THE MAFIA’S ORPHAN WIFE

THE GALA

The dress was red.

Blood red.

It hugged my body in ways that made me uncomfortable. Too tight. Too expensive. Too much.

"Turn around," the assistant said.

I did. The back was almost bare.

"This is what Mr. Moretti picked for you," she smiled. "You look like a queen."

I didn’t feel like a queen. I felt like a fraud.

One hour ago I was crying on my apartment floor.

Tonight I was going to a Mafia gala as Mrs. Moretti.

My phone buzzed again.

Unknown number.

Text: `Don’t trust him. Get out while you can.`

Sarah. Again.

I deleted it and shoved the phone in my clutch.

---

The car ride was silent.

Adrian sat next to me in a black tux. He looked like sin.

"Remember the rules," he said without looking at me. "Smile. Look perfect. Don’t embarrass me."

"I’m not an i***t," I muttered.

That made him look at me. "Good. Because tonight, everyone will be watching."

"Why?"

"Because the man I’m doing business with tonight hates me. And if he thinks my wife is weak, he’ll use it against me."

So that’s what I was. A shield.

We pulled up to a huge mansion. Lights. Cameras. Rich people everywhere.

Adrian got out first. Then he held out his hand for me.

I stared at it.

"Touching wasn’t in the contract," I whispered.

"Rule 2," he said low. "Look perfect. Act like my wife."

I put my hand in his. His grip was warm. Strong.

It felt... safe.

The cameras flashed immediately.

"Mrs. Moretti!"

"How long have you two been married?"

"Is it true you’re an orphan?"

Adrian squeezed my hand. "Don’t answer," he murmured. "Just smile."

So I did. Even though I wanted to run.

Inside, the ballroom was gold and glass. Everyone was staring.

"Who’s the girl?"

"I’ve never seen him bring anyone before."

"She looks cheap."

I pretended not to hear.

Then I saw them.

James. And Sarah.

My blood went cold.

James’s eyes went wide when he saw me. On Adrian’s arm. In a 10 million shilling dress. With a ring on my finger.

Sarah’s smug smile dropped.

Adrian noticed too. He leaned down to my ear. "Is that him?"

I nodded.

His jaw tightened. "Watch this."

He pulled me closer. Wrapped an arm around my waist. Then he kissed my temple.

Right in front of everyone. Right in front of James.

The room gasped.

"Let them talk," Adrian whispered to me. "Let him see what he lost."

I should have pulled away.

But I didn’t.

Because for 3 seconds, it didn’t feel fake.

Until a man in a grey suit walked up to us.

Older. Mean eyes.

"Adrian," he said. "I didn’t know you were married."

"Victor," Adrian said, voice like ice. "This is my wife, Lanny."

Victor looked me up and down. Like I was dirt.

"She’s... young."

"She’s mine," Adrian said. Simple. Final.

Victor smiled, but it wasn’t nice. "We should talk business. Alone."

Adrian didn’t let go of me. "My wife stays."

The tension was thick enough to cut.

"Fine," Victor said. "But know this. The merger is off. Unless you prove you can control what’s yours."

He looked right at me when he said it.

My heart dropped. This was my fault.

Adrian’s hand on my waist tightened. "Then we have a problem, Victor. Because I don’t control her. I protect her."

Victor laughed and walked away.

The moment he was gone, Adrian let go of me.

"Did I mess up?" I whispered.

He looked at me. Really looked at me.

For the first time, his cold eyes weren’t cold.

"No," he said quietly. "You were perfect."

Then his phone rang. He answered, listened, and his face went hard.

"We have to go. Now."

"Why? What happened?"

"Someone just tried to break into the house," he said.

"They were looking for you."