- 3 hours ago
I Helped My Husband's Brother Take The Mafia Throne - ENGSUB
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00:00Lay on the brink of death following a hit by a rival syndicate.
00:03On his deathbed surrounded by the family's kapos, he made his final will
00:08whichever of his two sons made it to the hospital first
00:11and slipped the black onyx ring onto his finger would inherit the multi-billion dollar mafia empire.
00:16As the eldest son Cassian was only a 30-minute drive away, the throne was practically handed to him.
00:22Instead he chose to throw a lavish birthday party for his precious sweetheart Julia on a private yacht.
00:27She told him she wanted no interruptions, so he shut off his phone.
00:31In my previous life, I took a speedboat, stormed the yacht with a crew,
00:35and dragged him back to the hospital by force, securing his seat as the dom.
00:39But because he left her midway, Julia stood on the deck crying all night,
00:42caught a nasty fever, and threatened to break up with him when she woke up.
00:46Once in power, Cassian was driven mad by guilt.
00:49He called me a cold-blooded heartless bitch, had my feet set in concrete,
00:52and threw me off the Brooklyn Bridge.
00:54When I opened my eyes, I was back in that hospital,
00:56with the family lawyer desperately urging me to make the call.
01:00I looked down at my phone.
01:01On Instagram, Cassian had just posted.
01:03I calmly double-tapped the screen to like his post.
01:06Then I sent a text to my exiled brother-in-law, Mateo.
01:14Valerie, what are you zoning out for?
01:15Call Cassian now.
01:17The Don gave his word.
01:18Whoever gets that black onyx ring on their finger
01:21before he takes his last breath rules the Russo family.
01:24It is a 30-minute drive.
01:26If Cassian leaves right now, this billion-dollar empire is his.
01:31I masked the cold hatred in my eyes.
01:33In front of a room full of capos and doctors,
01:35I dialed Cassian's number.
01:37It rang for a long, long time.
01:39Just as the lawyer started sweating,
01:40the call finally connected.
01:42Valerie, are you out of your mind?
01:44How many times do I have to tell you?
01:45It is Julia's birthday, and I am staying with her!
01:48Your father was shot.
01:49They are trying to save him in the hospital.
01:52Cassian, are you going to leave me again?
01:54Valerie, it is my birthday.
01:55I just want him for one night.
01:57You really don't need to make up such twisted lies.
02:00Do I have to get on my knees
02:01and beg you to let him stay a little longer?
02:03Don't be scared, Julia.
02:05I'm not leaving.
02:06I'm not going anywhere.
02:09Did you hear that?
02:10It is just one night.
02:11Can you drop the jealous wife routine for one night?
02:13Hearing this, the lawyer's veins popped on his forehead.
02:16He snatched the phone.
02:17Cassian, it is the family lawyer.
02:19Valerie is not lying.
02:20The Don was actually hit.
02:22He is in the hospital right now.
02:25You need to get here in 30 minutes,
02:27because the Don said...
02:31Oh, the family lawyer, huh?
02:34An arrogant male voice suddenly cut in.
02:36It was Jax, Cassian's lackey and Julia's younger brother.
02:39Jax laughed mockingly through the speaker.
02:41Valerie, you really pulled out all the stops today,
02:44hiring actors and everything.
02:45Too bad you miscalculated.
02:48I got a buddy on the payroll in that precinct.
02:50He said the streets are dead quiet tonight.
02:52No hits, no nothing.
02:54Valerie is just a jealous bitch
02:56paying actors to put on a show
02:57so you will go crawling back to her.
02:59Valerie, using my father's life for a cheap stunt,
03:03you disgust me.
03:08Is this the eldest son?
03:10How could he be this stupid?
03:12Valerie, you fucking curse!
03:17In my past life,
03:19I was too panicked to react and took the hit.
03:21This time, I was ready.
03:22I sneered and took a step back.
03:27Where is he?
03:28Where is Cassian?
03:30If Cassius doesn't make it back,
03:32if the family falls into someone else's hands,
03:35I will sell you to the brothels myself!
03:38Useless trash!
03:40You can't even get your own man to come back!
03:42If Cassian loses his inheritance,
03:44we will skin you alive!
03:51I knew why they were losing their minds.
03:53Carmela wasn't the Don's legal wife.
03:55She started out as a stripper
03:57and used her pregnancy to climb the ladder,
03:59giving birth to his firstborn, Cassian.
04:01Years ago, when the Don's actual wife
04:03was heavily pregnant,
04:05Carmela showed up at the estate with her baby,
04:07spitting such vicious insults
04:08that the wife went into premature labor
04:10and bled to death on the operating table.
04:12The legitimate son, Mateo,
04:14who was born without a mother,
04:15was treated like a thorn in their side.
04:17Cassian and Carmela abused him,
04:19beat him,
04:19and eventually found an excuse
04:21to exile him to Sicily,
04:22keeping him far away
04:23from the family's core business.
04:25Though the Don let Carmela live in the manor,
04:27he always thought she was too low class
04:29to actually marry.
04:30That meant if the Don died
04:31and Cassian didn't take the throne,
04:33family rules dictated Carmela
04:35would be thrown out on the streets.
04:36If she goes down,
04:38her crew goes down with her.
04:39That is why they're all looking sick with worry.
04:41Are you deaf?
04:43Call his lackey!
04:44Tell him to drag Cassian here right now!
04:46I looked at her coldly,
04:47didn't argue,
04:48and obediently dialed Jax's number.
04:50Valerie, are you physically incapable
04:52of taking a hint?
04:53Can't you give it a rest?
04:54Stop clinging to the boss
04:55like a desperate loser.
04:56Honestly, if you were my woman,
04:58I would tie you up
04:59and beat some sense into you first.
05:01Women need to learn to shut up
05:02and stay out of family business.
05:04His blatant disrespect
05:05left everyone in the room stunned.
05:08Jax, I don't care if you believe me.
05:10The Don is fading fast.
05:11He gave his word
05:13between Cassian and Mateo.
05:15Whoever puts on the ring first
05:17gets the Empire.
05:19A sudden, eerie silence
05:21fell over the line.
05:22Jax's tone shifted,
05:23sounding hesitant.
05:25Are you serious?
05:30It is true.
05:31It is true.
05:32I am Cassian's mother.
05:33You need to tell him
05:34to come come back.
05:35There's a back.
05:35It's about the inheritance.
05:37Jax said slowly.
05:38Well, if it's true,
05:39I'll go tell the boss right now.
05:41Carmela let out
05:42a huge breath of relief.
05:43As long as Cassian gets back...
05:45A burst of hysterical laughter
05:46erupted from the phone.
05:48Jax sounded like he just heard
05:49the funniest joke in the world.
05:50Jesus Christ.
05:51Valerie, you really don't know
05:52when to quit, do you?
05:53I already busted
05:54your little scam
05:55and you are still bringing
05:56the actors back for a second act.
05:57Let me tell you something.
05:58The boss said even if the FBI
05:59raids this boat tonight,
06:00nobody is ruining
06:01his alone time with my sister.
06:03Your little mind games
06:03are useless.
06:04If you know what's good for you,
06:06get lost.
06:07The boss is filing
06:08for divorce tomorrow.
06:09He is only gonna love
06:10my sister for the rest
06:11of his life,
06:12and I am gonna be
06:13the Don's brother-in-law.
06:15As for you,
06:16get ready to pack your bags
06:17and go beg on the streets.
06:19The call hung up mercilessly,
06:21slowly turning into sheer horror.
