The grand hall of the D’Amari Council was nothing like I expected.

It was older, darker. Its stone walls bore the marks of centuries of blood oaths and betrayals. Velvet-lined chairs formed a perfect circle in the middle of the chamber, where only twelve men sat — all heads of powerful mafia dynasties.

All of them now stared at me as I walked through the heavy oak doors.

I wore black — fitted, sharp, regal. Luca walked beside me in a charcoal suit, his expression unreadable. One hand rested gently on the small of my back, guiding me forward, but this time, I didn’t need the support.

I wasn’t afraid....