Twenty surgeons, millions of dollars, and every antibiotic money could buy had failed to save Gabriel Falcone, the most feared mafia boss in New York. Then I noticed something buried inside his rotting shoulder that none of them had seen—and when Gabriel ordered, “Give her the scissors,” every armed man in that room watched a twenty-two-year-old maid decide whether their boss lived or died.

The tinted window of the limousine slowly rolled down.

A sharply dressed lawyer holding a thick leather briefcase stepped out of the vehicle.

He bowed respectfully to Gabriel before handing him a sealed envelope.

"The Romano cartel has officially surrendered their territories to you, Mr. Falcone," the lawyer announced.

Gabriel did not look at the envelope.

His eyes were fixed entirely on me.

"I don't care about the territories right now," Gabriel said softly, stepping closer to me.

He reached out, his large, scarred hand gently wiping a streak of dirt from my cheek.

"You saved my life twice tonight, Elena," he whispered in front of all his men.

"I owe you a debt that money can never repay."

I looked up into his dark eyes, realizing I no longer feared the most dangerous man in New York.

"I don't want your money, Gabriel," I replied honestly.

Gabriel smiled, a genuine and breathtaking expression of pure affection.

"Then let me give you everything else," he promised, pulling me into a warm, protective embrace.

Six months later, I was no longer wearing a maid's uniform.

I stood on the balcony of the restored Falcone estate, wearing a beautiful silk gown.

Gabriel wrapped his strong arms around my waist from behind, pressing a soft kiss to my neck.

The infection was a distant memory, and his empire was stronger and more legitimate than ever before.

We had found peace in each other, turning a night of terror into a beautiful, enduring love.

I leaned back against his chest, watching the sunset over the city we now ruled together.

Later that evening, the head butler brought me a silver tray holding a single, unmarked letter.

I opened the thick parchment, recognizing the elegant handwriting instantly.

It was from my mother, who had supposedly died in a hospital bed a year ago.

The note read: "I warned you never to touch the Falcone bloodline, my sweet daughter."

The Clumsy Maid Bathed His Dog—Then The Mafia Boss Said She Wasn’t Leavi...

She found her husband with another woman and walked away so quietly that...

The Mafia Boss Asked a Disabled Widow If She Was Okay

"They are coming for you both, and this time, the poison is in the walls."

I stared at the paper in horror as a faint smell of burnt almonds suddenly drifted into the room.

Chapter 10 - The New Queen