06:23I made my eyes well up
06:24with tears,
06:25looking extremely wrong.
06:26I had been married
06:27to Cassian for three years
06:29to secure his position
06:30in the family.
06:31I spent countless
06:31sleepless nights
06:32cooking, hiding his dirty money,
06:34and cleaning up his messes.
06:36And what did he do?
06:37He took the money I made him
06:38and bought a $10 million
06:39yacht for Julia.
06:42Valerie, you already have
06:43the title of the
06:44Russo family's wife.
06:45Julia has nothing.
06:47What is wrong with
06:48spending some money
06:49to make it up to her?
06:50He even had the nerve
06:51to tell me.
06:52All men stray.
06:54As long as he comes
06:55home to you,
06:56why do you care
06:56how many girls
06:57he keeps on the side?
06:59Yeah, exactly.
07:01So tonight,
07:02let Cassian be with the woman
07:03he truly loves.
07:05As for the Godfather's seat,
07:06you can kiss it goodbye.
07:11A mess of heavy footsteps
07:13echoed in the hallway.
07:15A group of capos
07:16loyal to Cassian
07:17burst into the room.
07:18Where is he?
07:19Why isn't he here yet?
07:21It is her fault.
07:23Valerie is useless.
07:24She couldn't even
07:25get him on the phone.
07:27The elders were furious.
07:29They grabbed a thick stack.
07:30What the hell
07:30are you good for, Valerie?
07:32We bet everything on Cassian.
07:34If he misses out
07:35of the ring tonight,
07:36we all go down with him.
07:37You stupid,
07:39useless bitch.
07:40Before I could say a word,
07:42the heart monitor
07:42suddenly started
07:43blaring a warning alarm.
07:45The private physician
07:46rushed over to check.
07:47A moment later,
07:48he gave a slight shake
07:49of his head.
07:50Gentlemen,
07:51the Don has 40 minutes
07:52at most.
07:53You need to figure
07:53this out fast.
07:5540 minutes.
07:56Honestly,
07:57if Cassian just checked
07:58his social media
07:59or picked up the phone,
08:00a 30-minute drive
08:01from the docks
08:02was more than enough time.
08:04Hope reignited
08:04in Carmela's eyes.
08:06Her hands shook
08:06as she dialed his number.
08:08Cassian,
08:09please pick up
08:11your mother's call.
08:14The yacht was anchored
08:15just off the coast.
08:16Julia straddled
08:17Cassian's lap.
08:18She complained
08:19about the ringing phone
08:20killing the mood.
08:21That ringing
08:22is giving me a headache.
08:23Cassian,
08:24just turn it off
08:25or throw it in the ocean.
08:29Tonight is my birthday.
08:30She lowered her eyelashes.
08:32You can only have me
08:33in your world.
08:33You can only look at me.
08:35Can you do that for me?
08:38Cassian hesitated
08:39for a second,
08:40Valerie's words
08:40flashing through his mind.
08:42But looking at
08:43Julia's lustful,
08:44dependent eyes,
08:45any doubt he had vanished,
08:46the old man
08:47was tough as nails.
08:48He wouldn't just drop dead.
08:50Alright.
08:51As long as my queen
08:52is happy even if
08:53the sky falls,
08:54you are the only thing
08:54I care about.
08:56Cassian kissed her
08:57hard then,
08:58without a second thought,
08:59tossed both phones
09:00into the dark sea.
09:05Sorry.
09:06The number you have reached
09:07is unavailable.
09:09Carmela must have
09:09called 20 times.
09:12Her men tried
09:13to comfort her.
09:14Donna Carmela,
09:15don't panic.
09:16Even if Cassian
09:16doesn't make it,
09:17it is fine.
09:18That bastard Matteo
09:19is still in Sicily, right?
09:20A flight from there
09:21takes over 10 hours.
09:22He will never make it.
09:24Hearing this,
09:25Carmela let out a breath
09:26she was holding.
09:27But then,
09:28one of their spies
09:29rushed into the room.
09:30Ma'am, bosses.
09:32Someone said
09:32they saw Matteo's crew
09:33a few blocks away.
09:34He is almost here.
09:36Impossible.
09:37He is in Sicily.
09:38How could he be back
09:39so fast?
09:40I stood quietly
09:41by the edge of the room,
09:42feeling a dark sense
09:43of satisfaction.
09:44Actually,
09:45Matteo had secretly
09:46returned to New York
09:47days ago
09:47to handle some family business.
09:49In my previous life,
09:50Carmela blocked
09:51all information
09:52from reaching him
09:52so he wouldn't compete
09:53by the time
09:56Matteo found out
09:57and rushed over.
09:58He was 30 minutes
09:59too late.
09:59But this time,
10:00the moment I opened my eyes,
10:02I sent the news
10:02straight to him.
10:04The docks!
10:05Go to the docks!
10:06You useless trash!
10:08Come with me!
10:09We are bringing him back!
10:11Carmela completely lost it.
10:12I let her drag me
10:13into the car
10:13because I knew
10:14exactly how obsessed
10:16Cassian was with Julia.
10:17He had locked down
10:18that yacht
10:19for their alone time.
10:20Even if Carmela
10:21went herself,
10:22it wouldn't change
10:22a damn thing.
10:30When we got to the pier,
10:31Carmela and her
10:32heavily armed thugs
10:33rushed the entrance
10:34like maniacs.
10:35But a dozen guards
10:36armed with assault rifles
10:37blocked the gate.
10:38Standing front and center
10:39was Jax,
10:40looking as smug as ever.
10:41Are you blind?
10:42The boss locked down
10:43the pier tonight.
10:44Not even a fly gets in.
10:45I am his mother!
10:47Let me in!
10:48Tell Cass that
10:49Matteo's about to steal
10:50his throne!
10:51Lost her balance
10:52and crashed hard
10:53onto the concrete.
10:54Listen here, old lady.
10:55You guys are really
10:56addicted to this acting gig, huh?
10:59First Valerie gets someone
11:00to fake being a lawyer
11:01and a mom over the phone
11:02and now you show up
11:03trying to play the victim?
11:05You people will stoop
11:06to anything
11:06to ruin his night
11:07with my sister.
11:09The boss gave
11:09a direct order.
11:11Even if his own
11:12mother shows up,
11:13she can wait outside.
11:14Carmela was shaking
11:15violently,
11:15choking on her own fury.
11:17She ordered her men
11:18to break through,
11:19but after a brief,
11:20bloody scuffle,
11:21they were beaten back,
11:22heads bleeding.
11:23Utterly desperate,
11:24Carmela screamed,
11:25cursed,
11:26and clawed
11:26at the heavy iron gates.
11:28Finally,
11:28her knees gave out.
11:30She literally dropped
11:31to her knees
11:31in front of Jax,
11:33bowing her head
11:33against the dirt.
11:35I beg you,
11:37let me in to see him!
11:40If we are too late,
11:42everything is gone!
11:45Leaning against the car door
11:46watching this circus,
11:47I couldn't stop
11:48the corner of my lips
11:49from curving up.
11:50At that exact moment
11:51back in the hospital,
11:53dozens of eyes
11:53were glued to the heart monitor
11:55as the jagged lines
11:56grew flatter and flatter.
11:57Then,
11:58the hallway fell dead silent.
11:59A tall, imposing figure
12:01in a black trench coat
12:02stepped over the threshold.
12:03The moment his heavy boots
12:05halted,
12:06the red line on the monitor
12:07flatlined completely.
