The Don’s Dead Bride Chapter 05

The Don’s Dead Bride Chapter 05

Five years later.

JFK Airport. New York.

I walked out of the private terminal, pulling my luggage behind me. Four-inch heels clicked against the pavement.

Oversized sunglasses covered half my face—only my sharp jaw and red lips were visible.

A small figure walked beside me.

Marco Rossi. Five years old. He wore a miniature navy suit and a baseball cap, clutching his tablet.

“Mom, this is where you grew up?”

He wrinkled his nose. “This air sucks. It’s nothing like Uncle Matteo’s place in the Hamptons.”

I laughed and ruffled his hair.

“Just deal with it for a little while. We’ll leave as soon as we’re done.”

I’d come back as Dr. Alessia, a world-renowned trauma surgeon invited to speak at a medical summit.

That was the cover.

The real reason was the Romano family’s annual gala tonight.

Matteo told me Luca had been living like a ghost for the past five years.

He’d built a small chapel inside the family mansion, guarding what he thought was my burned body day and night.

Even Isabella—he’d tossed her aside.

The don who once terrorized the city had become a laughingstock.

But I knew that wasn’t enough.

As soon as we stepped outside, a black Maybach pulled up.

Matteo Costa rolled down the window. His sharp features were still as striking as ever.

“Welcome home, Doctor.”

He got out, took my bags like a gentleman, then scooped Marco into his arms.

“Godfather!”

Marco threw his arms around Matteo’s neck and snuggled in.

Without Matteo’s protection these past five years, Marco and I would both be dead.

“Luca will be at the gala tonight,” Matteo said, handing me a file.

“Rumor is Isabella’s ‘leukemia’ is back. They need a donor fast.”

I flipped through the file, a cold smile forming on my lips.

“Back? Again?”

“If she wants to keep playing this game, I’ll play along.”

“I’m a professional, after all.”

Matteo watched me, something like approval in his eyes.

“You’ve changed.”

“The old Elena was like a scared rabbit.”

“Now…” He paused, his fingertips grazing the back of my hand.

“You’re a black rose with thorns.”

I closed the file and stared out the window at the blurred city lights.

“You learn some things when you die once.”

“Tonight, the real show begins.”