Chapter 1
After they wiped my memory,
I forgot about my fiancé-the Underboss who’d trained me to
I forgot about the girl I saved, who then stole my everything.
I forgot all about the Cleaners’ organization, “Red Spider Lily
I faked my death and disappeared.
Ended unning a dusty bookshop on some quiet street in
Everyone thought I was just hiding out, throwing a tantrum.
That I’d get bored soon enough and crawl back to him.
Until one evening when nobody came into my shop.
From the shadows between the shelves, a few guys stepped of kept his voice low:
“Three years. Why haven’t you answered a single one of Mr. Commission for you?”
I froze, book still in my hand. “Sorry… I had my memory wip
The room went cold.
Then this weird tightness hit my chest. I looked toward the w
Across the street, half-hidden in the fading light, a tall figure
Staring right at me.
Didn’t blink.
I caught Dante Corsaro with Sienna the morning of our wed
Couldn’t find him. Figured the Commission had him on som
n the terrace instead, kissing the girl I’d saved-
I walked over. Went for his throat.
Had my fingers on his pulse when Sienna shoved me into the pool.
My head cracked tile. Everything went cold.
Right.
Everyone I care about ends up choosing her.
I’d pulled Sienna off a trafficking route in Southeast Asia five years back.
She was cargo. Fifteen years old.
Kept her we had.
chat. Called her my sister. Taught her intel, brought her into my crew, put her in logistics-safest job
She was sweet. Always smiling. Like some flower someone spent years protecting.
After every bloody job, she’d have hot food waiting.
The guys in my crew-killers who didn’t blink at anything-went from watching her to treating her like gold.
“Finally got a real woman around here,” they’d say. Right in front of me.
Now the man I’d been with for ten years was doing the same thing.
When I woke up in the med wing, Dante was sitting there.
Didn’t ask if I was okay.
“Vesper. Don’t blow this up. Sienna was just messing around. If it bugs you, I’ll keep my distance.”
“You brought her in. She’s got nobody. She’s been through enough, Don’t make this harder.”
I looked at the scar on his collarbone. He’d taken a bullet for me three years ago,
And I suddenly laughed.
“You scared I’ll handle her myself?”
His eyes went flat. Grabbed my wrist hard. Didn’t answer.
“I know you’re pissed. But we don’t do this inside the family. You know the rules.
“Drop it. We’ll push the wedding back a week. I don’t need the crew talking.”
I pulled my hand back. Stared out at the dark.
He started to say something, but his burner went off at that moment.
I’m a killer. My eyes don’t miss shit. Saw Sienna’s name flash across the screen. Text said she was spooked, heart racing.
“Vesper, gla.,ou’re back. We’re throwing Sienna a party. Her intel gave us a clean takedown. Big Boss sent his personal congratulations.”
She pushed a gift box at me before I could refuse.
“You’re the one who brought Sienna into the family. Makes sense you hand this over.”
I didn’t want drama before I left. Just passed the box to Sienna.
She reached for it. Our fingers touched. Box dropped.,
Crashed on the floor. Tactical watch inside-glass everywhere
Sienna’s eyes filled up. Tears came fast.
“Vesper… I get that you’re pissed at me… but everyone put money in for this. Why would you…”
Her voice broke.
“You’re still mad about the other night, right? I was just fooling around with Dante. You totally misread it…”
Everyone jumped to her defense. Then came at me.
“Christ, Vesper, give it a rest. Sienna cooks for all of us. She finally catches a win and you gotta ruin it?”
“Always playing the ice queen, What, you trying out for som drama?”
I looked at the faces around me. Used to trust these people. Now felt nothing.
The coldest stare came from the man I’d wasted ten years of
“Enough.” Dante’s voice shut everyone down. That underboss tone. Room went quiet.
He picked up the watch. Shoved it back in my hand.
“Sienna ran this play for the Boss. She earned her stripes.”
“Watch is busted. I’ll fix it. You’ll hand it over again. And yo
Kept his voice steady. But his grip on my wrist was vicious. I
I ripped my arm away.
“Not doing it. I’m done with her.”
Stepped back Put distance between us. “I’m out.”

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