12:14The family lawyer
12:15took a deep breath.
12:17Facing the elders,
12:18his voice rang out solemn
12:19and clear.
12:20According to the final
12:21will and testament,
12:22Mr. Mateo arrived
12:23at the final moment.
12:24From this second on,
12:25Mr. Mateo is the undisputed
12:27dawn of the Russo family.
12:28No matter how furious
12:30Cassian's supporters were,
12:31no one dared to say a word.
12:33Mateo slipped the black
12:34onyx ring onto his finger.
12:35One by one,
12:36every capo in the room
12:37bowed their heads
12:38in submission.
12:41When the voice note
12:42from my informant
12:43played through my phone,
12:44Carmela's eyes rolled back
12:46and she fainted cold
12:47on the damp concrete.
12:48Meanwhile,
12:49out on the yacht,
12:50the two of them
12:50were still tangled
12:51in the sheets.
12:52Julia curled up
12:53against Cassian's bare chest,
12:55her skin still flushed
12:56and damp.
12:57Cassian,
12:58this is the best day
12:59of my life.
13:00Thank you for risking
13:01everything for me.
13:03Promise me you'll always
13:03be this good to me.
13:04Of course,
13:05just wait.
13:06Someday I'm gonna get rid
13:07of Valera
13:07and make you my real wife.
13:09The yacht was nearing
13:10the docks.
13:13Cassian glanced up.
13:15Waiting for them
13:15on the pier
13:16was a sea of dark suits
13:17and the blood instantly
13:18drained from his face.
13:21Cassian marched over,
13:22his eyes full of contempt.
13:23Valerie,
13:24you are like a ghost
13:25that won't go away!
13:26What kind of stun is this?
13:28Bringing in a bunch
13:29of crazy bitches here
13:30to cry and make a scene?
13:31You think making yourself
13:32look pitiful
13:32is gonna make me look at you?
13:34He noticed the unconscious
13:35woman on the ground
13:36and the bleeding thugs,
13:37but he was so blinded
13:39by annoyance,
13:39he didn't even recognize
13:40his own mother.
13:41Boss, don't worry.
13:42I kept all these
13:43troublemanters out.
13:44Not a single fly
13:46got in to ruin
13:46your romantic night
13:47with my sister.
13:48Valerie,
13:49if you keep acting
13:50like a psycho,
13:50we are filing
13:51for divorce tomorrow.
13:52For three years,
13:53you have paraded around
13:54acting like the queen
13:55of the Russo family,
13:56but in bed you are
13:56as boring as a piece of wood.
13:58I'm sick of you.
13:59Believe me,
13:59with one word,
14:00I can have you
14:01thrown out of this family
14:01with nothing.
14:02Valerie,
14:03I actually feel
14:04sorry for you.
14:05You married Kassian
14:06for money and power,
14:07but your heart
14:08is full of schemes.
14:10You can't offer him
14:11anything real.
14:12Kassian doesn't need power.
14:14He needs true love.
14:15Why put yourself
14:16through this?
14:17Fine.
14:19You two go
14:20love each other forever.
14:26Stop!
14:42Matei?
14:44What are you doing here?
14:45Hey!
14:46Where are you going?
14:47Get back here right now!
14:48Suddenly,
14:49a sharp,
14:49echoing slap rang out.
14:51Carmela,
14:51who had just woken up
14:52from the cold ground,
14:54summoned a terrifying
14:55amount of strength
14:56and backhanded Julia
14:57right across her delicate face.
14:59Julia screamed
15:00and collapsed,
15:01half of her face
15:01instantly swelling up.
15:03Mom?
15:03Mom?
15:04What are you doing here?
15:06Why are you acting
15:07crazy with Valerie?
15:09Why did you hit Julia?
15:10Hit her?
15:11I will skin the bitch alive!
15:14Open your damn eyes
15:15and look!
15:16Look at what your stupidity
15:18just cost us
15:19for this little slit!
15:20Frowning with extreme irritation,
15:22Cassian grabbed the phone.
15:24On the screen
15:25was the breaking news alert
15:26flashing across
15:27every major network.
15:28Russo family
15:29Don assassinated.
15:31Second son Mateo
15:32arrives at last minute
15:33to inherit empire.
15:34A new godfather rises.
15:36Right below the headline
15:37was a high
15:38definition video
15:39of the lawyer's announcement.
15:41According to the final
15:42will and testament,
15:43Mr. Mateo arrived
15:44at the final moment.
15:45Mr. Mateo is the
15:46undisputed Don
15:47of the Russo family.
15:48In the video,
15:49Mateo, dressed in a
15:50sharp black suit,
15:51stood by the Don's bed
15:52and slipped the black
15:53onyx ring onto his finger.
15:55Cassian's pupils
15:56shrank to pinpricks.
15:58He stared at the screen,
15:59his fingers starting
16:00to tremble uncontrollably.
16:02No.
16:03No, this is impossible.
16:09How could father
16:10be assassinated?
16:11This is fake!
16:15Valerie,
16:16you doctored this video,
16:17didn't you?
16:17I stood perfectly still,
16:19a mocking smile
16:19touching my lips.
16:20Cassian,
16:21why don't you call
16:22your capos
16:23and find out
16:24if it's fake or not?
16:25Phone, phone,
16:26give me the phone
16:27right now!
16:28The second,
16:29the screen lit up,
16:29hundreds of missed calls
16:30and thousands of texts
16:32flooded in like death warrants.
16:33Boss, where are you?
16:34If you don't come back
16:35right now,
16:36Mateo is taking everything!
16:37Cassian looked like
16:38he had been struck
16:38by lightning.
16:39His knees went weak
16:40and he nearly dropped
16:41to the ground.
16:42Carmela suddenly lunged
16:44at Julia.
16:44You brainless hort.
16:46It is all because of you.
16:48A fucking birthday party!
16:50If it wasn't for you,
16:51Cassian would have
16:52made it to the hospital!
16:53You ruined the rest of my life,
16:55you dirty hort!
16:56Julia screamed in agony,
16:58her perfect makeup
16:59smeared with tears
17:00as she struggled.
17:02Cassian!
17:03Help me, Cassian!
17:06Sister!
17:07But the family elders
17:08behind Carmela,
17:10already driven insane
17:11by losing their power-tackled
17:12Jax to the ground
17:13and beat the living hell
17:14out of him.
17:16You're the one
17:16who blocked the gate.
17:17I will put a bullet
17:18in you myself.
17:20The pier devolved
17:21into absolute chaos.
17:22Screams from Julia
17:23and Jax rang out everywhere.
17:27Cassian finally snapped
17:28out of his shock.
17:29Enough!
17:30Stop!
17:30Get off her!
17:31Don't touch Julia!
17:33Carmela was already old.
17:34When Cassian yanked her
17:35off Julia,
17:36she lost her balance
17:37and crashed heavily
17:38onto the deck.
17:42Dead, dead silence.
17:43Everyone stared
17:44at Cassian
17:45in absolute disbelief.
17:47Are you insane?
17:50You hit your own mother
17:51for this slut?
17:52How did I give birth
17:53to such a stupid son?
17:56Cassian wrapped his arms
17:57around a shivering Julia.
17:58If I lost my territory,
17:59I will take it back!
18:01As long as I breathe,
18:02I will build my way
18:03back to the top.
18:03But if any of you
18:04touch one hair
18:05on Julia's head,
18:06I will kill you.
18:07He scooped Julia up,
18:09bolted into his sports car
18:10like he was running
18:11for his life,
18:12and sped off.
