Page 60 of Doll Face

In contrast, she made sure her clothes were impeccable. She had changed out of her wedding dress into a form fitting silver gown. Her mile high Louboutin’s made a satisfying clack on the floor as she walked toward him.

“Who’s there?” Pietro demanded.

“Aren’t you a sight, doll face?” she asked, giving his words back to him.

“Gianna?”

She walked around him till he was able to see her.

“What’s going on?” he demanded. “Untie me.”

“You see, my husband doesn’t want you anymore, and unfortunately for you, we can’t take the chance that you’ll go blabbing that pretty mouth of yours.” She tapped his cheek with a hand, a cruel twist to her lips resembling a smile. She made sure to put as much malice in her tone as possible.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Don’t you remember? Those were the words you said to me.”

His eyes narrowed as he tried to jog a memory with an important piece of the puzzle missing.

“Perhaps this will help you,” she said, holding up her hand and letting the aquamarine necklace dangle from her fingers.

Gianna saw the moment recognition struck him, even though he valiantly tried to hide it.

“If that didn’t work, maybe my eyes will.” She bent forward so the overhead light shown on her face, making sure he saw her ocean blue eyes.

He paled. “You’re dead.”

She gave a humorless laugh. “Then I must be a ghost.”

Pietro recovered quickly. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but you better release me.”

“Or what? Will I have to pay the price?” She walked around him. “Go ahead, threaten me some more.”

“I am the Don of Chicago—”

“Correction,” Matteo snarled as he stepped into the light. “You were never the don. You were an underboss acting like the top dog, making me do all your dirty work. Why do you think Angelo gave you to us as a wedding present? You’re a traitor to the Romanelli Familiglia.”

“You’re my son!”

“And she’s my wife,” Matteo snapped. “My loyalties lie with her, and with the true don, Angelo.”

Gianna cocked her head. “Do you think I would come back from the dead without a plan?”

Fear swam through his unblinking gaze. “Let me go, Matteo.”

They both ignored his command.

“You never suspected your new daughter-in-law planned to end your life, did you?” She cocked her head. “You’ve pissed off a lot of people, Pietro.”

From the darkness, Caelian came forward. Followed by Mauro and Seth. And then more people stepped from the shadows. Men and women, all victims of Pietro Romanelli. He looked at each one with dawning horror.

“I was the representative of those you wronged,” she said calmly, gesturing around. “You acted on your own, furthering your own agenda. Fattening your bank account with stolen money.”

He spat at her, but she was far enough away that it didn’t touch her. “Fuck you. You’re not Violetta’s daughter.”

“No, but you’re the reason why she’s dead. Did you think Orianna wouldn’t have figured that out?”

“Let me go and I’ll go lenient on you.”

---