Kiss Me Goodbye, Mafia Don: Chapters 1–5

Anna

"Faster, baby! Oh, Collins. Yeah, yeah, right there! Oh God."

I stopped dead in my tracks, my mind going straight into overdrive.

Did I just hear Collins?

Collins...like, Collins Black.

My own Collins Black.

To my disbelief, Collins's sharp grunts fill the air, confirming my suspicion. I grip the blue banister hard, my legs wobbling, almost giving way beneath me.

No. No! It couldn't be. Surely, I must be mistaken...

They are going at it in the last room down the corridor. The room Collins and I began sharing since we got married to each other. Diana, my childhood best friend who'd also helped me move my things from my private room to him is the same one shamelessly fucking my husband right now.

My man.

Throwing away so many years of our friendship for...this? How long have they been seeing each other?

I can't take it anymore. I have to confront them. I have to catch them red-handed. Collins owes me an explanation.

Where did I go wrong?

We've been so happy and in love with other, and I never thought this would be possible.

Was he drunk? Out of his mind?

Did she drug him?

I need an answer.

Seized with a wary sense of desperation, I storm down the hallway and kick the door with twice as much rage as I could muster.

Through my blurry, teary vision I see the full picture — Diana on the mahogany reading table, legs spread apart, her cheap Balenciaga gown hiked up to her waist, her acrylic nails digging into Collins bare butt as he slams into her like a monster from hell.

"Holy fucking shit!" I scream, drawing their attention to me.

Collins casually pulls out of her and moves away, pushing his black hair back from his forehead. He doesn't even bother trying to fix himself,.or look remorseful. Beside him Diana only sighs, brows furrowed at me in annoyance for disrupting their little fun. "Couldn't you have knocked at least? You scared the shit out of us."

Tears well up in my eyes. “How could you...” my eyes flit to Collins as the tears fall uncontrollably. “What — ”

“Hey, Anna..." He trails off coolly, sizing me up and down. “Good to see you're home.”

I don't know how I'm still standing upright. It's hard to believe that this is the man I got married to over a year ago. The dates, the flowers, the affection, have they all been a lie?

Betrayal courses through my veins. As well as guilt. If only my writing job isn't so demanding...

"H-How could you?" I manage to ask, hating how scratchy and hoarse I sound. “Where did I even go wrong? And how long has this been going on?!”

“Three months,” Diana supplies.

Collins glares at her. “Quiet now, Diana.”

“I need an answer, Collins. Or is your guilt eating you up so bad that...”

“There is no guilt,” he deadpans, the weight of his words resting on my shoulders, making them sag in sorrow. “It was only a matter of time until you found out. I want to say I'm sorry, but that would be me lying...”

Blood rushes to my ears. I can't believe what I'm hearing. “What? You're... you're not — ”

“No,” he shrugs. “You brought this upon yourself.”

“Excuse me? I made you cheat?”

“Yes.”

“Unbelievable.”

“You choose your job over us, Anna. Months of being away, in faraway cities, entertaining other men, while I sit back home and rot — horny and in need of someone to talk to. You are never there when I need you.”

“Why are you making it sound like I've got any choice in this? You're an actor, Collins. Your job is equally demanding.”

“That's not the point. The point is, you got married to me, knowing fully well that you're not ready to be a wife.”

His words sting me so hard, and so deep, I'm so close to wailing. As a script writer working for Belfast Pictures, I'm often required to be on set in case of any adjustments or improvisions. It's tasking and challenging, and I thought Collins understood. He's always been my biggest supporter.

It was all a lie.

In reality, he was envious. Envious of me.

“Collins, I — ”

“Save it,” Diana hisses, picking up a bundle of paper from the desk and tossing them at my face. “Enough has been said. Those are divorce papers. We'll need you to sign them.”

I blink. “You're not serious.”

“Oh, but we are,” she moves to plant herself in front of me, her eyes shinning. I can't even recognize her anymore. This is not the Diana I graduated from college with. “Collins is done with your ass. Sign. Those. Papers. Now.”

