Chapter 1 - THE WRONG WOMAN TO TOUCH
The billionaire's son grabbed the mafia king's fiancée by the waist and kissed her in front of two hundred guests.
Three seconds later, every security guard in the ballroom reached for his gun.
But the most terrifying thing wasn't the weapons.
It was the man standing at the entrance.
Alexander Kane.
The most feared mafia boss in New York.
He had just watched another man kiss the woman he was supposed to marry in thirty days.
And he was smiling.
""Take your hands off my fiancée,"" Alexander said quietly.
Ethan Whitmore, the twenty-eight-year-old heir to a multibillion-dollar fortune, laughed.
""Or what, Kane? You're going to shoot me in front of everyone?""
Alexander slowly removed his black leather gloves.
""No, Ethan.""
He glanced at the diamond engagement ring on Sophia's finger.
""That would be too easy.""
Then he turned toward his bodyguard.
""Lock the doors.""
Every exit slammed shut.
And the music stopped.
Twenty minutes earlier, the grand ballroom of the Blackwood Hotel had been filled with laughter, champagne, and the most powerful families in Manhattan.
It was supposed to be a celebration.
Sophia Bennett, twenty-four, was standing beside a marble pillar in a stunning black silk gown.
Her long chestnut hair fell over her bare shoulders, and a three-million-dollar diamond sparkled on her left hand.
She was beautiful enough to turn heads in any room.
But tonight, everyone was looking at her for another reason.
She was Alexander Kane's fiancée.
And Alexander Kane was not an ordinary billionaire.
At thirty-eight, he controlled shipping companies, luxury hotels, casinos, and half the private security businesses on the East Coast.
That was what the newspapers knew.
What they didn't know was that he also controlled the most powerful criminal organization in New York.
Politicians answered his calls.
Police commissioners avoided his name.
And men who betrayed him had a habit of disappearing.
Yet Sophia had never seen Alexander hurt anyone.
To her, he was the quiet man who brought her coffee every morning, remembered how she liked her flowers, and kissed her forehead before leaving for work.
But there was one thing she hated.
He never told her where he went at night.
And tonight, he was late again.
""Still waiting for your dangerous boyfriend?""
Sophia turned.
Ethan Whitmore stood behind her, holding two glasses of champagne.
He was handsome, charming, and disgustingly rich.
His father owned one of the largest investment firms in America.
Ethan had spent his entire life getting whatever he wanted.
Expensive cars.
Private jets.
Beautiful women.
But there was one thing he couldn't have.
Sophia Bennett.
""He's my fiancé, Ethan,"" Sophia replied.
Ethan smiled.
""For now.""
Sophia rolled her eyes.
""Don't start.""
""Come on, Sophia. You can't seriously tell me you're happy with him.""
""I am.""
""Then where is he?""
Sophia said nothing.
Ethan took a step closer.
""Look around. Two hundred people came to celebrate your engagement, and your future husband can't even show up on time.""
""Alexander is working.""
""Working?"" Ethan laughed. ""Is that what he calls it when he disappears for three days?""
Sophia tightened her grip on her champagne glass.
""Ethan, please.""
""No. You deserve better.""
He leaned closer.
""You deserve someone who actually loves you.""
Sophia looked directly into his eyes.
""Alexander loves me.""
Ethan's smile faded.
""Does he?""
Before Sophia could answer, Ethan reached into his jacket and pulled out a small velvet box.
He opened it.
Inside was a breathtaking emerald necklace surrounded by diamonds.
Sophia stared.
""Ethan, what is this?""
""A gift.""
""I can't accept that.""
""It's only eight hundred thousand dollars.""
Sophia almost laughed in disbelief.
""Only?""
Ethan shrugged.
""For you, it's nothing.""
He reached for her hand.
""Leave him, Sophia.""
She immediately pulled away.
""What?""
""Leave Alexander. Come with me.""
""Ethan, you're being ridiculous.""
""I can give you everything he can.""
Sophia shook her head.
""This conversation is over.""
She turned to walk away.
But Ethan caught her wrist.
""Wait.""
""Ethan, let go.""
""Just listen to me.""
""You're hurting me.""
Instead of releasing her, Ethan pulled her closer.
