His Unwanted Wife, The Unbeatable Lawyer

Caterina POV:

I looked out over the silent hall, at the assembled ranks of the most dangerous men in the country.

My eyes found Jared's.

He was smiling, confident, the perfect picture of an Underboss secure in his position.

The Don from the neutral territory waited for my answer.

"Ms. Quinn? Your proudest professional principle?"

I keyed the microphone.

My voice was clear, steady, and carried to every corner of the room-the same voice I used to translate death sentences.

"My professional principle is composure," I said. "The ability to calmly deliver the order to 'rescue the asset,' knowing my own husband was abandoning me to die for her."

Jared's smile froze on his face, the perfect picture of an Underboss secure in his position now shattering. It was like watching a statue crack.

A thick, heavy silence fell over the room.

It was absolute.

No one coughed.

No one shifted in their seat.

It was the predatory quiet of sharks who had just smelled blood in the water.

After what felt like an eternity, the summit chairman cleared his throat and moved on to the next point of business.

But the damage was done.

The bomb had gone off.

When the session was finally dismissed, I was packing up my equipment when Jared, face a mask of fury, stormed into the booth.

"Are you insane?" he hissed, his voice a low, venomous whisper that barely cut through the buzzing in my ears.

I looked up at him, my expression a carefully constructed blank slate.

"I've never been more sane."

He took a step toward me, his hand raised as if to grab me, when suddenly, two men in dark suits filled the doorway.

They were built like brick walls, Rocco Walsh's soldiers.

They just stood there, blocking Jared's path-a silent, immovable threat.

Jared froze, his eyes darting from them to me.

Rocco himself appeared behind them.

He nodded once at me.

"Ms. Quinn."

Without another word, he escorted me out of the booth and down a private hallway to a secluded lounge.

"Well done," he said, once the door was closed.

I took a breath, the adrenaline finally starting to wear off, leaving a tremor in my hands.

"Was that too reckless?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

He looked at me, his steel-grey eyes unblinking, unwavering.

"You were defending your honor. In our world, Caterina, there is nothing more important."

A sharp knock came at the door.

One of Rocco's men opened it, revealing Jared, his face flushed with raw rage.

"I need to speak with my wife," he demanded.

Rocco didn't even turn around.

"No," he said, his voice flat, final. "Her security is my responsibility for the duration of this summit. You are not to approach her again."

The soldier closed the door firmly in Jared's face.

A moment later, Bianca appeared, her eyes red and puffy from crying.

She tried to push past the guard.

"Caterina, please..." she pleaded, her voice thick with tears.

Rocco moved with surprising speed, physically blocking the doorway with his own body.

He was an immovable mountain she could not bypass.

I walked to the door and looked down at her.

"Associate Brooks," I said, my voice cold as ice, every word a deliberate chip of frost. "If you interfere with Commission business again, I will have you removed from the premises."

She flinched as if I'd physically slapped her.

Rocco shut the door firmly.

He turned back to me, a flicker of disgust crossing his steel-grey eyes.

"She's a nuisance," he stated.

"Yes," I agreed, meeting his gaze.

"Excessive tolerance, I've found, only invites further disrespect."