“I can't believe you're doing this to me, Diana...” I shake my head. “After all we've been through together. This is how it ends between us? You and Collins...”

“I have no regrets about anything, Anna. Collins and I were always meant to be, and you know it. At college, he had the hots for me. You were happy for us, until we had a minor disagreement, and you stole him from me.”

She bends and picks up the papers. “This was always going to be your fate from the moment you walked down that aisle with him. And your job helped him realize that he's been chasing the wrong thing all along. Now, he wants to set things right. And we need you out of the way. Sign those papers.”

My eyes flit to Collins once more. He's so calm, so indifferent...it stirs up something in me. Taking the pen Diana offers, I sign my name quietly at the end of the pages. “You two will pay for this. I'll never forget this day, Diana Lynch. And God help me, you've just dug your own grave, and I will see to it that I bury you well. Mark my words.”

Without a word more, I swivel around and throw the closet doors open. Packing my things quietly with them watching is hard, but I do it anyway, the tears now dried up, and firm resolve lodged in my chest. I mean every word. I will make their lives a living hell.

I don't take whatever Collins has got for me, just stuff I personally bought for myself. Dragging my suitcase outside the room, and out the front door, I look at the house I called home for the past one year and realize I won't miss it.

Anna

It's been three months since I my marriage fell apart.

And today is the premiere of the new movie I've been working on for the past three years. My blockbuster. One that's meant to put me right in the center of the elite people of New York City.

El Diablo Me Quiere.

Such an important moment. One which I'm forced to share with...Collins.

My ex-husband.

When he walked in a few minutes ago into the event venue, Diana draped around his arm, her smile bright and scathing, until they found me and turned blood red in anger, I couldn't believe my eyes.

"Miss Anna," Hermes, my manager and one of our leading sponsors calls me. "Meet Collins Black. He's the cousin to Geoffrey Black, our lead actor for El Diablo Me Quiere..."

I nod my head, not even bothering to extend my hand for a handshake, and from the way Collins looks away as though he's annoyed to be here, I'm pleased that the feeling is mutual. Diana eyes me conspicuously, her nose twisted up in a sneer.

Today of all days...

Hermes isn't aware that Collins and I were once married. In fact, no one in New York City knew. Except the priest who joined us together. It was a mutual decision to keep our marriage a secret while we faced our jobs for a few years to raise enough money to start a proper family.

Now that I think about it, it must have been Diana who suggested such an idea to Collins in the first place.

She giggles when Hermes praises the sunflower earrings she has on. "Oh, thank you very much, Sir! It's all Collins. He takes very good care of me!"

She clutches Collins by the tweed elbow of his suit, while Collins beams at her adoringly. Poor Hermes is impressed with her display of affection.

Me? I want to dig a hole and hide.

For the first time, I wish that I was allowed to drink on the job. It's probably for the best that I'm not, though because I'm sure I'd just waste the night drunk, and sulking over again over Collins's betrayal.

The painful part is, Collins and I had planned to announce that we're married to the world today. It seemed like the perfect opportunity while El Diablo Me Quiere is doing amazing with the critics. It's a highly anticipated movie, so the elite of New York City are all here. Celebrities mill about, chattering and saying hi.

It would've been perfect.

So, so perfect.

Hermes moves away to welcome the president, leaving me to deal with Collins and Diana. Collins pretends not to notice me, beaming down at Diana as though she's the center of his universe. I suppose she is, they were once madly in love with each other while all three of us were in college. That love, I realize now, never waned.

I'm so unlucky.

"Oh, come on sweethearts," Diana breaks the silence, batting her fake lashes at me. "Are we really going to do this? Here?"

"Do what?" I tilt my head to one side.

"Act like we have beef with each other? It's your movie premiere, Anna. And we're in public. At least we can pretend to be amicable with one another."

Collins's gaze grows cold as he scans me up and down. "You're always looking so tacky. Couldn't you have found a black dress to put on? You stick out so much like a sore thumb."