18:13Watching these rabid dogs
18:14tear each other apart,
18:16my smile grew wider.
18:17Is that so?
18:18Let's see how you
18:19rise back to the top.
18:20An hour later,
18:21Cassian took Julia
18:22to the hospital
18:23to get patched up,
18:24then drove back
18:24to the Russo family manor.
18:28The moment he walked
18:29through the doors,
18:30he started barking orders.
18:32Butler,
18:34prepare Abilene
18:35and Ceducud for dinner.
18:43Out on the front lawn,
18:45all his custom suits,
18:46luxury watches
18:47and personal belongings
18:48were piled up like garbage.
18:50I was sitting elegantly
18:52on the sofa,
18:53slowly sipping champagne,
18:54and sitting right beside me
18:56was Mateo.
19:00Valerie,
19:02Mateo,
19:02you have some nerve!
19:04You bastard!
19:05You dare step foot
19:06in my house?
19:07The Russo family
19:07isn't yours!
19:08I am the eldest son,
19:09and this empire
19:10belongs to me!
19:11Take this toxic bitch
19:12and get out of my house!
19:13He instinctively reached
19:14for the gun at his waist,
19:16but Mateo's bodyguards
19:17moved in a flash,
19:18kicking him hard in the chest
19:19and dropping him to the floor.
19:22Who do you think
19:22runs the Russo family now?
19:24I sneered,
19:25stood up,
19:25and threw a divorce agreement
19:27and a thick stack
19:27of bank statements
19:28right in his face.
19:30Sign the divorce papers
19:31and look at those statements.
19:32Over the last three years,
19:33you immeasabled family funds
19:34to buy yachts
19:35and diamonds for Julia,
19:36$30 million in total.
19:37Mateo swirled his whiskey glass,
19:39a dangerous smirk
19:40on his lips.
19:41Big brother,
19:41I run the finances now,
19:43and I have audited the books.
19:45You either pay back the money
19:47or I handle this
19:48the traditional mafia way,
19:49and you pay with a pound of flesh.
19:55Valor, you think slapping
19:57a $30 million debt on me
19:58is gonna make me beg?
19:59You think throwing me out
20:00will make me leave Julia
20:01and come crawling back to you?
20:02You miscalculated.
20:04Even if you do all this,
20:05I'll never choose you.
20:06As long as I have Julia
20:07by my side,
20:08I will build my own empire
20:09from the ground up.
20:10I will wait for the day
20:11you come begging me on your knees.
20:12Come on, Julia.
20:13We are leaving.
20:14Watching his dramatic exit,
20:16I almost laughed out loud.
20:17Build his own empire
20:18from the ground up.
20:20He was nothing
20:20without the Russo name.
20:22And soon enough,
20:22he'd learn a hard truth.
20:24Empires don't rise from nothing,
20:25and gold diggers
20:26don't stay for love.
20:31One month later,
20:32inside a hot, humid,
20:34run-down motel
20:35with water dripping
20:35from the ceiling.
20:36It was the exact opposite
20:38of the luxurious Russo estate.
20:40Cassian,
20:41are you entirely useless?
20:44Julia's hair was a mess.
20:46She pointed right
20:47at Cassian's nose,
20:48screaming.
20:49That sweet, gentle face of hers
20:51was now twisted with rage.
20:53You can't even buy me
20:54a decent dress!
20:55Some boss you are!
20:57Ever since Cassian
20:58was thrown out,
20:59all his bank accounts
21:00had been frozen
21:01to pay off his debt.
21:02All of Julia's
21:03limited edition bags
21:04and diamonds
21:04had been confiscated
21:05and liquidated.
21:06Used to a life
21:07of extreme luxury,
21:08Julia's true colors
21:10finally bled through.
21:11Cassian stepped forward humbly,
21:13trying to hold her hand.
21:14Julia,
21:16please,
21:16don't be mad.
21:18I have already reached out
21:20to a few guys
21:21who used to follow me.
21:24Once I find-
21:24Find what?
21:25What the hell
21:26can your pocket change do?
21:31You can't even
21:32buy me a purse!
21:34How can you say
21:35you love me?
21:37Weren't you
21:37the big boss?
21:39Julia.
21:40A flash of genuine hurt
21:41crossed Cassian's eyes.
21:42You weren't like this before.
21:44You told me
21:45as long as we have love,
21:46you wouldn't care
21:47even if the sky fell.
21:49Julia looked at him
21:49with pure disgust.
21:50Without money,
21:51your love is worthless.
21:53Just then,
21:54with a loud bang,
21:55the motel door
21:55was kicked open.
21:57Jax stumbled inside,
21:58covered in blood.
21:59Sis!
22:01Save me, Sis!
22:04I owe the casino.
22:06They said if I don't
22:07pay up today,
22:08they are chopping off
22:09my hands in f***ing s***.
22:11Are you deaf?
22:12They are going to
22:13maim my brother!
22:15Pay them!
22:16Julius screamed in terror,
22:18shoving Cassian forward.
22:19I-
22:21Cassian went pale.
22:22I don't have any money left.
22:24Jax's eyes were wild.
22:25He dropped to the floor,
22:26hugging Cassian's leg
22:27and shaking him violently.
22:29Cassian,
22:30go beg Valerie.
22:32She used to love you so much,
22:34she did whatever you said.
22:36Get on your knees
22:37and beg her for the money.
22:39Cassian flinched
22:40like he had been hit
22:40with a bat.
22:41He stared at Julia,
22:42his lips trembling.
22:44Julia,
22:46do you think
22:46I should do that too?
22:50Well, you're useless
22:51right now anyway.
22:52Julia avoided his eyes,
22:54her face filled with revulsion.
22:55If you can scam
22:56some money out of her,
22:57do it.
22:58You can't just let
22:59my brother get crippled.
23:00Cassian completely broke down.
23:02He couldn't accept
23:02that his precious first love
23:04was really like this.
23:05He held his head in his hands,
23:06trying to hypnotize himself.
23:08She is just tired.
23:10She still loves me.
23:13She is just scared.
23:14But reality shattered
23:15his last layer of delusion
23:16the very next day.
23:18Julia went straight to Mateo,
23:19sitting on a massive leather sofa.
23:21Mateo casually spun a pistol
23:23in his hand.
23:24Julia was heavily dressed up.
23:25She wore a tight,
23:27short dress,
23:28deliberately pulling down
23:29the collar
23:29to expose her collarbones.
23:34Her eyes were red
23:36as she spoke
23:36in a choked,
23:37breathy voice.
23:38Dawn,
23:39to be honest,
23:40I never liked
23:42Cassian's brutality
23:43from the start.
23:44Julia took a step closer,
23:46leaning her upper body
23:47over his mahogany desk,
23:48her voice dripping
23:49with seduction.
23:50He made me.
23:51He used his status
23:52to force me
23:53to stay with him.
23:53But in my heart,
23:55I have always admired
23:57men like you.
23:58Real men.
24:00Men with real power
24:02and ambition.
24:03A mocking gleam
24:04flashed in Mateo's eyes.
24:05Is that so?
24:06He forced you?
24:08Seeing Mateo
24:09hadn't kicked her out,
24:10Julia was thrilled.
24:11She even dropped
24:12to her knees,
24:13pressing herself
24:13against his leg.
24:15It is true.
24:17Cassian is nothing.
24:19He is a brainless coward.
24:21I never loved him.
24:24As long as you let me
24:25stay by your side,
24:27I will do
24:28anything you want.
