The Crown That Fell

A kidnapper's gun was pressed to Lena's temple and mine, the whole scene streaming live online.

"Nolan," the kidnapper said, "your wife, Donna, or your first love. Only one of them walks away alive. Choose."

On the other side of the screen, my husband, Don Nolan Winston, head of the Winston family, did not hesitate for even a second.

"Let Lena go. As for that woman, do whatever you want with her."

I looked into the camera and laughed until tears ran down my face.

For seven years, I had stood by him as he rose from the Winston family's illegitimate son to the first Don of the Italvia mafia. I had taken knives for him, drunk with him, even lost a child along the way.

So in the end, in his eyes, I had been nothing more than a pawn he could discard at any moment.

"Did you hear that?" the kidnapper sneered at me.

I turned and ran toward the cliff. Facing the camera, I spoke my final words.

"Nolan, I'm giving this life back to you. We're even now."

I was so sure I was a goner, but then I blinked open my eyes to the sterile white of a hospital room.

"Awake?" came a voice, deep and seething with anger, next to me.

Turning my head was a struggle, but I managed, only to wish I had not. There he was, Don, the mafia boss–my so-called husband, Nolan Winston.

Nolan's face was like stone, but his voice dripped with mockery.

"Sophia Wood, you're a mafia Donna, yet you jumped into the sea just for a little sympathy? You've made a mockery of the Winston name."

His words were like ice, and my heart felt like it had frozen over.

To Nolan, my leap of despair was just a cheap trick for attention.

I was so shocked, I could not even find the words to respond.

In Nolan's eyes, my silence was as good as an admission of guilt.

He scowled at me and said with a frosty edge, "Today, I'm calling a family meeting. You're going to say sorry to Lena in front of everyone and confess that the whole kidnapping mess was your own little drama.

"And if Lena doesn't forgive you, say goodbye to your dad's health care."

That got me moving. I yanked the IV from my hand, tossed aside the blankets, and tried to stand.

Nolan pushed me back down hard. "Lost your mind? You've got a couple of busted ribs and a bunch of bruises. Where do you think you're off to?"

The pain was intense, but I faced him without flinching.

"You want that apology, right? Let's get it over with."

His hand was still heavy on my shoulder, his eyes swirling with something dark and unreadable.

For a moment, I thought I saw something in him that could not possibly be there.

It was gone as soon as it came, swallowed up by a wave of scorn.

"Sophia," he