I look down at my simple plaid red gown and bite down hard on my bottom lip, willing my nerves to stay put. I want to say something smart. Something equally painful.

But no words come to me.

I just...stand there. Looking at him with so much sorrow.

I feel the tears I refuse to shed lodge like shards of glass in my throat, and no matter how hard I try to coax myself into retaliating, it won't come.

I won't give them that pleasure. Not again.

Diana smooths her left hand on his chest, and leans into him. "Cut her some slack, baby. You know it's always been her thing. Keeping it simple. Always the modest one. It's an act she's perfected so well over the years. We can't expect her to change now." She turns to me now and shoots me that fake smile of hers. "By the way, Anny, you forgot your diamond necklace at our place. I would have brought it for you, but I wasn't sure if you have much use for it anymore."

I wince. Collins gave me those earrings as an anniversary gift. One year together. Not a lot of time, but it felt like a much longer time for me.

"You can have it," I croak through a painfully tight throat, looking away. "It was always meant for you anyway."

"You're such a sweetheart!" she preens. "They'll look better on me, anyway. Collins told me you rarely ever wore it. Such expensive piece of jewelry shouldn't be left sitting at home like that..."

Oh, fuck you sideways with a socket wrench.

Fuck Collins, too.

I clear my throat. "If you'll excuse me⁠—"

"Going somewhere? Oh Anny, don't be like that." Diana purrs and nuzzles Collins's shoulder. "You can't blame Collins for wanting better for himself."

My vision goes red. "Excuse me?"

Diana sighs and dramatically rolls her eyes. "We've talked about this, Anny. Remember? Back in prep school? You have to put in more effort. Do better; be better. Dress better, if nothing else." She eyes my wrinkled outfit with a matching wrinkle of her nose. "I mean, look at you. It's no wonder you couldn't keep your man interested."

Once again, I remind myself that it's good that I'm not allowed to drink on the job.

Or the broken stem of a champagne flute would be lodged in her throat right about now.

Instead, I feel a warm hand grab my elbow. "Steady, girl," my colleague and close friend Blair whispers in my ear. "She's baiting you to be mad. Stay calm. Just a few hours more left."

I nod, grateful to her for coming at the right time. She didn't want to attend the premiere, and had a date scheduled with her long term boyfriend Andy. I didn't believe I would talk her into coming, and now, I'm glad I succeeded. Blair is nothing like Diana. She would never abandon me.

When I'd told her about my broken marriage to Collins, she just shook her head, sighed and said. "His loss. You're so much better off without him."

"May I steal her for a moment?" She asks Collins and Diana, and without waiting for them to answer, steers me in the one direction I've been avoiding this whole time — the bar. "Let's get some drinks to soften the mood."

I try to dig my heels in. "B, I can't. I'm on the job."

"You can, and you will, and if anyone wants to argue, they can kiss between my booty cheeks. I dare Hermes to so much as try, because I am not in the mood for his brand of bullshit."

A quick glance locates him in the corner, chatting up a rich heiress from Long Island.

I sigh and my shoulders slump. "Okay. Thank you."

"Attagirl." Blair turns to the bartender. "I need two double shots of absinthe, please."

My eyes damn near bug out of my head. "Um, absolutely not! I have to work!"

"Oh! Right! Because dealing with Collins and his floozy's bullshit is best done sober." She rolls her eyes sarcastically and hands me both shot glasses. "Knock these back. Leave no drop behind. Do yourself a favor and live a little—and then do us all a favor and consider them tranquilizers to stave off your murderous rampage. Not that I'm not here for it—believe me, I absolutely am—I just need to earn all my commission before the bloodbath ensues."

I can't help but laugh. Somehow, she knows just what to say and when I need to hear it. "Fine. You win. But I will not be held responsible for whatever happens after I consume these."

She waves a hurry-up hand at me. "Say less. Drink more."

Anna

I knock the first shot back, then the second. Damn, that liquor hits hard. Absinthe is not a drink to toy with.

