When The Mafia Queen Fights Back

I’m the Vettori family princess. The only one.

It was our fifth anniversary. A big dinner party at the estate.

A waiter spilled red wine on my husband Marco, heir to the Rossi family.

My best friend, Sofia, slapped the waiter. Hard.

Then she was all over Marco, helping him out of his jacket. Her hand lingered on his waist. A second too long.

I just stood there, watching. Sofia saw me.

"I was just closer, that's all. Helping him clean up. Don't overthink it."

I just smiled. Grabbed my glass. I went to make the rounds with the old dons from the other families. I would finish this night with my head held high.

Later that night, Marco crawled into my bed, stinking of booze. His hands were on my waist. He wanted sex.

I pushed him off.

"The alliance is over," I said, my voice dead. "We're finished."

Marco sobered up fast. His face went cold.

"I'm trying to apologize here. You're divorcing me because Sofia helped me with my jacket?"

I laughed.

He didn’t get it. Not until I threw the proof of his betrayal in his face. Not until I cut him off from my family.

Then he was on his knees, crying, begging me to forgive him.

I’d just told my husband we were through. I saw the way he looked at my best friend tonight. He went ballistic.

Marco’s hands froze in mid-air.

The lust on his face evaporated. In its place was pure shock. Rage. Like I’d just spat on him.

"Isabella, what kind of sick joke is this?"

He sat up straight, his brow furrowed, his eyes burning with outrage.

"I'm apologizing here. I'm trying to make things right. And you want to divorce me over a jacket? End the alliance between our families?"

I didn’t say a word. Just watched him perform, my eyes like ice.

My silence was gasoline on his fire.

His voice got louder, with a little whine in it.

"Since we started dating, when have I ever not done exactly what you wanted? Five years of marriage, and I haven't just been your husband. I've been a fucking lapdog for you and the entire Vettori family!"

He jabbed a finger at his own chest, moving closer to me.

"How many times did I screw over my own family to protect your interests? I put your family before my own! And now, because your friend was nice enough to help me with a stain, you're gonna throw away five years of my life?"

"Work?"

A small laugh escaped my lips, but it didn't reach my eyes.

"Cut the act, Marco."

"You talk about loyalty? At the start of the party, Don Antonio's sleazy nephew just looked at Sofia. You shifted your body to block his view without even thinking. That's what a man does for his woman."

Marco’s mouth opened, but I didn’t give him the chance.

"When the main course came, you passed Sofia your sharpest steak