""One kiss, Sophia. Just one. Then tell me you don't feel anything.""
Her eyes widened.
""Don't you dare—""
But Ethan leaned forward and kissed her.
Sophia immediately shoved him away.
The champagne glass fell from her hand.
It shattered across the marble floor.
""WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?""
The entire ballroom went silent.
Ethan wiped his mouth with his thumb and smirked.
""Relax, sweetheart. It's just a kiss.""
Then a deep voice came from behind him.
""Is that what you think?""
Ethan froze.
Sophia looked toward the entrance.
And her face went pale.
Alexander Kane stood beneath the enormous crystal chandelier.
He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, a charcoal shirt, and no tie.
Four bodyguards stood behind him.
His expression was unreadable.
But his dark eyes were fixed on Ethan.
""Alexander..."" Sophia whispered.
Alexander didn't look at her.
He walked slowly across the ballroom.
The crowd parted without anyone being asked.
When he finally stopped in front of Ethan, he looked down at the younger man.
""Did she tell you to stop?""
Ethan swallowed.
""Look, Kane, it's not what you think.""
""Did she tell you to stop?""
""She was just playing hard to get.""
Alexander's jaw tightened.
""That's not what I asked.""
Ethan glanced around.
Everyone was watching.
His pride wouldn't allow him to back down.
So he laughed.
""Come on, man. She's beautiful. You can't expect other men not to want her.""
Alexander remained silent.
Ethan continued.
""And honestly? If you can't keep your woman happy, maybe you shouldn't be surprised when another man tries.""
A few guests gasped.
Sophia closed her eyes.
""Ethan, stop talking.""
But it was too late.
Alexander smiled.
Not a warm smile.
Not an amused smile.
The kind of smile that made grown men remember every mistake they'd ever made.
""What's your father's name?"" Alexander asked.
Ethan frowned.
""You know my father.""
""Say his name.""
""Richard Whitmore.""
Alexander nodded.
""Richard Whitmore.""
He took out his phone.
""Marcus.""
His head of security stepped forward.
""Yes, boss?""
""Call Richard.""
Ethan scoffed.
""Seriously? You're calling my daddy?""
Alexander ignored him.
A few seconds later, Marcus handed him the phone.
Alexander put it on speaker.
""Richard.""
A nervous voice answered.
""Mr. Kane. Good evening, sir.""
""Your son is at my hotel.""
A pause.
""Yes, sir. I believe he's attending your engagement celebration.""
""He just forced himself on my fiancée.""
Silence.
Then Richard's voice changed.
""Mr. Kane... please. I'm sure there's been a misunderstanding.""
Alexander looked at Ethan.
""Your son seems to think my fiancée is available.""
""Alexander, please, let me speak to him.""
Alexander handed Ethan the phone.
Ethan rolled his eyes.
""Dad, don't make a big deal out of—""
""APOLOGIZE!""
Richard's scream echoed through the ballroom.
Ethan blinked.
""What?""
""GET ON YOUR KNEES AND APOLOGIZE TO MR. KANE!""
The guests stared.
Ethan's face turned red.
""Dad, have you lost your mind?""
""ETHAN, LISTEN TO ME!""
Richard sounded as though he was struggling to breathe.
""That man owns the debt on our entire company.""
Ethan went still.
""What?""
""Four hundred million dollars, Ethan. Four hundred million. If he calls it in, we're finished.""
Ethan slowly looked up at Alexander.
Alexander stood perfectly still.
Richard continued.
""Son, I am begging you. Do whatever he tells you.""
The call ended.
For the first time in his life, Ethan Whitmore looked afraid.
Alexander extended his hand.
Marcus took the phone.
Then Alexander looked at Ethan.
""Now.""
Ethan's lips trembled.
""I'm sorry.""
Alexander tilted his head.
""To whom?""
Ethan turned toward Sophia.
""I'm sorry, Sophia.""
Sophia didn't respond.
Alexander took one step closer.
""Did you hear him, sweetheart?""
Sophia nodded.
""Yes.""
""Do you forgive him?""
She hesitated.
Then quietly said, ""I just want him to leave.""
Alexander looked back at Ethan.