It is, however, spreading a lovely warmth through my aching body. Blair may be right. This may be exactly what I need to get through the rest of the evening.

Suddenly, Blair spots something over my shoulder. I turn to see Jeremiah, Hermes's assistant marching toward us, his enormous stomach bouncing as he walks. "Stay here," she mutters. "I'll handle him."

Before I can protest, she's gone.

I close my eyes and squeeze the bridge of my nose for a few seconds. The chattering gets louder and louder as the seconds roll past, and I lose myself in it.

Everything will be fine.

Everything will be.

"Everyone! May I have your attention, please?" Collins deep voice over the microphone makes me snap my eyes open. I glance up to the stage. Collins raises his arm and gives the audience that signature charming smile that suckered me in years ago.

I hold my breath. Yes. This is it. He's going to take it all back and issue a public apology. He's going to unravel this nightmare. He's going to⁠—

"Babe?"

I take a step forward...and then freeze when Diana emerges from the crowd and clambers up the podium to stand beside him.

She flips her hair over her shoulder, beams at him, and takes his outstretched hand. Collins kisses the backs of her fingers. "I know this is kind of a whirlwind, but what can I say? There will never be another grand opportunity like this."

The whole room swoons at them. I fight the urge to collapse. Tears fill my eyes.

"Diana Lynch, baby... you are my oxygen. The reason I wake up each day, strong and ready to face whatever difficulties might come my way. I can't imagine life without you in it, constantly filling my darkness with your radiant light."

He's said those words to me before. The only difference this time around is he means them. I can see it in his eyes. The way he looks at her.

He genuinely loves her.

Collins drops to one knee.

I bury my face in my palms.

God. This can't be happening...

But it is.

"Will you spend the rest of my life with me, Diana?"

The clapping that fills the air feels like salt on an open wound. Diana sheds a few fake tears as Collins slip a ginormous diamond ring onto her finger. The exact one he'd gotten me engaged with.

I spin around on my heels and beeline back to the bar. "Absinthe. More. Now."

The bartender lofts a brow. "How many shots?"

"The whole bottle," I deadpan

His eyes widen. "Ma'am, I don't think..."

Before he can answer, I reach out and snatch it from its resting place. I don't bother turning back, even as the bartender protests after me.

I slice through the crowd, headed toward the rear alley exit. The bottle feels heavy in my hand, but my heart feels even heavier. Maybe drowning one with the other will balance things.

Or maybe it'll knock me out cold.

Either is fine.

The bartender shouts again, and I turn around to explain to him that it's the worst day of my life and he needs to get off my case.

But as I turn, I run into something solid.

It feels like a brick wall, but more defined.

My absinthe splashes up the neck of the bottle and onto the front of his very fine, very expensive shirt.

"Oh my God." I damn near drop the bottle in shock. Instead, I set it down on a nearby table, grab a few napkins, and begin cleaning him up as fast as I can. "I am so sorry! Are you okay?"

The man gazes down at me with an unreadable expression on his face. "You don't look too good yourself."

I stop and look up at him. Is he... is he mocking me?

His full mouth is curved up in what looks like a suppressed smirk. His dark, curly hair hangs in front of his eyes, but even through that, I can see brilliant green eyes sparkling with mirth. The only thing I can find remotely funny around here is... well, me.

"I'm—"

"Anna! There you are!" Diana screeches. "Collins is such a darling...he proposed. I'm so — "

I zone out completely, my eyes fixed on this stranger. The mirth leaves his eyes in an instant, replaced by an icy mask. He buttons his suit jacket around the splash stains on his waist, giving my worst enemy a polite nod.

When he looks at me again, I do something shocking.

"Help me," I whisper.

He looks at me and glances over my shoulder at Diana who's now running towards us, eager to rub in the news of her engagement on my face. I see the pieces fall into place in his eyes.

And then he does something completely shocking.

He scoops my face into his hand and devours my lips like it's his last meal on earth.