24:31Julia!
24:35A roar of utter disbelief
24:38and raw fury
24:39echoed from the doorway.
24:40Cassian stared dead,
24:41eyed at Julia,
24:42who was kneeling
24:43on the floor,
24:44her dress half off,
24:45offering herself to Mateo.
24:46You treacherous whore!
24:48He charged forward
24:49like a madman,
24:50wrapping his hands
24:51around Julia's throat
24:52and slamming her hard
24:53into the floor.
24:54I threw away my title
24:56as godfather for you!
24:58I abandoned my own mother
25:00for you!
25:01And you dare betray me?
25:02I will kill you!
25:04Julia screamed in terror,
25:05desperately slapping his arms,
25:07her eyes rolling
25:08into the back of her head.
25:09Cassian probably didn't realize
25:10that if Mateo
25:11hadn't explicitly
25:12ordered the downstairs guards
25:14to let him through,
25:15he wouldn't have even
25:16made it into the lobby.
25:17How could we throw a play
25:18without the lead actor?
25:19I stepped out
25:20from behind the concealed door,
25:22looking down at them
25:22from above.
25:23Traded a billion-dollar
25:24mafia empire
25:25for a woman like this.
25:27Your true love
25:28sure didn't come cheap,
25:29Cassian.
25:30That broke him.
25:31Hearing my voice,
25:32Cassian snapped his head up.
25:33Then,
25:33he suddenly started laughing
25:35like a complete psychopath.
25:36He was choking Julia,
25:38laughing out loud
25:38while massive tears
25:39rolled down his face.
25:40I was wrong!
25:42I was so fucking wrong!
25:44This circus ended
25:45with Mateo's bodyguards
25:46dragging them both out.
25:47Cassian's face
25:48was twisted with mania.
25:49I recognized that look,
25:50it was the exact same one
25:52he'd had before
25:53he killed me
25:53in my past life.
25:54Have your guys
25:55keep an eye on him.
25:56He's about to go
25:56completely insane.
25:58Don't worry.
25:59This time around,
26:00I'm not letting anyone
26:02hurt you.
26:05When I received the video
26:07from my private investigator,
26:08I was standing
26:09by the floor-to-ceiling windows
26:11holding a glass of red wine.
26:13The video showed
26:14an abandoned,
26:15rotting pier
26:15on the outskirts of Brooklyn.
26:16Cassian was drenched
26:18in rain,
26:18his eyes bloodshot.
26:20He had pawned
26:20his last pistol
26:21to hire a shady van,
26:23kidnapping both Julia
26:24and Jax.
26:25Fierce winds whipped
26:26the freezing ocean water
26:27against the rocks.
26:28Julia's hands and feet
26:29were bound with thick rope.
26:30Her face was twisted
26:31in sheer horror.
26:32Cassian.
26:34Cassian.
26:35Cassian, I'm sorry.
26:36I really am.
26:37Please don't kill me.
26:39Let's start over, okay?
26:42I don't want any jewelry
26:44or money anymore.
26:45I only love you.
26:47I am so cold.
26:49My head hurts so much, Cassian.
26:52I have a fever.
26:53You used to care about me.
26:55She was using her usual
26:56pathetic act.
26:57In my past life,
26:58it was a sentence
26:59just like that,
27:00which drove Cassian mad
27:02with guilt,
27:02making him throw me
27:03into the freezing,
27:04pitch, Black River.
27:05This time,
27:06she got to taste
27:07the water herself.
27:08Faced with her begging,
27:09Cassian showed zero mercy.
27:11His face was locked
27:12in a mask
27:12of absolute manic hysteria.
27:14A fever?
27:16Perfect.
27:17It is nice and cool
27:18at the bottom of the ocean.
27:20Let me send you there
27:21right now.
27:22Cassian grabbed Julia
27:23by the hair
27:24and dragged her
27:24toward the edge
27:25of the pier.
27:26Didn't you say
27:26I was brainless?
27:28Didn't you say
27:28I was nothing?
27:29You bitch!
27:31You ruined my life
27:32and now you are
27:33going to fucking die!
27:35Roaring,
27:36he tied a heavy cinder block
27:37tight to her ankles.
27:39Julia let out
27:39a scream of pure despair.
27:42Help!
27:43Help me!
27:44While Cassian
27:45was busy tying the knot,
27:46Jax,
27:47who was tied up nearby,
27:48had somehow managed
27:49to scrape through
27:50his zip ties.
27:51Pushed to the brink of death,
27:52his survival instinct kicked in.
27:54Jax broke free,
27:55grabbed a rusted piece of rebar
27:57from the ground
27:57and lunged.
27:58He drove it straight
27:59into Cassian's back.
28:00Cassian let out
28:01a blood-curdling scream.
28:03He convulsed,
28:04staring in disbelief
28:05at the iron spike
28:06protruding from his stomach.
28:08The agonizing pain
28:09twisted his face,
28:10but he didn't fall,
28:11holding his bleeding stomach.
28:13A sickening, eerie grin
28:14spread across his face.
28:16If I'm going to hell,
28:19you are all coming with me!
28:22You are all coming with me!
28:24Using the very last ounce
28:26of his strength,
28:27he raised his foot
28:28and kicked Julia
28:28hard off the edge.
28:30Julia let out
28:30one final,
28:31piercing scream
28:32before plummeting
28:33straight into the dark ocean.
28:35The wind howled
28:36and the waves
28:36swallowed her whole,
28:38just like what I experienced
28:39in my past life.
28:40Now,
28:41it was returned to them
28:42exactly as they deserved.
28:43Drained of life,
28:44Cassian collapsed
28:45into a pool
28:46of his own blood,
28:47coughing up bloody foam.
28:48He laughed maniacally
28:49at the sky.
28:50On my end of the screen,
28:51I calmly pressed pause.
28:53That lingering,
28:54suffocating chill,
28:55the trauma that had clung
28:56to my soul
28:56like a parasite
28:57since my rebirth
28:58finally dissipated
28:59into thin air.
29:00I made a phone call,
29:01my voice perfectly level.
29:02You can call the cops now.
29:04Tell them you spotted
29:05a wanted mafia fugitive
29:06with heavy deaths.
29:11The police quickly arrived
29:13at the pier.
29:14By then,
29:14Cassian was already
29:15half-conscious
29:16from blood loss.
29:17Jax,
29:17who had tried to hide
29:18in a shipping container,
29:19was dragged out
29:20in handcuffs
29:21like a dead dog.
29:22Three months later,
29:23the court delivered
29:24the final verdicts.
29:25Jax was convicted
29:26on multiple charges
29:27and sentenced to 20 years
29:29in a maximum security prison.
29:30Rumor had it
29:31that during his very first month,
29:33he was recognized
29:33by some thugs
29:34he had crossed
29:35on the outside,
29:36including the bookies
29:37he still owed money to.
29:38In a blind spot
29:39away from the security cameras,
29:41Jax's spine
29:42was accidentally snapped.
29:43For the rest
29:44of his miserable life,
29:45he would be paralyzed
29:46in a prison hospital bed,
29:48begging for death.
29:50Cassian,
29:50convicted of first-degree murder,
29:52was sentenced
29:53to death without delay.
29:54In his final days
29:55on death row
29:56due to a severe infection
29:57from his wound,
29:58he ran constant high fevers,
30:00leaving him delirious.
30:01In his endless suffering,
30:02he started having
30:03frequent hallucinations.