""You heard my fiancée.""
Ethan immediately turned toward the exit.
But before he could take three steps, Alexander spoke again.
""One more thing.""
Ethan stopped.
Alexander walked toward him and adjusted the collar of his tuxedo.
""Your father is a businessman. A smart one.""
Ethan remained silent.
""But you...""
Alexander smiled faintly.
""You're a spoiled little boy who thinks money makes him untouchable.""
He leaned close enough that only Ethan could hear.
""Touch her again, and your father's money won't be able to save you.""
Ethan's face drained of color.
Alexander stepped back.
""Get out.""
Ethan hurried toward the doors.
And just like that, the most arrogant young billionaire in Manhattan was escorted out of the ballroom like an unwanted guest.
Ten minutes later, Sophia stood inside Alexander's private penthouse suite above the hotel.
She was furious.
""You humiliated him!""
Alexander calmly poured himself a glass of whiskey.
""He humiliated himself.""
""You threatened his family!""
""I called his father.""
""Alexander!""
He finally turned toward her.
""Did you want him to kiss you?""
Sophia stared at him.
""What? Of course not!""
""Did you tell him to stop?""
""Yes!""
""Did he stop?""
Sophia looked away.
""No.""
Alexander placed his glass on the table.
""Then why are we arguing about his feelings?""
Sophia opened her mouth.
But no words came out.
Alexander walked toward her.
For a moment, she thought he was angry with her.
Instead, he gently took her wrist.
A red mark remained where Ethan had grabbed her.
Alexander stared at it.
His expression darkened.
""Did he do this?""
Sophia nodded.
Alexander exhaled slowly.
Then he kissed the inside of her wrist.
""I'm sorry I wasn't here.""
Sophia's anger softened.
""Where were you?""
""Chicago.""
""Doing what?""
Alexander didn't answer.
She pulled her hand away.
""See? This is what I'm talking about.""
""Sophia—""
""No. We're getting married in thirty days, Alexander. And I still don't know what you actually do.""
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then he said quietly:
""There are things about my life that would change the way you look at me.""
Sophia's voice trembled.
""Then maybe I deserve to know them before I become your wife.""
Alexander looked as though he was about to answer.
But suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
Three sharp knocks.
Marcus entered.
""Boss. We have a problem.""
Alexander turned.
""What happened?""
Marcus glanced at Sophia.
""We found something in Miss Bennett's car.""
Sophia frowned.
""What?""
Marcus placed a small black device on the table.
Alexander recognized it immediately.
His entire expression changed.
""Where did you find that?""
""Under the driver's seat.""
Sophia looked between them.
""What is it?""
Marcus hesitated.
Alexander answered.
""A tracking device.""
Sophia gasped.
""Someone's been tracking me?""
Marcus nodded.
""For at least three weeks.""
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
""Who?""
Marcus took out his phone and showed Alexander a security photograph.
The image showed a man in a gray jacket crouching beside Sophia's car.
Alexander studied the photograph.
Then he went completely still.
Sophia noticed.
""Alexander?""
He didn't respond.
""Who is that man?""
Marcus spoke quietly.
""He's one of the Whitmore family's private drivers.""
Sophia covered her mouth.
""Ethan?""
Alexander stared at the screen.
Then his phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
One message.
One photograph.
He opened it.
And for the first time that night, the mafia king's face lost all color.
It was a photograph of Sophia.
Sleeping.
In Alexander's own bed.
Taken the previous night.
At 2:17 a.m.
Underneath the photograph were six words.
""YOUR FIANCÉE WAS NEVER REALLY YOURS.""
Alexander's hand tightened around the phone.
Another message appeared.
""ASK HER WHO SHE MET IN CHICAGO.""
Alexander slowly raised his eyes toward Sophia.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
""Sophia.""
She looked at him.
""Yes?""
""Have you ever been to Chicago?""
For one brief second, Sophia stopped breathing.
Then she answered.
""No.""
Alexander watched her carefully.
Because there was something she didn't know.
He had just returned from Chicago.
And while he was there, someone had sent him a security video from a private hotel.
A video showing Sophia entering a room with another man.
A man Alexander had buried six years ago.
May you like
His own younger brother.
"