Viktor

The beautiful brunette begs me with her eyes, biting her bottom lip unconsciously. I look from her to the woman rushing to us in glee, then back to her, processing the situation and wondering if I should walk away.

I almost did.

But her eyes...her lips.

Such a beautiful woman.

I scoop her delicate face in my hands and kiss her slow, but deep. She gasps in surprise, wide-eyed but quickly recovers and parts her lips open, granting my tongue access. I suppress a groan, turned on by the soft way her shoulders sag as she melts into me. She tastes like chocolate and something strong.

Absinthe.

We pull apart, and everyone around us is dazed. Even more so is Collins Black, who glares at me from the podium with a jealousy and possession that totally didn't make sense. He'd just gotten engaged to Diana Lynch. Surely, he had no relation with this lady...

He makes his way over to us now, and Diana plants herself firmly beside him, interlocking her arms with his. “Didn't know those taste buds of yours were still active and effective, Anna.”

The actor eyes me up and down, his frown deepening as he offers a hand for me to shake. I stare it down, and he retrieves it quickly, hiding it into his pockets. “I guess congratulations are in order.”

"Of course, they are. Pat here — ”

“The name's Salvatore,” I whisper non-subtly into her left ear. Her face burns red. Diana and Collins watch us, and I could feel the wheels of their brain turning, trying to process things better.

“Oh, yes... Salvatore..." She corrects herself, smoothing her dress. “Salvatore and I have been seeing each other for a month now.”

“Hmm,” Collins doesn't look convinced. “How did you two meet?”

“Yes, Anny love. Tell us,” Diana chirps.

I hate her already.

“Why are you two so interested?” Anna asks, folding her arms across her chest, and eyeing them. “It's none of your business.”

“Come on, Anna. Let's not do this here. It's so low rent of you."

Diana flicks her gaze to me and offers a coy smile. “Such a dashing young man.”

"I hear congratulations are in order," I drawl. "To the happy couple as well as the talented actor."

Anna's shoulders slump, and it's evident that all the energy has gone away from her. “At least I had the decency to move on after the divorce. Not while we were still married.”

She looks at Collins with so much pain, so much hurt, I find myself pulling her into my embrace, one hand looped around her waist. She exhales and looks up at me in gratitude. “Thank you.”

Well, who would've suspected? Anna and Collins had been married!

My gaze flits over to Diana now, taking in her blonde hair, with blue highlights. Her eyes were the pale blue, and her lips were thin. She had good curves, but Anna was curvier, prettier with her brunette hair, honey-colored eyes and soft-spoken demeanor.

I can't believe Collins left her for...Diana.

It's like throwing away the Mona Lisa and picking a waterlogged Playboy instead.

"I got to admit, Black. Your bride to be is really... something. Charming, I must say. Though some might argue she ain't all that.”

Diana's jaw drops, and she looks delightfully gobsmacked. Collins fists curl, and his face flushes red. He looks like he wants to tackle me to the floor and gives me the beating of my life.

Not wanting to make a scene, I whisk Anna away from the disgusting duo and move her somewhere quieter. Someplace where we can actually breathe.

"You don't know what you've done for me," she whispers quietly. "Really, thank you. You came to my rescue just in time. I was out of options back there.”

I shrug. “A little of it was for me, too." I shove my hands in my pockets so I don't do something stupid, like pull her to me and rip that dress to shreds. "I'm surprised you not only dated that fraud, but married him as well. He's a fucking loser.”

She gives me a painful smile. "Yeah, well. He wasn't always like this. Might be hard to believe, and I don't want you to think I'm making excuses for him, but Collins was once a good man. Way back before Diana re-entered out lives and ruined everything." She tries to brush it off with a casual laugh. "I just feel sad I was so deceived by her good deeds to see what was truly going on behind the scenes."

“They were cheating while he was still married to you?”

Anna nods. "Diana came back and won me over as a friend. I genuinely thought she was looking out for me, not knowing she was seducing Collins behind my back. They were high school sweethearts and had separated at one point. I thought they were done for good."

