LINA'S POV
The dress was beautiful.
I stared at myself in the full-length mirror and barely recognized the woman looking back. It was made from Ivory silk, hand-beaded lace, a train that pooled like water across the marble floors. The stylist had woven my—Seraphina's—dark hair into an intricate updo and made sure my face was painted to perfection.
I looked like a bride.
I felt like a sacrifice.
"Stunning," the stylist murmured, adjusting my veil. "Mr. De Luca won't be able to take his eyes off you."
I didn't bother correcting her. Dante would barely look at me. I knew that already.
The ceremony was in his estate's private chapel. Small, as he'd promised.
I walked down the aisle alone. No father to give me away. Seraphina's family was dead, and Dante clearly had no interest in pretending this was anything but a transaction.
He stood at the altar in yet another expensive black suit. Hands clasped in front of him. Expression carved from stone.
He didn't look at me until I reached him.
When he did, there was nothing in his eyes
The priest spoke in Italian. I caught maybe half of it. Something about unity, devotion, sacred bonds.
Lies. All of it.
"Do you, Dante De Luca, take this woman—"
"I do." Flat.
"And do you, Seraphina Moretti, take this man—"
I hesitated.
Dante's eyes instantly glared daggers.
"I do," I whispered.
"Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Dante's hand slid to the back of my neck like chains, pulling me in before I could process what was going on
He kissed me.
It was brief and cold. His lips touched mine for exactly two seconds before he pulled away.
Applause echoed through the chapel but all I could do was blink.
That was my first kiss…
And Dante had just stolen it.
"Smile," Dante murmured against my ear. "You're supposed to look happy."
I smiled. It felt like I was dying again.
***.
The reception was worse.
A ballroom that could've held hundreds was instead filled with maybe fifty guests. Everyone in designer clothes, dripping wealth and danger. They congratulated Dante, kissed my cheeks, called me Mrs. De Luca.
I felt like a ghost haunting someone else's life.
Well technically I was.
Dante kept me at his side. His hand never left the small of my back making sure I didn't run or embarrass him.
I caught fragments of conversation.
"The Moretti alliance finally secured—"
"—De Luca's territory will expand south now—"
"—five families finally united—"
Five families.
I knew what that meant. I'd heard whispers growing up, and read news articles that danced around the truth.
The city was run by five mafia families. They controlled everything from drugs, weapons, politicians and even the police. They were myths that made men disappear.
Dante De Luca was one of them. He was the don of the De Luca empire and I was his queen now.
God help me.
"You're quiet," Dante said, handing me champagne I didn't want.
"What do you want me to say?"
"Nothing." He took a sip of his own glass. "Just smile and nod when people speak to you. Can you manage that?"
I dug my nails into my palm. "Of course."
An older man approached and he clapped Dante on the shoulder like they were old friends.
"Congratulations, Dante. Beautiful bride. Though I heard she's been... troubled lately?"
Dante's expression didn't change. "It was a slight medical issue. It's been resolved now."
"Good, good. Can't have instability in the family." The man's gaze slid to me. "Seraphina, dear. Your father would be proud. The Moretti name lives on."
I didn't know how to respond, so I just smiled and nodded like a good little wife.
***
Hours later, Dante finally released me.
"Go to your room," he said quietly. We were alone in a hallway, the reception still going strong behind closed doors. "I'll join you later."
"Our room," I corrected without thinking.
His eyes cut to me. "Excuse me?"
"You said my room. We're married now. Shouldn't it be our room?"
"Don't push me tonight, Seraphina."
"I'm just clarifying—"
"We have separate rooms. That won't change." He stepped closer. "This marriage is a political alliance. Nothing more. You'll sleep in the east wing. I'll sleep in the west. We'll appear together when necessary. Beyond that, stay out of my way."
Each word was a slap.
"Understood," I said softly.
He searched my face for something—defiance, maybe. When he didn't find it, he turned away.
"Goodnight, Mrs. De Luca."
I watched him walk back to the reception.
My husband.
Who couldn't stand to be in the same room as me.
***
My room—because it was mine now, not ours—was greatly luxurious. A king bed, sitting area, walk-in closet bigger than my old bedroom at the Hart estate. Windows overlooking gardens I'd probably never walk through.
A cage. Just a prettier one.
I kicked off the heels, stripped out of the dress, stood in front of the mirror in just my slip.
Seraphina Moretti stared back.
Not Lina Hart.
Lina was dead. Murdered. Gone.
But somehow I was here. In this body. This life.
I didn't know if this was heaven or hell. Didn't know why I'd been given a second chance—if that's even what this was.
Maybe I was being punished. Forced to live as someone else, married to a monster, trapped in a world I didn't understand.
Or maybe...
Maybe this was an opportunity.
I thought about Cassandra. Julian. Margaret.
They killed me. Chained me up and shot me like I was nothing. Because I was nothing to them. Just the bastard daughter who'd finally gotten in their way.
They thought they won.
They thought I was gone.
But I wasn't.
I was here. Alive. With a new face, a new name, and access to power I'd never dreamed of.
Dante De Luca was a mafia don. A billionaire. A man who controlled half the city.
And I was his wife.
I walked to the window, pressed my hand against the cold glass.
The Hart family had no idea. They thought Lina Hart was rotting in whatever grave they'd dumped her in.
But Lina Hart was standing in a penthouse, wearing silk, married to one of the most dangerous men in the country.
A slow smile curved my lips.
I didn't know why I was given this second chance. Didn't know if God was merciful or cruel.
But I wouldn't waste it.
Cassandra wanted wealth and power? I had it now.
Margaret wanted to protect her precious daughter? I'd destroy them both.
Julian thought he could climb the social ladder? I'd burn it down with him on it.
They took everything from me.
Now I'd take everything from them.
Dante De Luca might hate me. Might see me as a burden. A political obligation.
But he'd given me something invaluable without even knowing it.
A weapon with his name, resources and power.
And I was going to use every bit of it.
I pressed my forehead against the glass, breathed out slowly.
"Thank you," I whispered to whatever force had brought me here. "I don't know what you want from me. But I won't let this be for nothing."
Somewhere in the city, the Hart family was celebrating. Probably toasting Cassandra's future and planning her next move up the ladder.
They had no idea what was coming.
I smiled wider.
"Enjoy it while it lasts," I murmured. "Because I'm coming for you. All of you."
And this time, I had an empire at my back.