A Crown of Ash and Roses

Vincent Moretti and I were the only two to make it out of the Sicilian training camp alive—a place that was hell on earth.

In the underworld, they said the Moretti family had raised a pair of devils, twin fiends from the abyss.

"Elena," he once told me, "our lives are bound together. We rule this world side-by-side, or we burn in hell together. Neither of us gets to let go first."

On the day he became Don of the Moretti family, I eliminated the last obstacle for him. My reward was the news that my only daughter, Stella, had died of a heart attack.

The life-saving medicine she needed had been intercepted in transit.

When I discovered the culprit was connected to a woman named Sofia, Vincent shielded her, holding a grand reception to formally introduce her.

"Sofia is the angel who pulled me back from hell. She's not like us—she doesn't have blood on her hands. This matter is closed."

A chill shot down my spine. "Vincent, our daughter is dead!"

He just frowned. "I regret what happened to Stella. But you are still the Donna of the Moretti family. We're young; we can have other children."

"But think of Sofia... she can't lose her only brother."

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1

"Kill Leo, Vincent, and I'll drop the matter of who intercepted Stella's medicine."

Vincent gave me no such chance. Instead, a territory transfer agreement was shoved in front of me.

"Elena, be reasonable. I need her brother's territory."

I clutched the document, staring at him in disbelief.

"Vincent, you're asking me to spare the man who murdered our daughter?"

"When the Falcone family tried to kill me, Elena, it was Sofia who dragged me out of a pile of bodies. She risked her life for me."

"Her brother is my last stepping stone to absorbing their operation. I owe her this. As my wife, you're expected to see the bigger picture."

I ripped the agreement to shreds.

"Vincent, that was our daughter! Do you even hear yourself?"

"Elena, Stella's death was an accident. Leo is innocent..."

"An accident? Her life-saving medication was swapped with vitamins. The autopsy report is crystal clear, and you're telling me it was an accident?"

"Besides, the men hunting you back then were clearly..."

Before I could finish, Sofia stepped out from behind Vincent, her face a mask of tears.

"Elena, I know you're hurting, but my brother is innocent. He's all I have left. I'm begging you, please, let him go."

She took a shaky step forward. "I know you're angry. If a life is what it costs, then take mine."

"Fine. I'll grant your wish."

I raised my hand, the muzzle of my gun aimed squarely between her eyes.

"That's enough!"

Vincent lunged, stepping in front of Sofia and wrenching the gun from my hand.

"Elena, have I been too soft on you?"

At his signal, bodyguards swarmed and restrained me.

Vincent shielded Sofia carefully behind him, his gaze on me cold and indifferent.

"Sofia is innocent. She is my savior, and I will not let anyone harm her."

"I'm taking her brother's territory. Drop it."

"The Donna is tired. Escort her to her room. She is not to leave without my command."