“You miscalculated.”

“Yeah.”

Something inside me twists. I can tell by the way she talks about Collins, that she really loved him. Even now. Even after everything he's done to her.

I don't like it.

Which is funny, because I have no business with this woman. I only helped her get back at her ex-husband.

Anna smiles up at me. It's the first and only genuine smile I've seen on her face all evening. "You know what, though? I'm glad. I'm glad he cheated on me and dumped me and threw me out of our apartment months back. I'm glad. Because now, I'm free. It just sucks to know how long he kept me in the dark."

My teeth clench. I don't even know this woman, and I want to march back over there to beat him into a bloody smear for her.

I don't get my chance, however. One of the leading sponsors, and a distant family friend Hermes decides that now is the best time to interrupt us.

"Anna! Darling, come with me. There are a few people with questions on the script for El Diablo Me Quiere. Come, come now. Salvatore!” he grins, pulling me in for a bear hug. “Glad to have you join us this evening. I didn't think you'd make it. Met my girl Anna, huh?”

I laugh. “Nice to see you, old Hermes.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”

Anna touches my arm. "Sorry. I'll be back later, okay?"

I nod. I don't know why; it's not like she needs to know I'll be here waiting for her.

And yet, as she leaves, I can't stop myself from watching her walk away. Her head is high, her stride strong and unbothered, and anyone who doesn't know her would never guess how she must be crumbling to pieces on the inside. She's strong. Defiant, even.

I wonder how strong she'd be without anyone to perform for. Without her employers or her ex-husband or anyone else watching her every move, waiting for her to slip up so they can belittle her some more.

What would she be like with me? Without anything between us?

Not expectations.

Not trauma.

Not a stitch of clothing.

I watch. I brood. Anna turns to one side to answer a guest's questions, giving me the perfect view of her figure.

Collins Black is one blind moderfucker. Who wouldn't trip over themselves for the chance to consume this beautiful woman? To taste her and make that delicious body move and twist and writhe beneath them?

And yet he let her go. Just like that.

A fucking idiot.

I'm not going to trip.

No.

I'm going to wait. And when the time is right, I'll go for what I want.

Her.

Viktor

The cinema hall is as large as five halls put together, and the chairs are huddled close, a considerable distance away from the gigantic screen. The guests troop in, chattering to their seats as the lights dim in anticipation for the start of the movie. I search for Anna in the sea of heads, but she's no where to be found. Diana and Collins walk past me to their designated seats which are actually next to mine in front.

I groan internally. Where the hell is she?

"Looking for someone, Mr Cirkut?" Hermes asks as he pulls me with him to the front. Diana huffs as I plop down beside her, her eyes all over my body — observing, reading, gauging. I keep my face trained on the screen, and as the opening credits roll in, Anna appears at the center aisle, looking lost.

Worry flees my chest as I watch her try to find a seat with her eyes first, before moving over. As she hovers there, I'm seized with a need, as well as a crazy idea. I stand up, not caring if Hermes, Diana and Collins are watching and match up to her, flashing her a grin. The moment she sees me, the worry clears from her eyes.

"Hi," she whispers shyly. The entire theatre were watching us, more interested in whatever had going on than the movie on the screen. "I'm sorry. I didn't envision the place would be so full like this."

"Why are you apologizing?"

"I'm not..." she shakes her head. "I, um..."

"Come with me." I grab her hand and pull her gently with me down the aisle, towards my seat.

"What are you doing?" she whispers in a voice full of fright, but didn't pull her hand away. "This is...this is insane."

"I don't care."

Ignoring Diana's envious gaze, I plop down on my seat and widen my thighs, patting the left one with a smirk. "Sit here."

"What?" she gasps, her eyes bugging.

"I want you to sit here."

Now the crowd were tired of pretending, and were now murmuring excitedly. Anna gulps, and angles her butt down meekly, her entire body shaking. I relax my back properly, and pull her body closer to my chest. "Now, that's more like it."

