Chapter 3 - THE UNEXPECTED VOWThree days later, Sophia sat in a freezing, windowless interrogation room at Rikers Island. Her face was pale, her lips chapped, and her soul crushed. The police had refused to tell her where Emma was taken. She was facing the electric chair, framed for murdering the king of New York's underworld.
The heavy steel door suddenly swung open.
In walked a man in a tailored dark grey suit, his aura suffocatingly powerful. It was Alessandro.
He looked completely unharmed, though his eyes carried a terrifying, icy storm. The painted butterfly was gone, replaced by the lethal coldness of the undisputed Mafia Boss.
"Alessandro..." Sophia choked out, rising from her chair. "Emma... do you know where Emma is?"
"She is safe at my safehouse in Long Island," Alessandro said calmly, sitting down across from her. "Vincent is watching her. She's currently painting a wall with bright pink paint."
Sophia burst into tears of relief, collapsing back into her chair. "Thank God... thank God. Alessandro, I swear on my daughter's life, I didn't hurt your father! Matteo set me up!"
"I know," Alessandro said quietly.
Sophia froze. "You know?"
"My father was poisoned two hours before the knife was put in his heart," Alessandro revealed, resting his elbows on the table. "Matteo did it to take the crown, and he used you because you were an easy target—a poor, defenseless maid with an abusive ex-husband who was eager to sell you out for cash."
"Then tell the police! Help me get out of here!"
"The police are in Matteo’s pocket. The entire Moretti syndicate believes you killed the Don under my orders," Alessandro explained. "If you go to trial, you will be convicted and executed within months. And once you're dead, Matteo will hunt down Emma to eliminate all loose ends."
Sophia felt the blood drain from her face. "What am I supposed to do?"
Alessandro leaned across the table, his dark eyes locking onto hers with absolute intensity.
"There is only one legal and mafia immunity law strong enough to pull you out of this cell today," Alessandro declared. "As the new Don, I have the ancient right of Sposa di Sangue—The Blood Bride. I claim you as my wife."
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Sophia stared at him in utter disbelief. "Your... bride?"
"You leave this prison today as Mrs. Moretti," Alessandro said coldly. "Or you stay here and die. Choose."
