I Married My Ex-Fiancé's Ruthless Older Brother

nce. For five years, I quietly loved Dante, counting down

ngle text three minute

nt. Sofia is awake.

ife, had woken from a coma with no m

nte played hero to a woman who didn't remember hi

I found t

and heard Dante refuse a treatment

Dante told the doctor. "Elena will wait. Sh

ken to feed his ego, banking on my submission. H

as w

t. Instead, I dialed a number ev

's lethal older brother,

want to be a Moretti b

pte

white lace that looked less like a garment and more like a

h a single t

nt. Sofia is awake.

en until the numbers blurr

ral in two hours. I was supposed to marry Dante Moretti, a Capo in

a dirty secret because his dead ex-gi

fragile ghost. Th

r a hit gone wrong, a bullet meant for

become a Moretti bride, s

ke that, I

a luxury in our world, an

. We were currency in silk dresses, traded

the Morettis to secure

y, but he had kept me at arm's length, his h

s back, I was j

I wa

d for a

days of

didn't remember him, while the Outfit whispered th

edding was postponed f

ia recover, that the shock of his mar

Mafia wife in training. I held my

ce has a s

treatment for memory recovery, a neur

favors my father didn't kno

he hospital, the folder clutched

er to remember so Dante could fi

he doctor's o

as low, rough-the tone he u

" he

ent has a ninety percent success rate. Ms. Ru

ning into the cold steel of a Capo. "You will not

ze on the d

n, "she might leave again. She might remember she wanted to break up with me before the accident

e doctor asked. "The family i

ldier. She'll do what she's told. Let me have th

y numb fingers and hit th

diated fro

em to come out. I tu

linoleum, a rhythmic countdow

ofia's health. He was

er broken so he

ought I was a piece of furniture he could

shaking so hard I could ba

zzed. A tex

y. Sofia is having a bad day. S

a dentist appointmen

the contact

e name. I ty

mber I had never used, a number every made man in N

o Mor

r. The Capo dei Capi

Re

g Dante wasn't. Cold

break. He had a ledger, an

ssed

ang

void of surprise. It was terrifying how

said. My voice was stea

se," he replied. "Y

hun

always kne

r, the fortress in the sky w

e top floor felt like a

code. The heavy

oor-to-ceiling window, lookin

red to fit broad shoulders that ca

rn around wh

aid. He took a sip of amber

," I

er than the night outside. They stripped

you her

rettis must be upheld," I said, reciting the l

teo said. "He is playing

id. I took a step forward

You have nothing I want. Yo

operty," I snappe

drawer. I had seen the glint of the photo frame once

the dra

t was taken from a distance, capturing a

on the des

e air in the room gre

atching me," I s

n. The sound was sha

voice dropped to a dangerous whis

said. "I want to be a More

n the eye. "Ma

the hunger he kept chained behind his col

ot forgive th

replied. "He chose a ghos

d inches from me. I could smell his scen

ting my head up. His thumb brushed my l

ep you. There is no divorce in

," I wh

," he

wedding preparations will proc

dition,"

re in no position

n the aisle," I said.

into a cruel smile. "

know what he

y we

's penthouse that night. It was heavil

, the inte

nt

zed h

is hair dishevel

he shouted. "Why are your things h

ouch, wearing a silk r

out," I s

ofia is moving into the villa tomorrow. She needs familiar surroundi

your villa," I repeate

at me-really looked at me-f

a smirk touching his lips. "Running to my b

n, placing his hands on the b

lena. Stop pl

ht he could just touch me and I w

n his chest and sh

hock registeri

ames, Dante," I sai

tteo's w