Breaking Free from the Mafia BossChapter 1
“Consigliere Alfredo, thank you for helping me process the withdrawal from the Family… and the divorce...,” I told him quietly.
The old man who had once been my husband’s closest adviser in the Falcone Syndicate narrowed his eyes at me, suspicion and concern mixing in his stare.
“You’re really going through with this, Valentine? Where do you plan to run once you cut ties with the Don?”
My lips pressed tightly.
What? Did he think I couldn’t survive without the Falcone tied to my name? The city is big, and if my husband wants me gone from this territory, then fine—there are other territories. As long as I can finally live like a real person.
“I have money saved, Consigliere. Seven years’ worth,” I replied. “From my own work.”
Alfredo let out a tired chuckle. He was aging, and soon his son would inherit his chair at the table.
“So this is goodbye to the most reliable Overseer our Syndicate ever had?” He pulled me into a brief hug before stepping back.
“Goodbye…”
With the envelope in hand, I walked away from the Meeting Hall—away from the life that for seven years had revolved around being nothing more than the Don’s appointed Overseer.
Who would’ve imagined I’d fall this low?
And me, of all people, someone who never quit anything in her life. All because I married a man who only needed a respectable bride to polish his public image.
On our wedding day, I thought I’d married the boy I had loved since childhood. I thought I was the happiest woman alive. I didn’t know it was the worst day of his life. To him, I was nothing more than the stand-in for the woman he truly loved.
——
“I’m back,” I called out.
Don Reynold stood at the table, plating food. Anyone else would’ve thought he was acting like a devoted, affectionate husband. But who would know the truth?
“What took you so long at the Hall? You should’ve come home first and handled dinner,” he snapped without even looking at me.
There was nothing romantic about him. He just had no other choice but to fend for himself whenever I wasn’t around. He was hungry, and there was no servant on duty because, according to him, he already had me.
“Sorry…” I murmured, stepping closer and seeing the single plate he’d prepared. Only for himself.