30:05In his delusions,
30:06he saw Valerie storm the yacht
30:07with a crew,
30:08dragging him back
30:09to the hospital.
30:10He saw himself
30:11pushing open
30:12the hospital doors,
30:13hearing the lawyer
30:14announce his name
30:15as he slipped
30:15on the black onyx ring
30:17and became
30:17the all-powerful Dawn.
30:19In his dream,
30:20he was dressed
30:20in a sharp suit,
30:22sitting in the highest office
30:23of the Russo family empire.
30:25It was a glorious,
30:26dazzling future
30:27that belonged entirely to him.
30:28Cassian laughed out loud
30:30in his sleep.
30:30I am the Dawn.
30:31I am the Godfather.
30:33The violent slamming
30:35of the iron cell door
30:36ripped him out of his
30:37beautiful, decadent dream
30:38and dragged him back
30:39to reality.
30:40Cassian's eyes snapped open.
30:42There was no manor.
30:43There was no mafia empire.
30:45There was only a dark,
30:46damp death row cell
30:47that reeked of urine.
30:48He was wearing
30:49a rough prison uniform,
30:50heavy death row shackles
30:52binding his wrists.
30:53With every movement,
30:54the chains rattled
30:55with a terrifying metallic echo.
30:57A guard walked in deadpan,
30:58tossing a death warrant
30:59onto his cot.
31:00No, no, this isn't real.
31:02I was just signing contracts.
31:04I am the Dawn.
31:05Let me out.
31:06The psychological whiplash
31:08plummeting from the throne
31:09straight into hell
31:10shattered Cassian completely.
31:11That extreme agony
31:12of having it all
31:13and losing it
31:14sliced his soul to ribbons,
31:16cut by cut.
31:17But soon,
31:18a lethal injection
31:19silenced him forever.
31:20Meanwhile,
31:21on the other side of the city,
31:22a gray-haired woman
31:23reeking of decay
31:25rummaged through a dumpster.
31:26It was Carmela.
31:31The day she found out
31:32her son was sentenced to death,
31:34the shock caused
31:35a massive stroke,
31:36leaving her permanently
31:37paralyzed on one side.
31:38Matteo threw her out
31:40without a second thought,
31:41and her former cronies
31:42avoided her like the plague.
31:44Now,
31:44dragging her half-dead body around,
31:46she survived
31:47by begging on the streets
31:48of New York.
31:49Above her,
31:49the massive screens
31:50in Times Square
31:51broadcasted the financial news.
31:53On screen,
31:54Matteo,
31:55wearing an impeccable suit
31:56and surrounded by politicians,
31:57confidently announced
31:59the launch of a new
32:00multi-billion dollar syndicate.
32:01That was supposed to be her son.
32:03That was supposed to be her glory.
32:05A freezing gust of wind
32:06blew past,
32:07scattering her bitter,
32:08incoherent curses
32:10into the dark corners
32:11of the city.
32:12Inside a luxurious penthouse
32:13in Manhattan,
32:14Matteo and I sat across
32:16from each other
32:16by the floor-to-ceiling windows.
32:18On the table rested
32:19two neatly stacked documents.
32:21One was my finalized
32:22divorce decree.
32:23The other was a contract
32:24granting me a 20% dividend
32:25in the new syndicate.
32:27This was the deal
32:28Matteo and I made
32:29in the hospital that day.
32:30I fed him the intel
32:31and stalled Cassian.
32:32In return,
32:33he gave me immense wealth
32:34and cleared every hurdle
32:36from my divorce.
32:37A pleasure doingsness
32:38with you, Valerie.
32:39Matteo raised his whiskey glass
32:41with a slight knowing smile.
32:43I stood up and walked
32:44to the glass,
32:45looking down
32:45at the glittering city below.
32:47In the distance,
32:47a brilliant firework
32:49bloomed across the skyline.
32:50I raised my glass,
32:52gently clinking it
32:53against his,
32:54listening to the crisp
32:55sound of ice
32:56hitting the crystal.
32:57I looked at the gorgeous
32:58night view
32:58and replied softly,
32:59Cheers to our new lives.
33:04When I took that bullet
33:06for Matteo,
33:06I only had one thought.
33:07I wasn't about to let
33:09my percentage go up in smoke.
33:10The shooter was one
33:11of Cassian's old loyalists,
33:13a desperate ghost
33:14who lost everything
33:15when Matteo took the throne,
33:16looking for payback.
33:17The bullet tore
33:18through my shoulder blade.
33:19The pain nearly blacked me out.
33:21Matteo's hands pressed hard
33:22against my wound,
33:23hot as branding irons.
33:25He growled something
33:26in my ear,
33:26but I didn't catch a word.
33:28I just felt his pounding heart
33:29against my chest.
33:30Three days later,
33:31I opened my eyes.
33:33Matteo was sitting
33:33right by the bed,
33:34wrinkled suit,
33:36dark stubble
33:36coating his jaw,
33:37seeing me awake.
33:38His dark eyes
33:39immediately lit up.
33:40He leaned in
33:41close to my side.
33:42You're awake.
33:43Don't get emotional.
33:46I couldn't let
33:47my cash cow die.
33:48He grabbed my hand.
33:50His fingers clamped down
33:51so hard it almost hurt,
33:52like he was holding
33:53onto something
33:54he'd nearly lost forever.
33:56Valerie,
33:56I have a new proposition.
34:02Marry me.
34:04His voice was low.
34:05I froze.
34:05What?
34:06I couldn't entirely read.
34:07My brother is dead.
34:09And the old capris
34:10won't stay quiet.
34:12You were a Russo wife
34:13for three years.
34:14You know their secrets
34:15better than anyone.
34:16I need you.
34:17He paused,
34:18then continued.
34:19And the real books?
34:20Family only.
34:21I make you my wife,
34:23you get the keys.
34:24It's the only way in.
34:25I stared at him.
34:26My pulse jumped.
34:27He needed me to secure
34:28his empire,
34:29or so he said.
34:30He had plenty of enemies,
34:31yes,
34:32but this,
34:32this wasn't just about
34:33the family anymore.
34:35A two-year contract.
34:37You'll be the real Donna.
34:3850% cut.
34:40When time is up,
34:41you walk away free.
34:42Cassian gave me nothing
34:43but three years of humiliation
34:45and betrayal.
34:46And this man,
34:47he was handing me
34:48a clean exit
34:49and half a mafia empire
34:50on a silver platter.
34:52What's the catch?
34:58Be my wife.
35:00A real wife, Valerie.
35:01Not a trophy
35:02like you were for Cassian.
35:05Which means?
35:06It means you move
35:07into my room.
35:08You sleep in my bed.
35:09You act like a loving wife
35:11in front of everyone.
35:12The air suddenly felt scorching.
35:13Mateo pulled a folded document
35:15from his inside jacket pocket.
35:17Termination clause
35:18is on the last page.
35:19I flipped to the back.
35:20My eyes caught on the words.
35:22Mateo's restrictions
35:23were packed into 12 bullet points.
35:24No coercion.
35:26Unrestricted movement.
35:27Absolute privacy.
35:28Separate finances.
35:29But my termination clause,
35:31just one line,
35:32triggered unilaterally.
35:33Effective immediately.
35:35Why?
35:36Because you're worth it.
35:37Three years.
35:38Nobody had ever said that to me.
35:43I didn't hesitate.
35:44My fingers shook slightly
35:45from the painkillers,
35:46but I signed my name.
35:48Mateo took the contract.
35:49He looked at my signature
35:50for a long second.
