If I was going to escape the hellish fate the Rossettis had in store for me, I needed the most ruthless, most powerful leader in the city—a man who would decimate my uncle’s power, making him nothing more than a pitiful insect beneath my boot. There was no way I would ever give in to his twisted demands. I’d claw my way out before I let him sell me off to the De Luca family. Frankie De Luca? He was satan incarnate, a monster who reveled in his cruelty. He would be my captor, not my husband.
I needed a Castellano. Not a single rat in this city dared move without a Castellano’s knowledge, and I had no doubt they were already aware of the alliance being forged between the De Lucas and us, the merging of families that could tip the balance of power.
I needed the Castellanos to feel threatened by this union, to understand that Dante Rossetti’s ambitions were not just a blip on his radar but a direct challenge to his authority. I needed him to see the potential fallout and consider making a deal with me, Gia Rossetti, who could help him run his empire.
I knew this city like the back of my hand. I had eaten, slept, and breathed Brooklyn since the day I was born. This city was my playground, a labyrinth of secret dealings and shady happenings where I understood every twist and turn. I was intimately familiar with the inner workings of the most powerful families here: the Castellanos, De Lucas, Rossettis, Mancinis, and Accardis—the oldest bloodlines in Brooklyn.
The Castellanos reigned at the top of the pyramid, their power casting a shadow over the De Lucas and Rossettis, with the Mancinis and Accardis trailing behind like forgotten ghosts. I had to make them see that I was not just a pawn in this twisted game; I was a player capable of shifting the balance of power. I needed Raffaele Castellano to recognize my last name as a golden opportunity—an investment that he craved as much as I craved his protection. The thought of surrendering myself to the De Lucas made my skin crawl; I would rather die than let them lay claim to my life.
“Mr. Castellano will see you now,” the receptionist says, her voice dripping with condescension as she peers down at me through her cat-eye glasses, eyeing me like an unwelcome insect she desperately wanted to squash. I steel myself, summoning every ounce of resolve before rising to follow her. I was prepared to do whatever it took to secure this alliance.
“Ms. Rossetti,” the receptionist announces as we reach the door.
“Take a seat, Ms. Rossetti,” his deep, commanding voice resounded calmly, breaking his gaze from the cityscape displayed through the window. I sat across from him, his enormous black leather desk the only thing standing between the most powerful man in Brooklyn and me. “I understand you have a proposal for me,” he says as his deep brown eyes land on mine, causing me to shift uncomfortably in my seat.
“That’s right,” I manage, more quietly than intended. I clear my throat before continuing, willing myself to sound stronger. “Thank you for meeting with me.”
“It’s not every day that a Rossetti willingly comes into my territory to see me,” he states with a playful glint in his eyes. “Especially when that same family’s been making moves against me.” I tense at his bold declaration.
“That’s what I wanted to speak with you about,” I interject, straightening in my chair, forcing my body to relax even as tension coils in my stomach. “I won’t be aiding the De Lucas and Rossettis with this alliance.”
“You won’t,” he says as he surveys my face, searching for any sign of weakness in my words.
“I won’t.”
“And how do you plan on staying alive if you don’t?” he asks, his tone matter of fact.
I clear my throat again, the tension around us growing.
“That’s where you come in.”
“Me?” Confusion flickers across his features mingled with intrigue.
“I’d like to make you an offer.”
“What could a Rossetti possibly have that I would want?” His brow arches with skepticism.
“Me.”
As I spoke, Raffaele leaned back, slowly strumming his fingers across the surface of his desk. He cupped his chin thoughtfully, tracing his bottom lip with one finger, his gaze never leaving mine.
“You,” he says, his voice low and deliberate.
“Yes,” I confirm, meeting his gaze with confidence. “Marry me, and you can have the Rossetti name join the Castellano name, ensuring your family’s growth in power.”
“It’s an intriguing proposition,” he replies, calm yet calculating, rolling up the sleeves of his button-down dress shirt to reveal lean, muscled forearms that hinted at the strong physique beneath his tailored exterior. “But my family is already the most powerful in Brooklyn. What’s in it for me?” His eyes roamed over my legs, crossed delicately in the chair, a subtle reminder of the stakes we were discussing.
“I’ll be useful in controlling my family and the other three families. I have ways of getting information you don’t have,” I state proudly, my pulse quickening.
“For instance?” he challenges.
“The Mancinis have made East Brooklyn their playground for drug trafficking.” Surprise and anger flicker across his face. “And the Accardis are dipping their toes back into smuggling. They’re using discreet channels to move goods without drawing attention.”
He stood up abruptly, grabbing a phone from his top desk drawer.
“Gianni, gather the family and look into the Mancinis and the Accardis,” he orders. “I have reason to suspect they’re not following our rules. Send them a reminder of which family runs this city.”
I can’t help but smile smugly, leaning forward slightly as I let my confidence shine through.
“I assure you, I’m quite the asset.”
He leans back in his chair, his expression shifting to one of mischievous intrigue.
“And you want my protection in return. Nothing more?”
I meet his intense gaze.
“That’s right. Nothing more.”
I needed him more desperately than I had ever needed anyone—but not him, not the man. It was his name I needed, the status and shield it would provide me. The rest of him? Useless. This wasn’t about love or desire; it was about survival. I didn’t want his touch or his presence—I needed his name, nothing more. This was a contract, pure and simple. And I would never, could never, fall in love with Raffaele Castellano.
“I’ll draw up a contract. We can discuss the details later,” he informs me, and the weight I’ve been carrying lifts just slightly—a fleeting moment of relief before the chaos.
“I can’t go home—not after coming here,” I confess, my voice cracking under the pressure I’ve fought so hard to suppress. “By now, someone has probably told the De Lucas that I’m here. I’ve got a target on my back.”
Raffaele sighed, and his frustration became evident as he dragged a hand through his hair.
“You’ll stay with me while we get everything squared away.”
“Thank you,” I murmur, hating that I need to rely on anyone. He leans in, his gaze hardening.
“You better be worth it,” he warns, his tone growing more sharp. “In aligning our families, I’m risking war with the De Lucas and the fallout with any family who dares to stand with them.”
“I’ll earn my place in your family, I promise,” I say, determination igniting within me. I can’t afford to fail—not now, not ever.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” he cautions, his eyes piercing through me. “The Castellano name? I’m sure you know that it doesn’t just come with power. It comes with enemies, and they’ll be your enemies now, too. Your family won’t take this betrayal lying down. They will retaliate.”
His words hit like a gut punch, driving home the cold, brutal truth. I’ve traded one prison for another. I’ve escaped a life chained to the De Lucas, but in doing so, I might have just sparked the largest war for power the five families of Brooklyn have ever seen. And I’m standing right at the center of it.
