She was everything a proper Italian girl wasn’t supposed to be, which was probably why I found her entertaining. You are worth it.” CHAPTER ONE Matteo The first time I saw Gianna she was a scrawny fourteen-year old with a too big mouth, a splattering of freckles on her face and untamed red locks. “Seeing your father bleed to death at my feet would be worth the risk. “That would mean war between Chicago and New York,” I said simply. I had the potential for cruelty, and this life was the reason for it. That was exactly why I’d wanted out of this life, why I still wanted out. “What are you doing?” I hissed, sliding back from the edge of the washstand to bring more distance between us, and pushing against his chest. “That’s why we are perfect for each other.” Back was the arrogant smile. Before I had time to react, he gripped my hips, turned me around and hoisted me onto the washstand. “Neither do you,” I said, then winced at the pain shooting through my lip. The look in them reminded me of the one I’d seen when he’d dealt with the Russian captives in the basement. There was something unsettling in his eyes. “You don’t know when to shut up, do you?” His lips turned into a smirk, but it looked somehow wrong. Without his trademark shark-grin and the arrogant amusement, he looked almost tolerable.

Matteo appeared behind me, towering over me, dark eyes scanning my messed up face. My lip was already swelling, but I was happy to find my eyes dry, no sign of a single tear.

My chin was covered in blood and more blood was dripping from the cut in my lower lip and onto my shirt.

Bound by duty cora