huff. “This isn’t their business. It’s ours.Weneed to find the fuck and mete out justice as we deem fit.”
“They have the technology to trace DNA and fingerprints. All we know is that she’s a woman. We don’t have an identity. Until we do, we’re all in danger.”
I push past my uncle to stare out the window. We’re in the presidential suite of the Lazda Manhattan Hotel, ten floors above 57th Street. All roads leading to the building have been blocked off, yellow tape marking this as the scene of a crime. There’s nothing but cops below, waiting to enter and begin the investigation of the murder of not only my brother and his underboss, Dino Callo, but also six of their men.
It happened hours ago, but it’s taken this long to jump through the hoops that would allow us time alone to view the scene for ourselves.
“They found your brother.” That was all my uncle had to say when he called to inform me.
I immediately knew what he meant. I left in the middle of negotiating a sale which cost me more than I’ve ever made on weapons, but I didn’t think twice.
By the time my uncle and I arrived at the hotel, their bodies were already blue and stiff. While Tony was killed almost ceremoniously, his men were found in the adjoining room, shot, stabbed, and beaten to death. Just like the others.
