To make sure my half sister married my fiancé , my family staged everything like a chess game . The night before the wedding , I was thrown into a warehouse and tortured by two of my father's enforcers , animals with no conscience . Three hours of agony . When they finally dumped me at a private clinic , my father arrived looking furious , pretending to be outraged . " I'll kill whoever did this to my daughter ! " Matteo Rossi , the mafia don , roared , slamming his fist against the wall . My older brother , Dr. Chris Rossi ; the family's prized surgeon put on a concerned mask . " Don't worry , Ivanna . I'll fix you up . You'll be okay . I promise , " he whispered while adjusting my IV line . But lying on that gurney , pretending to be unconscious , I heard what they really thought . Chris leaned toward our father , voice low , but not low enough . " Father ... wasn't it a bit much ? Letting our men rough her up like that ? " Don Matteo paused , staring through the glass window at me . " I didn't expect them to go that far , " he admitted coldly . " But it works . Rupert won't want a ruined bride . Marian will step in without resistance . " I shut my eyes tighter , my whole body trembling . So that's what I was to them , an expendable pawn for the family business . Chris's consigliere , Leo , inspected my injuries quickly and rushed out . " Don , her ribs are cracked , she's lost a lot of blood . We need to operate ASAP . " " We'll start prepping now ," Chris said , voice sharp with urgency . But Matteo raised a hand calmly . " Wait . Not yet . " Chris frowned . " What the hell are you talking about ? " " We hold off until Marian and Rupert's wedding is over , " Matteo said smoothly , like he was discussing the weather . " Ivanna's wounds aren't fatal . Darling , I Remember 1/5 04 % 6:58 Mon , Sep 15 Delay the surgery . If she recovers too soon , she'll cause trouble . " Leo blinked . " Doctor , that's dangerous . There's internal bleeding . We can't gamble with this . " " I agree , " Chris snapped . " I'm not letting her suffer any more . I gave my word to protect her . " A loud crack rang out as Matteo smacked him across the face . " You naive idiot ! " he hissed . "You think this is about you and your word ? We're too deep into this . Ivanna has to stay under until Marian seals the deal . No distractions . No screw - ups . Got it ? " Leo stood frozen , caught between orders and ethics . " Get her the strongest painkillers you can find . Morphine , Fentanyl - whatever . Knock her out if you have to . We do the surgery tomorrow night , " Matteo commanded . I couldn't feel my face anymore . The bastards had knocked out a few of my teeth , and my mouth was still bleeding . My stomach churned with betrayal . When Matteo divorced my mother , he fought hard to keep me . I thought it was love . Love for her daughter ... But no , it was leverage . And Chris ... he was my shield as a kid . He used to pick fights with the other mafia brats if they even looked at me wrong . He'd give me the last slice of pizza , share his jacket when I was cold . Now ? He let our father beat him down for trying to help me . He let him delay the surgery that might save my life . The door creaked open , and they both walked in again . I shut my eyes quickly , forcing my breathing to slow . But my fists clenched without permission . Matteo noticed instantly . " She's awake , " he said , reaching down to grab my hand . " Ivanna , sweetheart. Can you hear me ? You're going to be okay . " The concern in his voice made my skin crawl . He looked over his shoulder . " Chris , don't just stand there . Give her something for the pain . Make sure it's the best ." Chapter 1 3/5 1.3 % Somethify for the pain . iviake sure it s'ine pest . 71 Chris moved to my side , avoiding my eyes . He cleaned the blood from my lips and wrapped my wounds with care ... too careful . A performance for the others . His fake gentleness made me want to scream . " I - It hurts ... so bad , " I whispered , forcing tears into my voice . " When can I have the surgery ? " Matteo jumped in before Chris could answer . " The meds we need are ... held up . Customs issues . We're doing everything we can . It should arrive tomorrow night . " Bullshit . I turned to Chris , eyes hollow . " That true ? You can't help me now ... even if I'm bleeding inside ? " He flinched . Just for a second . Guilt flashed in his eyes before it was gone . " Don said it all , Ivanna ," he muttered . " Don't worry . I'll make sure you're safe ." I stared at him , barely able to breathe from the pain in my chest and the one deeper inside me . Safe ? Safe from what ? Them? No. No one's going to save me this time . So I'll save myself . And when I rise from this bed , the blood they spilled won't be mine anymore . It'll be theirs . Because I remember the promises . I remember the lies wrapped in love. " I don't care what happens between me and your mother , " Matteo once said , crouching down to fix my braid before Sunday church . " You're my princess , Ivanna . My blood . I'd die before letting anyone touch a hair on your head ." Chapter 1 4/5 1.7 % 6:58 Mon Sep 15 71 And Chris ? He was thirteen when he stepped between me and a boy twice my size who tried to steal my backpack . " You don't mess with my sister , " he growled , nose bleeding , lip split . Then he turned to me with a crooked grin . " I'll always protect you , Vanna . Even if the whole world turns on us . " The whole world didn't have to . Just them . Now Chris won't even look at me for more than a second . And my father ... is the architect of this cage . The truth is , they never built a wall around me to protect me . They built a ring 6:58 Mon , Sep 15 71 And Marian ? Discover our latest featured short drama reel. 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