Chapter 1 - THE KISS THAT MADE THE MAFIA KING STOP EVERYONE
"Bring Diane Harper back."
Those four words stopped the security guard before he could push me through the ballroom doors.
My heart was pounding so violently that I could barely breathe.
The guard turned around.
"Boss?"
Ravi Greedy stood beside the champagne fountain, his black tuxedo perfectly arranged, his dark eyes fixed on me.
"I said bring her back."
The guard released my arm.
I rubbed my wrist and walked toward the man I'd just kissed without permission.
Three hundred wealthy guests watched us.
Catherine Voss stood near the dessert table, her red dress glittering beneath the chandeliers.
She was smiling.
That smile terrified me more than Ravi's expression.
He looked down at me.
"How much did she pay you?"
I swallowed.
"Five thousand dollars."
"And she promised another five?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
I looked toward Catherine.
"She said it would be funny."
Something dark crossed Ravi's face.
"Funny."
He repeated the word as though it tasted unpleasant.
Then he turned toward Catherine.
"Come here."
Her smile disappeared.
"Ravi, darling, surely you're not taking this seriously."
"Come here, Catherine."
She approached reluctantly.
Ravi pointed toward me.
"Did you offer this woman ten thousand dollars to kiss me?"
Catherine laughed nervously.
"It was a harmless joke."
"You used a woman who needed money to humiliate someone who rejected you."
Her cheeks reddened.
"Oh, please. She's just a waitress."
The room went silent.
Ravi looked at her for a long moment.
Then he turned toward the security director.
"Preserve the footage. Every camera. Every angle."
Catherine's face changed.
"Ravi, you're embarrassing me."
"You arranged that yourself."
He looked at me.
"Miss Harper, did you agree to the kiss?"
"Yes."
"Did I?"
I lowered my eyes.
"No."
"Then you understand why I stopped you."
I nodded.
"I'm sorry. I panicked. My sister needs help, and I wasn't thinking clearly."
His expression softened slightly.
"How old is your sister?"
"Ten."
"What's her name?"
"Sadi."
Ravi went completely still.
I noticed it immediately.
His eyes narrowed.
"Sadi Harper?"
I stared.
"Yes."
He took one step closer.
"Was your father's name Michael Harper?"
My blood turned cold.
"How do you know my father?"
Ravi's face lost its color.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Then he turned toward the elderly man sitting at the front table.
"Uncle Gabriel."
The older man stood.
Ravi's voice was unusually quiet.
"Tell me you didn't know."
Gabriel looked between us.
His expression changed when he heard my last name.
"Diane Harper?"
I stepped backward.
"What's happening?"
Gabriel covered his mouth.
"Oh, my God."
Ravi looked at me again.
"Your father saved my life fifteen years ago."
My knees weakened.
May you like
He continued.
"And the night your parents died, he was coming to meet me."
