Chapter 1

Hailey

Walking into the fourth precinct, my feet were smarting from my new shoes, which seemed to have shrunk around my feet as the day went on. I couldn’t help smiling with pride. Yes, my feet hurt, and I was exhausted, but it had been a good day. I’d managed to help every single person who had asked today, the first time that had ever happened.

Not that I didn’t want to help them all, but sometimes, it just wasn’t possible. I’d learned to take the small victories where I could and be happy with the good days.

“Miss McQueen! Welcome back.” Officer Bruce Ward moved through the desks separating us, his words bringing me to a halt. I smiled back, wondering if he was finally going to ask me out to dinner. He’d been dancing around the subject for weeks now.

Taller than I was by several inches, his clean-cut good looks had most of the social workers and secretaries swooning—blond hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a smile that could charm a baby bird out of its nest, not to mention a hero. I don’t know why his attention had fallen on me, but we’d eaten lunch together several times over the past few weeks. I hoped he’d ask me out on a real date soon.

Some of my friends had been encouraging me to ask him out, but I wasn’t ready to be that much of a modern woman. Wearing knee-length skirts to work was daring enough, not to mention the sleeveless, short dresses we wore out to the clubs. Several of the other social workers I’d befriended kept trying to get me to cut my hair fashionably short, but so far, I hadn’t been able to make myself take the final step.

I felt somewhat lost between the traditional upbringing I wanted to leave behind and the daring modern fashions I was both enamored with and scared of. Just shortening my skirt had felt like an act of rebellion.

Bruce came to a halt in front of me, his smile widening. He’d given me permission to use his first name, but in the station, we kept things professional.

“Officer,” I greeted him, a flirtatious lilt to my voice. I almost giggled and ruined the effect. “How has your day been?”

“Not bad, but it’s even better now,” he said with a wink.

This time, I did giggle, clutching the folders I was holding against my chest like a schoolgirl with a crush. Little butterflies fluttered in my stomach, hope rising inside me. Was he finally going to ask me on a real date?

Before he could say anything else, a small commotion at the station entrance stole both of our attention. Looking over, it took a moment to see what was happening, but when the cops standing in the way parted, I saw the police chief striding into the station with another man at his side. Younger than the chief, he looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties and was handsome enough to be a rival for Bruce, though with brown hair and dark eyes—eyes that scanned the room until they locked onto mine for a moment.

The butterflies in my stomach started doing flips, my breath catching in my throat from the intensity in his gaze. It was like staring into the eyes of a predator, and my instincts screamed… danger. The suit, the predatory air of confidence, the assumption of power—I’d seen men like him before. I’d grown up around them.

Mafioso.

Familias.

Familiar and dangerous.

The second his gaze moved on, I ducked my head and stepped back, my heart pounding as I clutched the folders to my chest for an entirely different reason. Logic tried to reassert itself. I was far, far from my grandfather’s territory and the influence of the Bianco Family. There was no reason for anyone to recognize me here, even if they were part of the mafia.

Perhaps he wasn’t mafia. Not every confident man with an air of danger about him was necessarily mafia. Besides, if he was, he would hardly be walking and talking with the police chief as if they knew each other, right?

Except Grandfather said the police were his pawns.

I hadn’t wanted to believe him, but I hadn’t gone to the police in Chicago when I’d run away, either. I’d moved to New York, where he couldn’t reach me or the authorities.

“What are you doing?” Bruce turned his head to look curiously over his shoulder at me, brow furrowing.

“Who is that?” I asked, keeping my voice as low as I could and nodding my head toward the man in the suit. His back was to us, and it looked as though he was receiving some kind of tour from the chief near the interrogation rooms.

Turning toward me, Bruce leaned against the desk behind him, crossing his arms over his chest, his easy-going smile still on his lips. His expression helped me relax. My instincts must be off or paranoid.

“One of our big donors, at least the son of, very rich. Why? Are you looking for a date tonight?” The question was asked with all the cocksure attitude of a man who wasn’t worried about the competition, which was part of why I was attracted to him.

Initially, I’d wanted a man completely different from the ones I’d grown up around, but I’d had to accept I was attracted to confident, self-assured men, so I reassessed my thinking. Still, Bruce was a good guy. Honorable. A protector. Sure, there were cases he hadn’t been able to help me with because his hands were tied by the law—many of which were extremely unfair to the women and children who needed my help—but he tried and often succeeded. Despite his confidence, he was nothing like the men I’d grown up with.

“Not with him.” I laughed, my arms relaxing around the folders. Bruce’s easy charm was a balm to my anxiety, soothing the paranoia I’d lived with for so long. I felt safe with him, and for me, that was really saying something.

“What about with me?”

The butterflies were back, warmth rushing through me. Finally! A blush rose up my cheeks, but before I could answer, the chief interrupted us.

“Ah, Officer Ward, Miss McQueen. Have you met Mr. DiNardo?” Chief Barnes’ voice was as cheerful as ever, but the question sent a wave of cold fear blasting through me, eradicating the butterflies in my stomach and turning them into ice. All the soothing warmth from Bruce’s flirting vanished.

“It’s an honor,” Bruce said immediately, straightening and holding out his hand. “Officer Bruce Ward, Mr. DiNardo, a pleasure to meet you. Thank you so much for the contributions your family has made to the department.”

The word ‘Family’ hit me like a punch to the gut.

DiNardo.

