My Blood for His Empire

The next day, Isabella's assistant sent the address.

The five great families of New York City regularly held peace banquets, which were, in reality, negotiation tables for dividing territory and interests.

Isabella wanted me to be her personal bodyguard.

This went far beyond the scope of my 'guard duty' assignment, but thinking of those five million dollars, I still went.

I arrived on time, only to see Isabella clutching her forehead, crying, fresh blood trickling through her fingers.

Meanwhile, Luciano, his face livid, had a man pinned firmly underfoot and was using his cane to methodically break the man’s leg bone, blow by blow:

"If you dare lay another finger on Izzy, I'll take your life."

The guests nearby whispered among themselves:

"We'd long heard that Moretti from Sicily was head over heels for the Rossi family's daughter, willing to throw away his reputation for her. Today, we've truly seen it. "

"Isabella's ex-fiancé found out he'd been cuckolded, merely pushed her, and Luciano crippled his leg. That’s really broken the rules."

"That man is also unlucky. But if I were Isabella, I'd choose Luciano too."

I stood rooted to the spot, my heart numb.

Luciano had always prided himself on his composure; this was the first time I'd ever seen him lose control like this in public, all for a woman.

After that man was dragged away, Isabella spotted me and rushed over, slapping me hard across the face:

"Where the hell were you?! Don't you know you were derelict in your duty?!"

I was utterly bewildered:

"I arrived on time..."

"Are you saying I deliberately framed you?"

Isabella threw herself into Luciano's arms, tears streaming down her lovely face as she sobbed:

"Luc, I told Alessia to be here an hour early, but she deliberately showed up late! Is it because she can't stand that you care for me? If she had just arrived on time, I wouldn't have been pushed down! Oh, Luc, will my face be scarred...?"

I pulled out my phone, trying to show him proof, but Luciano slapped it from my hand, sending it clattering to the floor. His voice was like ice:

"Alessia, have you learned to lie now too? Kneel!"

When I didn't move, Luciano shot a look at the bodyguard beside him.

A brutal kick landed behind my knees, forcing me to collapse heavily onto the loor.

Luciano loomed over me, his eyes filled with crushing disappointment.