Chapter 1 The Price of Blood and Duty

Valentina Russo

I was never supposed to be here.

Not under this chandelier, dripping with crystals and menace.

Not in this gown silk, suffocating, white like a goddamn lie.

Not walking down the aisle of a gothic cathedral that smelled of blood and sanctimony.

And I was definitely not supposed to be marrying Alessandro De Luca the most dangerous man in New York's underworld.

That was supposed to be my sister.

Serafina the golden child, the obedient one, the Russo family jewel. She smiled in rehearsals, played the part of the docile bride, and promised to save our father's crumbling empire with her dowry of submission.

But Bianca disappeared last night.

No note. No goodbye.

Just a shattered phone, a bloodstained scarf, and a phone call from a blocked number at 3 a.m.

Only two words:

"She's gone."

The next morning, my father was pale and shaking, sweat beading under his temple like he'd aged ten years in one night.

"You'll take her place," he said with dead eyes. "Or the De Lucas will kill us all."

And just like that, I became the substitute bride.

Not out of love. Not even out of loyalty.

Out of survival. Out of fury.

And the sick feeling in my gut that Bianca's disappearance wasn't a runaway act.

It was a warning.

The doors creaked open behind me.

The pews were lined with men in tailored suits armed, dangerous, and watching me like I was prey.

De Luca soldiers. Capos. Hitmen.

The elite of the De Luca family, all gathered to witness the farce of a wedding binding two criminal dynasties.

I lifted my chin and stepped forward, heels echoing down the stone floor like gunshots.

Each step was a rebellion.

I felt their eyes judging me.

Too loud. Too defiant. Too... wrong.

I wasn't Bianca. I never had been.

And now I was walking straight into the mouth of the wolf pretending to be her.

But Alessandro De Luca wasn't fooled.

He stood at the altar like a statue carved from vengeance and war tall, dressed in black, cold eyes raking over me like he wanted to tear off my skin and see who I really was underneath.

His jaw ticked once. No smile. No greeting.

Just silent fury.

And then he leaned in, low enough so only I could hear.

"You're not her."

A pause. His breath touched my neck like ice.

"But now you're mine."

The priest said the vows.

I didn't remember saying "I do."

I barely remembered the ring sliding onto my finger platinum and heavy, like a shackle.

Applause broke out like a gunfire salute.

Fake. Controlled. Soulless.

Then Alessandro's hand clamped over mine and he leaned in to whisper.

"Don't smile, Valentina. You're not a bride. You're collateral."

The reception was in a villa guarded like a fortress. No windows without bars. No doors without men.

The Russo family sat in a corner small, faded, irrelevant.

The De Lucas owned the room.

I sat next to Alessandro in silence while whispers echoed around us.

"Is she a spy?"

"Where's the real bride?"

"Did she run? Or was she taken?"

I tried not to listen. But my instincts were screaming.

Someone in this room knew what happened to Bianca.

And I was going to find out.

But first, I needed to survive the night.

Alessandro stood abruptly. "Walk with me."

I didn't argue. I followed him through halls decorated with gold and secrets.

He didn't speak until we were alone in the wine cellar, surrounded by barrels and shadows.

He turned. "Do you know what you've done?"

I didn't flinch. "Saved your precious alliance."

His eyes narrowed. "You ruined it."

He stepped closer. "I don't like surprises. And I hate liars."

"Then we're going to get along just fine," I said, "because I didn't lie. I was forced into this."

A flash of something dark crossed his eyes. "Bianca didn't run."

My blood ran cold. "What?"

"She was taken. Last night."

I stepped back. "You think I'm involved?"

He didn't blink. "I think your family is hiding something. And I think if I squeeze hard enough, the truth will spill from your lips like blood."

I laughed bitterly. "Try it, Boss. I've bled before."

His eyes flickered. Not surprise. Something else. Respect, maybe?

"Careful," he warned. "That fire in you? It'll get you killed in my world."

I tilted my head. "Maybe. Or maybe it'll burn yours down first."

Later that night, I found a message under my pillow.

"Your sister is alive. But not safe."

"Trust no one. Not even him."

No signature. Just those haunting words.

And outside my window, I saw a shadow slip away into the dark...

Tall. Lean. Moving like a ghost.

Lorenzo.

Alessandro's cousin.

And the only man in the De Luca family who looked at me like he knew I didn't belong.

He had questions in his eyes. Secrets on his tongue.

And maybe just maybe answers I needed.

But this wasn't just about finding Bianca anymore.

This was about choosing the right devil.

Before one of them kills me.