Chapter 5
The Morettis don’t just run the city. In some parts of this country, they are the law. So if I ever wanted a real shot at freedom, I had to disappear somewhere they’d never think to look.
I packed a couple bags and headed for the old valley near where my parents used to live; God rest their souls.
That place was so remote it didn’t even show up right on GPS.
And I knew, deep down, none of the Morettis would even think to look there.
Why would they? They never once cared about where I came from.
To them, I was just a quiet, clean girl with no criminal record, exactly the kind of obedient wife or daughter–in–law they
needed for appearances.
I still remember the night before my wedding with Luca like it was yesterday.
I was nervous as hell and ended up missing their fancy 7 p.m. family dinner.
Big mistake.
They didn’t even send Luca. No. They sent Maria
She came into my room without knocking, her heels clicking like a warning shot.
“What, you getting cold feet now?” she said, arms crossed, lips curled in that I smug little smirk of hers.
“Tonight’s your last chance, you know. If I were you, I’d sneak out while everyone’s asleep. You do realize your hell after tomorrow, right? Fiona already hates your guts.”
I didn’t even try to argue, because she wasn’t wrong.
Fiona and Luca’s father, never liked me.
But back then, I didn’t have much of a choice.
I’d already quit my job like Luca asked.
I had nothing else to fall back on. Just him.
So I smiled, forced and shaky. “Thanks for the advice, Maria. But I’m gonna stay. I’ll get ready tell Fiona I’m sorry for missing dinner?”