The name didn’t have to mean anything. It was a common enough Italian name, but deep in my gut, I knew that wasn’t the case. I couldn’t flee. If I did, I’d make him curious, and if he found out who I really was… All the warnings about danger my grandfather had hammered into me after my parents’ deaths rushed through my head.

I’d changed my name and hadn’t been in touch with my family in years. As long as I acted normally, Mr. DiNardo would never know I was connected to the mafia in any way. I was just one woman, no real threat.

“Miss McQueen.” Mr. DiNardo held out his hand, his gaze piercing mine as if he could see all the secrets of my past in my eyes.

Gulping, I put my hand in his, trying not to tremble. His fingers were warm, his grip strong.

“Mr. DiNardo, thank you for your contributions,” I parroted Bruce’s words, unable to come up with my own. Not with Mr. DiNardo looking at me like that.

“Please, call me Jack.” He didn’t let go of my hand, and I felt Bruce stiffen beside me, but he didn’t say anything. The very Americanized name made me relax.

“Jack?” I didn’t mean to ask the question or even say his name; it just came out. Some part of me needed to know if his last name was a coincidence or if…

“Giacomo, but I prefer Jack. For now.”

Run!

“I see.” I choked out the words because a response seemed somewhat necessary.

“You’re a social worker?” His thumb swept against the side of my hand, reminding me he hadn’t let go of it. When I tried to tug my fingers away, he tightened his grip, and a sweat broke out on my forehead. Bruce stirred again but said nothing. Chief Barnes stood, quietly smiling, as though nothing odd was happening at all.

“Yes.” My voice was tight, strained.

Somehow, he knew. He knew who I really was. Why else would he be showing me marked attention?

Was I in danger? Should I run? No, I was in a police station. I was safe. I should be safe, but he was a large donor. Chief Barnes, Bruce, neither of them was doing anything about the son of the DiNardo’s Don walking around their station. Bruce, who was confident and had just asked me to dinner, wasn’t stepping in, even though DiNardo hadn’t let go of my hand.

None of this made sense, and I didn’t know what to think. All I could do was stand there, my hand in Jack DiNardo’s, wait for the hammer to fall, and hope Bruce would protect me when it did.

My grandfather’s voice whispered through my mind again.

You know nothing of the real world, Hailey. The police are my pawns. There are no good people.

Jack

Such a pretty little wide-eyed bird, frantically trying to plan her escape. I could see it in her eyes. She knew who I was, and she was frightened. I could have reassured her I meant her no harm, but I doubted she would believe me. She also likely wouldn’t agree with my definition of ‘harm.’ Because what I was going to do would hurt more than her pride, but she would be better off in the long run.

I’d learned quite a bit about my pretty bride over the past few weeks.

Initially, I’d meant to approach her and take her on a few dates before revealing who I really was, but only a few days of observation had deterred me from that course. Any hint of mafia connection to any of her clients, and she passed them on to another social worker. She’d also been flirting with the blond piker standing next to her. If he had any courage at all, he’d have told me to get my hands off her, but he just stood there like a lump.

Instead of taking her out and getting to know her before telling her the truth, I decided to keep everything until the last minute. She’d had extra time to enjoy her life, though she didn’t know it. Perhaps eventually, she’d be properly grateful.

A demonstration of power was called for to show her she would have nowhere to run once I claimed her. To break the rose-colored glasses through which she viewed the world. Once she accepted the world as it really was, she would more easily accept her position at my side.

Perhaps another man would have married her, then closeted her away, but that wasn’t me. I wanted a partnership like my father had with my mother, and after watching Hailey for the past few weeks, I had no doubts she could give me that. She was a strong dame, a force unto herself, and she would be utterly wasted, tucked away in a heavily guarded mansion with nothing more to do than bear my children.

I’d rather have her rule as a queen by my side, though not in the bedroom. I’d be more than a king there—I was going to be her Daddy. It was a perversion I’d discovered within myself a few years ago. I liked being called Daddy, and I liked having total and utter control over my bed partner. I meant to have all of that and more with my wife.

I was looking forward to the more intimate aspects of our marriage. The sad-eyed girl was gone, grown into a regular looker. Her auburn hair was pulled back into coils at the back of her head. I was glad to see the long locks hadn’t been cut short. Hazel eyes sparkled with intelligence and fear, pert nose tipped up slightly, and pouty lips begged to be kissed.

Current fashion did nothing to show off her curves, but I was looking forward to uncovering whatever was there. Hailey had a well of untapped sensuality, seething beneath her prim and proper surface. I didn’t blame Officer Ward for his attraction to her, but that ended now.

“I would love to ask you a few questions.” I didn’t phrase it as a request. Turning my attention back to Chief Barnes, I ignored the gentle tugging as she tried inconspicuously to pull her fingers free. I shifted my stance, coming to her side and using my grip on her hand to pull her arm through mine, placing her fingers on my forearm. She froze next to me, like a little mouse in the presence of a cat. Smart girl. “Chief Barnes, may I borrow one of your rooms over there?” I tipped my head back toward the interrogation rooms we’d walked by right after entering the station.

“Of course! Miss McQueen will be happy to answer any of your questions.” Chief Barnes smiled encouragingly. He was well paid to keep my father and me happy. The DiNardo Family helped to supplement his salary, and he helped us in return. We didn’t care what he did about crimes unrelated to the Familias, but all his cops knew better than to stick their noses into our business.

Something which Miss McQueen was about to learn firsthand.