35:52Valerie,
35:52I promise you one thing.
35:54Nobody hurts you
35:55ever again.
35:57The door clicked shut.
35:58Then,
35:59my phone buzzed
35:59on the bedside tray.
36:00A single text message
36:01from Mateo.
36:04Pleasure doing business,
36:06Donna.
36:13For three days
36:14before the wedding,
36:15my room overflowed
36:16with luxury boxes.
36:18Mateo's men
36:18practically bought out
36:19half of Manhattan.
36:20Day one,
36:21five tailors
36:22showed up
36:23with four lookbooks.
36:24They measured
36:24around my shoulders
36:25like I was made of glass.
36:27Mr. Russo insisted
36:29all necklines
36:30must avoid
36:30your left shoulder.
36:31The gunshot wound
36:32was still healing,
36:33he remembered.
36:34Day two,
36:35jewelers brought in
36:36trays of diamonds.
36:37I pointed at the cheapest,
36:38plainest white gold band.
36:40This one.
36:41The jeweler paled.
36:42He scurried to a corner
36:43and whispered
36:43into his phone.
36:44The Donna
36:45chose an entry-level piece.
36:47By evening,
36:48that plain band was gone.
36:49In its place
36:50sat a massive
36:51emerald-cut diamond ring,
36:53basim engraved
36:54on the inside.
36:55It easily cost
36:56a hundred times more
36:57than the band I picked.
36:58Day three,
36:59maids stumbled
37:00in carrying
37:00the entire spring collection
37:02in champagne silk.
37:03What is all this?
37:05Mr. Russo said
37:06this is just pocket money.
37:07There are twelve more
37:08bags downstairs.
37:09I leaned against
37:10the vanity,
37:11staring at the sea
37:12of velvet boxes.
37:13Unbidden,
37:14a memory surfaced.
37:15The night before
37:15I married Cassian.
37:17I was stuck
37:17in a cheap motel room,
37:19ironing my own
37:19wrinkled wedding dress.
37:21Cassian had been
37:22forty minutes late.
37:23He was busy
37:23helping Julia
37:24pick out a gift.
37:25A bitter ache
37:26twisted in my chest,
37:27followed by a cold,
37:28hard sense of closure.
37:29I finally saw
37:30how pathetic I had been,
37:31how little I had settled for.
37:36The wedding took place
37:38at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
37:39I looped my arm
37:40through Mateo's
37:41as we walked down the aisle.
37:42The pews were packed
37:43with capos and rivals.
37:44Their stares sliced
37:45at me like blades.
37:47Chin up.
37:48Look straight ahead.
37:49His large,
37:50warm hand covered mine.
37:51Just like that,
37:52the suffocating hostility
37:53in the room vanished.
37:55The pipe organ
37:56roared to life.
37:57The priest read the vows,
37:58but it was all white noise.
38:00I only felt Mateo
38:01sliding that heavy
38:02emerald ring
38:02down my finger.
38:04You may kiss the bride.
38:05Mateo's hand
38:06cupped my jaw.
38:08The kiss was brief,
38:09a mere brush of lips.
38:11Late that night,
38:12I sat on the edge
38:13of our massive bed.
38:14The ring felt heavy,
38:16branding my skin.
38:17The shower ran
38:17in the master bathroom.
38:19I stared at the green stone,
38:20flashing back
38:21to my first wedding night.
38:22I had spent it alone,
38:23staring at the ceiling
38:24until dawn.
38:25Cassian had spent
38:26the whole night
38:26with Julia.
38:27The water shut off.
38:28Mateo stepped out.
38:29His dark hair was damp,
38:30sticking to his forehead.
38:32He wore a loose black robe.
38:33He walked straight
38:34to the window,
38:34his sharp eyes
38:35scanning the street below.
38:36A black SUV
38:37idled in the shadows
38:38across the street.
38:39Mateo turned back to me.
38:40A lazy, dangerous smirk
38:42played on his lips.
38:43Looks like we're sharing
38:44a bed tonight, wife.
38:54That night,
38:55I lay in his massive bed,
38:57completely tense.
38:58The bed was too big.
38:59It smelled just like him,
39:00making my heart
39:01hammer against my ribs.
39:02I waited for the nightmares.
39:04I waited for the feeling
39:05of freezing water
39:05under the Brooklyn Bridge.
39:07But at 3 a.m.,
39:08my eyes snapped open.
39:09I realized I had slept soundly
39:11for 5 straight hours.
39:12The first time
39:13since I came back to life.
39:14I cracked the door open.
39:16Mateo was sitting
39:17on the living room couch.
39:18He was standing guard.
39:20My heart raced.
39:21A strange heat
39:21bloomed in my chest.
39:24At the board dinner
39:25three days later,
39:26old capo Ricci
39:27sneered at me.
39:28Everyone caught it.
39:30Collecting quite
39:30the consultation fee,
39:32aren't we, Don's wife?
39:33Consultation fee
39:34was old school mob slang.
39:35It meant skimmed money.
39:36Mateo sat at the head
39:37of the table.
39:38His whiskey glass
39:39paused in midair.
39:40He didn't say
39:40a single word.
39:41He was giving me the floor.
39:42I put down my silverware
39:43and calmly dabbed my mouth.
39:45You're right, Mr. Ricci.
39:47Consultation fees
39:47are a beautiful thing.
39:49Take the 170 grand
39:51you collected last month,
39:52for example,
39:53wired to your mistress
39:54Cayman Islands account
39:54in three separate installments.
39:56First wire,
39:5758 grand,
39:58transferred at 2.03 a.m.
40:00on the 5th.
40:01Second wire,
40:0262 grand,
40:034.17 p.m.
40:04on the 12th.
40:04Want me to recite
40:05the exact time
40:06and amount for the 3rd?
40:08The room was completely silent.
40:14I picked up my knife
40:15and casually sliced my steak.
40:17Relax.
40:18I don't care about
40:19your private life.
40:20Just stop testing me
40:21with cheap insults
40:23and we can play nice.
40:25The whispers
40:25around the table vanished.
40:27Out of the corner of my eye,
40:28I saw Mateo watching me.
40:30In the car ride back,
40:32Mateo suddenly broke the silence.
40:33You looked beautiful back there.
40:35I turned to him.
40:36What?
40:37When you were tearing him apart.
40:39Beautiful.
40:40A genuine laugh escaped me.
40:41The first time
40:42since I woke up in this body.
40:44Do that more, Valerie.
40:45You should smile more.
40:47That night,
40:48I dreamed of the Brooklyn Bridge again.
40:50Freezing water flooded my lungs.
40:52Julia stood on the bridge,
40:53looking smug
40:54as I sank into the dark.
40:56Help!
40:56I screamed.
40:57I jolted awake,
40:59drenched in cold sweat.
41:00I was gripping something.
41:01Hard.
41:02A large, warm hand.
41:04I turned my head
41:05in the dim moonlight.
41:06Mateo was sitting
41:07on the edge of the mattress.
41:08His voice was a low,
41:10rough rumble.
41:11You're safe.
41:12You're not there anymore.
41:13Who let you in?
41:14I was passing by.
41:15Your room is at the end of the hall.
41:17I said I was passing by.
41:19I slowly loosened
41:20my death grip on his hand.
41:22My breath caught.
41:23Four bloody crescent moons
41:24scarred the back of his hand.
41:25He hadn't made a single sound.
41:27Mateo lay down
41:28on the small sofa.
41:29I'm sleeping here tonight.
41:31Relax.
41:31I'm not interested
41:32in my business partner.
