The Girl Behind His Throne

The Torres family and the Nostra had been enemies for generations.

When I was ten, I was betrayed by my own blood and left for dead.

Leon Torres was the one who saved me.

So I buried my identity as the daughter of a powerful Cosa Nostra family and stayed by his side, helping him from the shadows.

For years, I used my father's underground network to eliminate every obstacle in Leon's path, helping the overlooked second son of the Torres Don rise step by step until he claimed the throne for himself.

Then he brought home a woman named Anrina.

His childhood sweetheart.

Anrina claimed she was the one who had helped Leon seize power all these years.

And Leon believed her.

From that moment on, every ounce of his protection, trust, and affection belonged to her.

"Look at yourself. Covered in blood like a filthy stray."

"Go clean yourself up. Don't scare my sweetheart."

Leon stripped me of my position as Capo and forced me to become Anrina's servant.

When pizza fresh from the oven burned her mouth, he made me kneel at her feet and cool every bite before feeding her myself.

When a rose thorn pricked her finger, he blamed me for failing to protect her and ordered ten lashes in the punishment room.

I endured it all.

Because years ago, after saving my life, Leon once said:

"You want to repay me?

"Then repay me a hundred times."

I lowered my gaze to the child growing quietly inside me.

"Ninety-nine," I whispered.

"Just one more, little one... then Mommy will take you home."

Anrina strode into the room in stiletto heels and tossed a bunny-girl outfit straight at my face.

There was barely enough fabric to cover anything. A pair of cheap little bells hung from the chest.

"My birthday banquet is tonight. Put this on and serve drinks to the guests."

Arms crossed, she looked down at me like a queen passing judgment.

I picked up the outfit and threw it back at her feet.

"I'm not a hostess."

Anrina let out a cold laugh and stepped closer.

"Leon already gave the order. It's my birthday tonight, which means everyone listens to me.

"If you refuse to wear it, I'll have you thrown into the punishment room for the night."

Those were indeed his words.

He had said the exact same thing on my birthday last year.

That night, he had personally fastened a necklace around my neck called Heart of Protection.

He promised he would always protect me.

Then Anrina appeared, and everything changed.

I went from a feared Capo to a servant anyone could humiliate.

Seeing my silence, Anrina suddenly raised her hand and slapped me.

I caught her wrist before she could touch me.

My gaze lowered instinctively to my stomach.

If I were sent down to the dungeon for punishment, the baby would not survive.

"I'll wear it."

A smug smile spread across Anrina's face. She looked ready to continue tormenting me, but then her phone rang.

The moment she saw the caller ID, her entire voice turned soft and sugary.

"Leon... I'll come find you in the main hall right away. Mm... I missed you, too."

After hanging up, she shot me a vicious glare.

"Just wait. I'm not done with you yet."

The door slammed shut behind her.

I lowered my head and stared at the outfit for a long moment before slowly putting it on. The old scar across my collarbone peeked through the revealing neckline of the costume.

I tugged at the fabric, trying to cover it.

It was useless.

The banquet was being held in the villa's back garden.

I carried a three-tier champagne tower out through the side entrance. The thing weighed nearly twenty pounds, and the old injury in my arm was already throbbing again.

Just six steps away from the main table, Anrina suddenly stretched out one foot and hooked it against my ankle.

I fell forward instantly.

The champagne tower crashed to the ground with a deafening explosion.

Glass shattered everywhere.

I slammed hard into the sea of razor-sharp shards.

Pieces of glass pierced my palms, my forearms, my knees.

Leon rushed over immediately.

He grabbed the screaming Anrina first and pulled her tightly into his arms before finally lowering his gaze to me, covered in blood on the floor.

For a split second, something complicated flickered across his face. Pain. Conflict. Regret.

Then he buried it.

Anrina lifted her hand, revealing a tiny bead of blood on her fingertip.

"Ah... it hurts... Leon, the glass cut me..."

Leon's expression darkened instantly.

"You can't even handle something this simple?"

Anrina leaned weakly against his chest, pretending to plead on my behalf.

"Leon, don't be angry with her.

"Isabella used to be a respected Capo. Of course, she resents being made to do servant work.

"It's my fault for not thinking it through. That's why she did this on purpose... she's taking her anger out on me."

I ignored Anrina completely and looked straight at Leon as I forced myself back to my feet.

"She tripped me on purpose."

Anrina's eyes reddened instantly, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Isabella... I didn't... why would you accuse me like this..."

She cried delicately as she buried herself against Leon's chest.

Leon slowly pulled the pistol from his waist.

The dark barrel pressed against my forehead.

"Apologize."