Chapter 1 - The Devil's Proposal
I stared at the most dangerous man in Chicago, wondering if the shock of the evening had finally made me hallucinate.
Nikolai Moretti did not look like a man making a joke.
His dark, calculating eyes were entirely serious as he waited for my response.
"You want to marry me to spite your brother?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
He took a slow sip of his whiskey.
"I want to marry you to secure my empire, Evelyn."
He stepped closer, the scent of expensive cologne and dangerous power washing over me.
"Julian thinks stealing your sister will make him look like a bold leader to the family council."
Nikolai tilted his head, studying my face.
"But marrying the woman he publicly discarded will make me look like a king who takes whatever he wants."
My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.
I had spent my entire life playing by the rules, being the good daughter, and waiting for my turn.
Look where that had gotten me.
My own family had told me to swallow my pride and smile while my sister stole my future.
"What do I get out of this?" I asked, lifting my chin to meet his gaze.
A dangerous, devastatingly handsome smile crossed Nikolai's face.
"You get revenge, Evelyn."
He reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear.
"You get to walk back into that ballroom on the arm of a billionaire mafia boss and watch their jaws hit the floor."
I thought about my mother telling me not to embarrass the family.
I thought about Serena wearing the dress I had spent months choosing.
"Okay," I whispered, the word sealing my fate.
Nikolai offered me his arm, his muscles hard and tense beneath the expensive wool of his suit.
I placed my trembling hand on his forearm.
"Try not to look like you are walking to the guillotine," he murmured as we approached the ballroom doors.
"I am about to marry a mob boss, Nikolai," I replied smoothly.
"The guillotine would be much faster."
He let out a low, genuine laugh that sent a shiver down my spine.
We stepped through the heavy double doors just as Julian was calling for a toast to his new bride-to-be.
The entire room went dead silent the moment they saw Nikolai.
Their silence turned to absolute shock when they realized whose arm I was holding.
Julian lowered his champagne glass, his arrogant smile instantly vanishing.
My father took a step backward, bumping into a waiter and sending a tray of drinks crashing to the floor.
Nikolai walked me straight to the center of the room, ignoring the terrified whispers of the city's elite.
He looked directly at his brother, his eyes cold and devoid of any mercy.
"Julian," Nikolai said, his voice echoing perfectly through the massive ballroom.
"I believe congratulations are in order for us both."
Nikolai pulled me flush against his side, wrapping his strong arm securely around my waist.
"Because Evelyn and I are getting married tomorrow morning."
Before anyone could even gasp, Nikolai leaned down and kissed me in front of the entire terrified room.
May you like
But as his lips met mine, he slipped his hand into my coat pocket and left a cold, heavy metal object inside.
I pulled away, my blood running cold as my fingers brushed against the unmistakable shape of a loaded gun.
