Chapter 49

"Ew. What the fuck is she wearing? Are those sweatpants?"

"Princess, we don't have much time," pleaded Fino.

I gritted my teeth and bit back a snarky retort.

I detested pet names.

Reminding myself that I needed Fino's stupid cooperation, I pasted on a smile. "I know, darling, and I'd help you with her body, but my makeup needs to be perfect."

My attention returned to my reflection.

With a makeup sponge, I dabbed more concealer over the purple bruise under my eye.

My boyfriend didn't take the news of my pregnancy very well.

If I had actually been pregnant, I might have been offended.

As it was, I was just pissed.

If Judge Marzio Delluci thought he could fill me with come and empty promises and then dump me—he had another think coming.

Nobody fucked over Antonia Fichera. I was, after all, my father's daughter.

Fortunately, I was always several moves ahead of the ignorant men around me.

When Fino stupidly came to me to corroborate my idiot sister's accusations, I at least was smart enough to demand an audience with Marzio. It didn't take long to have him wrapped around my finger. Or, strictly speaking, around my body while I bent over his desk and he fucked me, completely unaware of the small video camera in my purse nearby.

I wasn't trying to save Father. Quite the opposite.

I was going to replace him. All of them.

It was past time the Sicilian mafia had a female capo dei capi. With all the changes he was making, it was only a matter of time before someone tried to dethrone Dante.

Why shouldn't that someone be me?

First, I had to eliminate the competition.

Salvatore was the first person the syndicate would turn to if Dante was gone. He had to go first. With his sick appetites and blind ambition, he was the easiest to manipulate.

Salvatore's downfall was the first crack in Dante's rule. It showed his weakness.

Next in line was my father.

My goody-two-shoes twin sister gave me the perfect in and handed me the protection I would need once I took control of the Agnello syndicate. All I needed to do was wait until the judge made a move against my father, which would throw the whole syndicate into chaos.

I would then swoop in and have the power to make it all go away… for a price.

It really was amusing how much a girl could learn by simply being in the room or spreading her legs. For years now, I played the dutiful, dumb daughter at my father's table, learning about their criminal enterprises and all their dirty secrets.

Then I gathered blackmail information against several high-ranking soldiers throughout the syndicate. Men were so careless about their business when they thought with their cocks.

The only thing I hadn't planned on was the Cavalieris agreeing to an arranged marriage.

Dante outmaneuvered me there, but not for long.

At first, I thought I'd force Marzio's hand.

What better hiding place for the head of a mafia syndicate than as the wife of a powerful judge?

With my fingertips, I touched the bruise along my cheekbone and grimaced.

I hadn't planned on Marzio being more corrupt than my father and Dante combined… or having even better connections. He now had half the Sicilian police force and half the underworld criminal element looking for me.

Time for Plan B.

I patted my finger along my lower lip, applying the perfect amount of siren-red matte lipstick. "Remember, Fino. Marzio must believe that Ella is me, so make sure you tape her mouth nice and secure so she can't talk."

"Of course, my angel pie."

Vomit.

Putting up with his slobbering, cloddish attempts in bed had been the worst part of all my plans, but Fino had made the perfect pawn to manipulate my sister while also keeping tabs on Marzio's movements.

Thank God, when this was all over, I already had plans for him to die in some terribly embarrassing way. Maybe I'd slip him a drug that mimicked a heart attack right before he went to the bathroom, so he died on the toilet with his pants around his ankles and his pathetic little crooked penis on display. That would be hilarious.

Fino flipped Ella's legs into the trunk and turned to me as he slammed the lid shut. "But explain to me again why you are staying behind."

My hand curled into a fist, digging my long nails into my palm. Taking a deep breath, I forced my voice to sound even and cheerful. "We talked about this, darling. You need time to get to Sicily without detection. Besides, by marrying Matteo Cavalieri, I will have access to his millions."

Fino's weasel face twisted. "But I don't like the idea of you being with him. You said you loved me."

I patted his cheek. "And I do, darling." I placed my hand over my heart. "Trust me, I'll be thinking of you the whole time I'm in bed with him."

Sure. That tracked. I'd be thinking of this pasty little ferret with his sweaty palms while the tall, masculine, deliciously muscled Matteo Cavalieri was rutting over me with his big cock.

So I leaned over and kissed Fino's cheek, leaving a large red lipstick smear. It wasn't that big of an ick, I did after all need to blot my lipstick. "And don't worry, pooky. As soon as we're married, Matteo Cavalieri will meet with an unfortunate accident, and I'll return to Sicily. The grieving, incredibly rich, widow."

He nodded decisively. "And then we'll marry."

Knowing I would never be able to say it with a straight face, I turned away to zip my makeup bag closed. "Of course. I can't wait to be your wife." Ew, gag.

After smoothing my hands over the silk nightgown I had on, I shrugged into a trench coat and slung my purse over my shoulder. "I have to go before Matteo realizes my sister… I mean I'm… gone. Make sure Marzio completely believes it is me before you kill her. We can't have any loose ends."

I couldn't wait to see the bastards face when he learned I was alive and married to Matteo Cavalieri.

Fino leaned in for another kiss, before settling for a peck on my cheek as I turned my head away. "I won't let you down, schnookems."

Ew.

Dying on the toilet was definitely not humiliating enough.

As Fino drove off using a back road to the north of the winery, I took advantage of the chaos after the fire we started to slip into the villa. I had already paid off one of the staff to tell me Ellas whereabouts; my slutty twin sister was staying in Matteo's suite.

Apparently, she wasn't that innocent after all. It was a shame. Had I known sooner, I might have included her in my plans.

Too late now.

Bye, sis.