Chapter 1 - The Silence of the Ballroom
Giovanni Fierro pulled me into the center of the dance floor.
His large, calloused hand rested against the small of my back, sending a strange, electric warmth straight through the thin fabric of my purple department-store dress. He moved with a terrifying grace, guiding my steps seamlessly across the polished parquet floor.
Around us, the room had gone eerily silent.
The clinking of silverware stopped. Whispers died in throats. Even my own father, who had spent the entire evening ignoring my existence while lavishing praise on Tyler and Vanessa, stood frozen near the head table, his champagne glass suspended mid-air.
"Giovanni," I whispered, keeping my gaze locked onto the faint scar across his chin. "People are staring at us like you're about to pull a gun."
"They aren't worried about a gun, Jessica," Giovanni replied softly, his dark brown eyes holding mine with unyielding intensity. "They are worried about what happens to their bank accounts if they breathe too loudly in my presence."
"Who are you?" I demanded, my breath hitching as he spun me effortlessly, dipping me just enough to make the room gasp.
Across the floor, Tyler’s mouth hung open. Vanessa’s pale face had turned completely ghost-white, her hand trembling against her pregnant belly.
"I am the man who controls the real estate, the shipping docks, and every politician in this city," Giovanni said softly against my ear. "And as of five seconds ago, I am the man who claims you as his wife."
Before I could process his words, my cousin Vanessa broke the silence, stepping out onto the floor, her voice high and panicked.
"Giovanni Fierro?!" Vanessa shrieked, looking between us. "This is insane! Jessica is a broke nurse who lives in a cramped one-bedroom flat! She isn't married to you! She's lying!"
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Giovanni stopped our dance. He didn't turn around quickly; he turned slowly, with the agonizing weight of a man who owned the entire room.
"Mrs. Vance," Giovanni spoke, his voice dropping into a register so dark it made the orchestra musicians lower their violins. "Are you calling me a liar in front of two hundred witnesses?"
