Claiming The Queen: The Mafia Boss's Rise

decree, my Underboss fiancé had seventy-t

arat blood-diamond engagement ring onto the finger of Mia,

st our Family over a million dollars, yet

ank as Consigliere, relocating

it my controlling shares

in your chances of ever becoming m

llets with for four years to build

ly believed I would accept being his powerless

bmissive woman who despera

ation, I picked up the pe

ady secretly transferred my true holdings t

paper, packed my bags, and went back to

pte

under the crystal chandelier as Pietr

dicate Elders and signed the blood decree-marry

or, built an empire for, place my ring on the

free to return home to Salvatore-the most ruth

ected Pietro to slide my four-carat diamond engagemen

h the metallic click of the lock engaging, the clamor of chips from the casino floor bel

my hands resting flat on

inded Pietro o

y our faction's bloodline by your thirtieth b

nst the leather ar

d that scraped against t

force my hand," he said, the words edged with

od besi

I had pulled from the gutters and brought into our sanitized

acket. From it, he produced the velvet

ting for the perfect mom

k out the massive blood-diamond

ess. I found my eyes fixed on a single speck of dust on the knot of his tie, and

ling in my veins. The anger that once would have consumed me felt distant now,

wide, playing the part of th

reached out, trying to hand

not

eless sound, scraped fr

accept hand-me-dow

Pietro, but he wa

e slow, untouchable swagger of a m

r alliance is dead.

e door, clutching t

Pietro and I shared was the thin, chemical

the closet and began metho

d no

tro carried me, bleeding, through a back alley after a deal went wrong. F

d glass; each breath was a careful negotiation with th

door cli

the bedroom, loos

he saw the sui

s. "What do you th

y fingertips with a faint static. "Did Mia d

instantly

ged air. "You're a paranoid, venomous woman! Mia is a sister

ing moti

ry of certain looks Mia had given him in boardr

in front of our Made Men just to protect Mi

onal assistant, threatening anyone who q

realized with sickening clari

man who had helped me build this networ

poisoned

d, where my secured flight itinerary t

m tonight would on

iberate ritual. Then I lowered my eyes, feigning submission.

wn off balance by my

om his face, replace

tered, turning and walk

he would not return tonight-and knowing precise

e from Salvatore: "The jet is fueled. But t