41:34Go to sleep.
41:35I glared at his broad back
41:36for a long time
41:37before finally lying down.
41:38I could hear
41:39his steady breathing.
41:40It slowly eased
41:41my tense nerves.
41:42A dreamless night.
41:47Seven straight days.
41:48Mateo showed up
41:49on my sofa
41:50on the dot every night.
41:51Always with the same book.
41:52Always gone before dawn.
41:54I actually started looking forward
41:55to the sound of his breathing.
41:57But on the ninth morning,
41:58I opened my bedroom door.
42:00The sofa was empty.
42:01No book.
42:02No wrinkled jacket.
42:03Even his cedar scent was gone.
42:04I told myself it was fine.
42:06He had no obligation
42:07to babysit a partner's nightmares.
42:09But during the morning board meeting,
42:11my mind spun.
42:12I mixed up the gun
42:13and drug shipment numbers
42:14three times.
42:15The capos across the table
42:16exchanged confused looks.
42:18Mateo glanced at me
42:19from the head of the table
42:20several times,
42:21but stayed quiet.
42:22Late that night,
42:23I dragged my exhausted body home
42:24and pushed my door open.
42:26Mateo was casually stretched out
42:27on the sofa again.
42:29He was a few dozen pages
42:30further into his book.
42:31He acted like last night
42:32hadn't happened.
42:33It's late.
42:34He didn't look up.
42:35You don't have to do this.
42:37Sleeping here every night.
42:38Watching over me.
42:39You have your own bed.
42:41Your own room.
42:43Mateo closed his file
42:45and met my gaze.
42:46You're right.
42:47I don't have to.
42:48But I want to, Valerie.
42:49You want to?
42:51He leaned back.
42:52Call it protecting my investment.
42:54I knew it was an excuse.
42:56You stay sharp during the day.
42:58My money is safe.
43:00But for some reason,
43:01my heart did a wild flip.
43:06I lay in bed,
43:08listening to the soft rustle of pages,
43:10the faint creak of the leather sofa
43:11when he shifted.
43:12At 4 a.m.,
43:13something pulled me out of bed.
43:14Without making a sound,
43:15I walked over
43:16and crouched by the sofa.
43:18Mateo seemed asleep,
43:19but his brows were knit tight
43:20like he was in pain.
43:21Moonlight spilled through the window,
43:23casting soft shadows
43:24on his sharp jawline.
43:25With his eyes closed,
43:27he looked younger.
43:28Thick brows,
43:29long lashes.
43:29I reached out,
43:30wanting to smooth the crease
43:32between his brows.
43:33The second my fingers
43:34almost brushed his skin,
43:35his eyes snapped open.
43:36His hand shot out
43:37and grabbed my wrist.
43:38Our eyes locked.
43:40We were so close
43:41I could see my own reflection
43:42in his dark pupils.
43:43His voice was gravelly,
43:45laced with a dangerous tease.
43:46Touching costs extra.
43:48My face instantly burned.
43:49You had a smudge on your forehead?
43:51It was the lamest excuse
43:53I could come up with.
43:54Mateo stared at me
43:55for three agonizing seconds.
43:57Then he slowly released my wrist.
43:58Oh yeah?
43:59His lips twitched up.
44:01Did you wipe it off?
44:02I scrambled to my feet,
44:03my heart hammering.
44:04Yeah, it's gone.
44:05I bolted back to bed
44:06and cocooned myself in the blanket.
44:08My heartbeat was deafening.
44:09A low, raspy chuckle
44:10came from across the room.
44:12Next time you want to touch,
44:13just touch.
44:13On the house.
44:14I grabbed a pillow
44:15and hurled it at him.
44:20Mateo, is this
44:21the legendary bitch
44:23who got your brother
44:24thrown on death row?
44:25Frankie DeMarco,
44:26a heavy-hitting arms broker,
44:27clamped a Cuban cigar
44:28in his teeth.
44:29Mateo ignored him.
44:31He kept flipping
44:31through the contract.
44:33DeMarco stubbed out his cigar.
44:34Fucks the older brother,
44:36then moves to the younger one.
44:37She must be a freak
44:39in the sheets.
44:40No wonder you married
44:41Cassian's leftovers.
44:43Before he could finish his breath,
44:45Mateo shot up.
44:46He flipped the heavy table
44:47with bare hands,
44:48vials, coffee mugs,
44:49and contracts
44:50smashed into DeMarco.
44:51Before DeMarco
44:52could even process it,
44:53Mateo vaulted
44:54over the wreckage
44:55and grabbed him
44:56by the tie.
44:57The first punch
44:57landed square
44:58on DeMarco's cheekbone.
45:00A loud crack
45:01echoed in the room.
45:02DeMarco screamed
45:02and tried to swing back,
45:04but Mateo's second punch
45:05shattered his nose.
45:06Blood spurted everywhere.
45:08It splattered
45:08across Mateo's
45:09crisp white shirt.
45:11Mateo raised his fist
45:12for a third strike.
45:13The sound of guns
45:14cocking echoed.
45:15Mateo, enough!
45:17I shouted,
45:17jumping to my feet.
45:19Mateo's fist
45:19froze in midair.
45:20Slowly, he released
45:22DeMarco's tie,
45:23but he didn't back down
45:24an inch.
45:25Now!
45:25Sign the contract
45:26with the original terms!
45:28DeMarco clutched
45:28his ruined nose.
45:30Blood poured
45:30through his fingers.
45:31Sign it,
45:32or do you want
45:32to taste round three?
45:33Mateo held up
45:34his bloody fist.
45:35Shaking violently,
45:36DeMarco signed.
45:38In the car ride back,
45:39I stared at the red stains
45:40on Mateo's shirt.
45:42You shouldn't have been
45:42so reckless.
45:43It's just words,
45:44Mateo.
45:45Pull over!
45:47Mateo snapped
45:48at the driver.
45:48The SUV screeched
45:50to a halt.
45:50The privacy partition
45:51rolled up.
45:52Mateo turned to me.
45:53One large hand
45:54gripped the back
45:55of my neck.
45:55The other grabbed
45:56my chin.
45:56Then,
45:57his mouth crashed
45:58down on mine.
45:59My mind went
45:59completely blank.
46:00All I felt
46:01was his heat
46:01and his ragged breath.
46:03When he finally
46:03pulled away,
46:04we were both
46:05panting heavily.
46:07Nothing in the contract
46:08says I can't kiss you.
46:09His thumb roughly
46:10brushed my swollen lips.
46:12Anyone ever talks
46:12to you like that again,
46:13I'll kill them.
46:14I opened my mouth
46:15to speak,
46:15but no words came out.
46:17Right then,
46:17Mateo's phone rang,
46:19shattering the heavy silence.
46:20Mateo, I'm back.
46:21I heard you got married.
46:26I left the country
46:28for an arranged marriage.
46:29I vanished from
46:30his world completely.
46:31Three years later,
46:32my husband and I
46:33flew back stateside
46:34for a family memorial.
46:35My husband had
46:36a last-minute work emergency,
46:37so he told his local branch
46:39to send a car for me.
46:40I walked out of the airport
46:41and froze.
46:43My driver was Seth,
46:45my ex-fiancƩ.
46:46Yo, Seth,
46:47isn't that your obsessed ex?
46:48Isn't that Vanessa?
46:50See, I told you guys,
46:51I knew she'd come crawling back.
46:54Vanessa vanished
46:55without a trace.
46:56Now she sees Seth is looking
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