THE MAFIA’S ORPHAN WIFE

VICTOR’S OFFICE

Three days passed. No texts. No threats. Just silence.

It made me more nervous.

On day 4, I was in the garden when I saw her.

Sarah.

She was standing at the gates. With Victor.

My blood froze.

Adrian wasn’t home.

Two guards blocked them. "You can’t come in, miss."

Victor smiled. "I’m not here for Adrian. I’m here for her."

He pointed at me.

The guard looked at me. I nodded. They opened the gate but didn’t let them past it.

"What do you want?" I asked, voice shaking.

Victor looked me up and down. "You. Out of this. Adrian is using you. He’ll throw you away when he’s done."

Sarah stepped forward. "He’s right, Lanny. He doesn’t love you. He’s a monster."

I laughed. It came out bitter. "And you do? You slept with my boyfriend."

Sarah flinched.

Victor cut in. "I’m offering you a way out. 500,000 dollars. A new identity. Leave the country tonight."

My breath caught. Half a million.

"All you have to do," Victor said, "is sign this paper saying Adrian forced you into the marriage."

He held up a document.

For one second, I considered it.

Money. Freedom. No more mafia.

Then I thought of the photo. Of Adrian sitting on my floor at 3am.

Of him breaking Rule 1.

"No," I said.

Victor’s smile dropped. "You’ll regret this."

"Maybe," I said. "But I’m not a liar."

I turned and walked back inside. My legs were shaking.

That night Adrian came home late. He found me in the kitchen.

"You saw Victor," he said. Not a question.

"How did you know?"

"My guards told me." He paused. "What did he offer you?"

"Money," I said honestly. "To betray you."

Adrian stared at me. "And?"

"I said no."

He didn’t say anything for a long time. Then he walked over and poured two glasses of whiskey.

"Good girl," he said quietly, and handed me one.

We drank in silence.

For the first time, I wasn’t scared of him.