His Atonement, Our Freedom
My best friend, Cassandra Thorne, and I were pawns, married into the Grimaldi crime family to solidify their power. We were even arranged to get pregnant at the same time.
I married Donovan Grimaldi, the family's Underboss. Cassandra married his younger brother, Julian Grimaldi, a ruthless Capo.
The discomfort of my pregnancy was a constant plague. I was on my way to the family's secret clinic for a check-up, with Donovan driving.
But on the way, he received an urgent call from his old flame, Seraphina Russo. To deal with what she called a "territorial crisis," he thrust me out of the car into a torrential downpour, abandoning me in the most dangerous part of Chicago's South Side.
I grabbed his arm, begging, "Donovan, please! It's not safe here! Just take me to the clinic first, okay?"
Donovan impatiently shook me off. "Seraphina's life is on the line! This is about family honor! Evelyn, can't you get your priorities straight? I have to deal with this now! Get to the clinic yourself!"
The rain was relentless, but Donovan abandoned me in that lawless neighborhood without a second thought.
Left with no other choice, I called Cassandra to come get me. But as she sped toward me, a heavy-duty truck came barreling toward us, completely out of control.
Drifting in and out of consciousness, I heard Cassandra’s frantic, tearful call to Julian, only for him to viciously berate her.
"Cut the crap, Cassandra! Do you really have to pull these stunts for attention every time I'm with Seraphina?"
A passing family Soldato found us and called for backup, getting us rushed to the family's private clinic. We survived. But tragically, we both lost our babies—the long-awaited heirs to the Grimaldi family.
After regaining consciousness in the clinic, we looked at each other and shared a bitter smile.
"Want to escape this place together?"
"Of course."