Erasing the Underboss's Shadow

But I had long since made my peace with it.

After I started dating Dante, he would step in at social functions, saving me from drinks I didn't want.

He bought me countless luxuries.

He made sure a private car was always at my disposal.

But I knew I was just a stand-in, enjoying borrowed time and borrowed affection.

Now Lila Monroe was back.

It was time to return everything to its rightful owner.

Dante had bought this villa.

We had lived here for three years.

Here, Dante had pulled me into tireless, night-long embraces; we had waltzed here, kissing until the world melted away.

To celebrate my promotion, he had personally baked me a huge strawberry cake.

I had lain on this very sofa, head in his lap, as we talked about our days.

For a while, we were more like a normal couple than anyone.

But I always knew an invisible wall stood between us, one that had never crumbled.

Thank God it was all about to end.

Right now, I was busy erasing every trace of myself.

Stray hairs on the sheets, a hairpin in the bathroom, my cosmetics on the vanity…

Everything that was mine.

It all went into the suitcase or the trash.

I was ruthlessly efficient.

Dante Rossi seemed satisfied.

“Quinn, here’s a million dollars. Find a new place, get yourself settled.”

I shook my head, not taking the check.

“I’ll disappear from your world, Dante.”

“But I can’t take this money.”

Dante looked taken aback, a more complex emotion clouding his gaze.

I no longer had the energy to decipher it.

I grabbed my suitcase and turned to leave.

But I should have known the world could be so damn small.

I had just stepped out of the villa’s main gate, suitcase in hand, when I came face-to-face with Lila Monroe.

Three years abroad had given her a more mature, fashionable air.

Her wide, beautiful eyes locked on me in shock. “Quinn Avery? What are you doing here?”

My mind went blank.

Before I could figure out what to say, Dante stepped out behind me.

“Lila, she was just dropping off some documents.”

Lila Monroe frowned, her sharp gaze landing on my suitcase.

“Dropping off documents… with a suitcase?”

Her eyes instantly reddened as she pinned Dante with a challenging glare.

“I heard rumors when I was away… that you and Quinn were together. Don’t tell me they were true?”

Tears welled in her exquisite eyes, making her look as if she might shatter.

Everyone in our circle knew Lila was a romantic purist.

Everyone knew this Principessa only dated men with no prior history.

She considered a hand that had touched another woman to be tainted.

If she found out the truth, Dante’s plan to win her back would be ruined, and he would never forgive me.

Thinking fast, I rushed to explain.

“Miss Lila, you’ve misunderstood. I just got back from a business trip, and Mr. Rossi had his secretary bring my luggage over.”

“His secretary is off today, so I had to bring it over myself. Mr. Rossi and I have a purely professional relationship.”

“Right, how could that be possible?”

Dante was getting anxious. He shot me a glare.

“Quinn Avery, get the hell out of here.”

I nodded, preparing for a hasty retreat.

“Stop!”