The Mafia's Bride: Reborn in Humiliation

"Sign it. Apologize to Sophia."

My sister Diana Dixson had stumbled into a mafia deal and paid the ultimate price, brutally killed by Sophia Visconti.

My husband Vincent Rossi didn't just help Sophia fabricate evidence, claiming Diana was mentally unstable. He demanded I sign an apology statement.

To protect Diana's keepsakes, I swallowed my pride and scrawled my name.

But I vowed their blood would answer for my sister's.

...

Rain mingled with the salty tang of seawater, pounding against the rusted containers at Bergen's docks in Eldoria.

I crouched behind a pile of fishing nets, nails digging into my palms to stop my shaking.

Not far off, Diana's body lay like a discarded rag doll in a pool of blood.

Beside her stood Sophia Visconti, heiress of the Visconti family.

"What a nuisance," Sophia muttered, nudging Diana's wrist with the tip of her custom leather shoe.

The wrist twisted at an unnatural angle.

"She saw something she shouldn't have. She paid the price." Blood speckled Sophia's Chanel suit, stark against the fabric.

Diana ran a simple flower shop. She'd come to the docks to deliver flowers to a regular client, only to stumble upon Sophia and her crew trading illicit firearms.

Diana's terrified scream had drawn Sophia's attention. That pearl-handled pistol turned on her.

"Sophia!" I couldn't hold back anymore. I burst from behind the nets. "You killed her! You monster!"

Sophia turned, her polished face curling into an irritated smirk. "Well, look who's here. Vincent Rossi's little wife. What's this? Avenging your pathetic sister?"

She waved a hand, and two towering bodyguards blocked my path.

"Let me go!" I thrashed, tears blurring my vision. "I'll call the police! You'll pay for this!"

"The police?" Sophia laughed as if I'd told a joke. "At these docks, my word is law. As for paying a price..."

She stepped close, gripping my chin. "You're lucky you're Vincent's wife, or you'd be lying next to your sister."

Footsteps echoed, sharp and urgent.

A black car pulled up. The door opened, and out stepped my husband, Vincent Rossi, heir to Eldoria's most powerful mafia family.

"Vincent!" I cried, clinging to hope. "She killed Diana! Sophia murdered my sister!"

Vincent strode over. His gaze flickered to Diana's body, pausing for a split second before a strange, unreadable emotion took over.

He didn't look at me. Instead, he turned to Sophia, his voice low. "What happened?"

Sophia's face softened into a pout. She glided to his side, slipping her arm through his. "Vincent, thank goodness you're here. This woman came out of nowhere, trying to steal our shipment. I acted in self-defense."

Her voice dripped with false fear. "I was so scared."

"That's a lie!" I screamed. "Diana was just a florist! She didn't do anything!"

Vincent finally looked at me. His eyes were ice, distant in a way that chilled my heart. "Elena, be quiet."

"What did you say?" I couldn't believe it. "That's my sister! Someone murdered her!"

"I know," Vincent said, his voice flat. "But now's not the time to argue. The Visconti family and ours are in the middle of a critical deal. Your sister made a mistake."

"A deal?" I wanted to scream until my lungs gave out. "Is a deal worth more than Diana's life?"

Vincent frowned. He stepped forward, grabbing my arm so tightly it hurt. "Stop being childish, Elena. Come home."

"I'm not going!" I fought against his grip. "I want justice for Diana!"

Sophia chimed in, her voice syrupy with fake sympathy. "Vincent, maybe let it go. I know Elena's upset about losing her sister. Just let her..."

"Quiet," Vincent snapped, cutting her off. He leaned down, his eyes blazing with warning. "Elena, I'll say it once more. Come home. Or you'll regret it."

I stared at the man I thought I knew.

He'd once been the Vincent who'd defy his entire family for me.

Now, all I saw in his eyes was loyalty to the family business-and something else. Indulgence toward Sophia?

The rain kept falling, washing away the blood on the docks, just as it seemed to wash away the last shred of hope I had in him.

Diana's body grew cold. And my husband chose to stand with her killer.