She says nothing. Eyes fixed on the screen.

The movie is almost twenty minutes in, but we still understand the dynamics going on. Diana huffs and puffs and adjusts her position in her chair next to us so many times, yet Anna and I pays her no attention. From the corner of my eyes, I catch Collins giving me the stink eye once, and I flip him the bird. Fuck him.

I drift off in my thoughts as one lot after another is rattled off. I came here tonight with a singular purpose. To find a way to purchase the rights on what was slated to become the biggest blockbuster in the country in a few weeks time.

El Diablo Me Quiere.

I'd succeeded in liquidating the company from the inside, thanks to the help of my spies who all had key positions within. And now, tonight, it is rumored that Hermes has reached his breaking point, and might consider selling the company and all the rights of the movies produced by it for a very large sum through an auction. While I initially doubted the possibility of that happening tonight, it doesn't seem improbable. The entire NYC is here tonight. The people that matter, and while I'm the one who laid the foundation for the company to be sold, I have no doubt that there are other pesky leeches waiting to get the company in their hands as well.

But no matter. Belfast Pictures will be mine anyways.

Everything is set in stone.

The movie draws to a close two hours later, and the crowd leap to their feet, clapping thunderously. The plot about a lady chased away by her ex-husband, and went on to strike a deal with a Greek god who helped her get her revenge resonates deeply with everyone. Even I am so impressed, I almost whisk Anna away to kiss her on the corridor. Her mind is so brilliant.

As the closing credits roll in, dignitaries question Anna, while I just stand beside her, proud as fuck. Collins Black has disappeared to God knows where, and his bitch of a fiancee is having a hard time keeping her eyes to herself. She walks up to me now, and says loudly. "Can I have a word with you? In private, I mean."

My first thought is to decline, but I'm seized by a curiousity to know just what she's got to say. "Sure."

I follow her outside to a secluded part of the parking lot.

"Look, I don't know if anyone's told you," she starts off, "but Anna and I have been best friends since we were basically toddlers, and..."

"So why then did you steal her husband?" I fire at her unexpectedly.

Her face blanches. "Is that what she told you? I didn't..."

"He proposed to you back in there, didn't he?" I smirk. "Your best friend's husband. Such a shame."

"Collins belonged to me first!"

I raise a hand. "If you brought me out here to say bad things about Anna, you can save it. She's going to be my wife, and I think it's best I don't entertain the woman who's brought her so much pain..."

"What do you think you must possibly know about her in a month? Anna and I have been friends for years. I know all her secrets. Including this specific one about her being infertile..."

Anger courses through my veins, and I grab her shoulders roughly. She gasps, fear seeping into her eyes. "Shut up. Shut the hell up. I don't want to listen to your nonsense. What's wrong with you? How are you so calm, slandering your best friend like this?"

"It's not slander, it's the truth. And she hid it from Collins. They'd been married for over a year, expecting a child, but never got one. He eventually found out, and now I'm telling you so you won't make the same mistake — "

I'm done listening to her nonsense. Shoving her to the side, I stride back into the venue.

"Hey!" She calls after me, jogging up. "That's not all. Mr. Cirkut!"

"Enough!" I whirl around in fury. "One more word against Anna, and I would make sure I make you and Collins's life miserable. Trust me, you don't want to test me on that. I can be very brutal. Helplessly so too."

Back inside, the crowd is still very much buzzing, and Hermes and his assistant have their hands full entertaining them. Some of the men steal glances at me, questions full in their cunning gazes, but they don't dare approach me to ask them. Everyone of them fear me, and rightfully so. I am dark as they come. The most feared, insufferable Mafia Don in New York.

I can make each and every one of their lives an utter mess.

My eyes land on a tall, dark-haired lady I'd seen drinking with Anna at the reception bar, and I go over. She turns, surveys me with one look, then says. "If you're looking for Anny, she just stepped away a few minutes ago..."

"Where?" I say hoarsely, like a starved man.

She points to the left. "The bathroom."

"Thank you."