Chapter 1: The Morning After
Aria woke to the sound of heavy rain lashing against the floor-to-ceiling windows. For a fleeting second, the warmth of the unfamiliar silk sheets confused her. Then, the sheer scale of the vaulted ceiling and the scent of sandalwood brought the memories crashing back. The cathedral. The vows. The trembling fear. And Dante Rossi walking out the door, leaving her entirely untouched.
She sat up slowly, wincing as the fading bruise on her collarbone pulled tight. She looked at the heavy oak door. The deadbolt was still turned exactly as she had left it last night. He hadn’t come back. He hadn’t demanded a master key. He hadn’t broken the door off its hinges, which her father would have done without a second thought. For the first time in her twenty-two years, Aria was utterly alone, yet completely safe.
Slipping out of bed, she found a plush monogrammed robe draped over a velvet armchair. She wrapped it tightly around her frail frame, seeking comfort in its weight. In the adjoining private kitchenette, a silver tray rested on the counter. It held fresh pastries, a bowl of fruit, and a thermal carafe of coffee. A small handwritten note sat beside a porcelain cup: Eat. No one will disturb you.
Downstairs, the atmosphere in the Rossi estate was far less serene. Dante sat behind the massive mahogany desk in his study, staring at a lukewarm glass of whiskey he hadn’t touched. His underboss, Matteo, stood by the fireplace, his arms crossed over his tailored suit.
"The men are talking, Dante," Matteo said, his voice a low, cautious rumble. "You slept in the guest wing on your wedding night. The Sterling alliance is supposed to project unity. If the families think there’s already a fracture—"
"Let them talk," Dante interrupted, his voice devoid of warmth. His dark eyes flicked up to meet his second-in-command’s gaze. "We have a much bigger problem than the rumors of my men. I want everything you can find on Senator Sterling’s household. Staff records, private security footage, nondisclosure agreements. Everything."
May you like
Matteo frowned, shifting his weight. "The Senator? He’s your father-in-law now. The treaty strictly dictates that we don't interfere with his political affairs. If we start digging into his private life, he’ll see it as a breach of contract."
"The contract was built on a lie," Dante said softly, leaning forward. The quietness of his tone was far more terrifying than if he had shouted. "Sterling sold us a treaty, but he handed over a broken girl. He thought I wouldn't notice, or worse, that I was the kind of monster who wouldn't care. Someone in that house put their hands on my wife, Matteo. Multiple times. I want a name, and I want it by tonight."
