Her Last Night in the City Chapter 01

Don Nico Costa’s beloved, Elena Volkov, was back in New York.

Word was she’d buried a man alive in Jersey for looking at her the wrong way.

Back then, I was just Nico’s mistress. I ran when I found out I was pregnant. Ran to stay alive.

For eight years, Nico and Elena lived together like royalty. Their engagement made the front page of every paper. They toured Europe, cut ribbons at charity galas. Picture-perfect. No kids, though.

While they partied, I was juggling seven jobs to cover Luca’s medical bills.

Nine years after walking away from Don Nico, I ran into him at a gala. I worked as a server there.

A champagne flute hit the floor, glass and wine everywhere. I dropped to my knees to clean it up and keep my face hidden.

He didn’t walk away.

“You look familiar,” he said, his voice low and rough. “Look up.”

“You idiot!” Before I could say a word, the floor manager came storming over and slapped me hard across the face. “Apologize to Don Nico! You’re fired!”

“I’m sorry, Don. It was an accident,” I said, dropping to my knees, head bowed even lower.

It wasn’t the first time I’d knelt to apologize to someone. Dignity stopped mattering a long time ago. Landlords, loan sharks, bosses. Whatever it took to keep Luca alive.

Nico’s shadow fell over me. His voice was flat. “Get out of my sight.”

I forced a smile and hurried away. “Thank you, Don.”

“Baby,” a woman called out.

Chills shot straight down my spine. It was Elena Volkov.

If she recognized me, I was dead. I slipped into the crowd and headed for the staff break room.

The second I got the door shut, my phone buzzed. It was a call from the private hospital.

“Ms. Reed,” the doctor said, “we’ve found a compatible heart. Confirmed match. The donor was a public figure. The cost is two million. You have one hour to pay or we move to the next candidate.”

The number was terrifying. But I didn’t hesitate. I called my loan shark right then. Whatever it cost, Luca was going to live.

I was wiping my eyes and trying to leave when the manager blocked the break room door.

“Ms. Volkov’s engagement ring is missing,” he snapped. “Everyone gets searched.”

I told him I hadn’t been anywhere near Elena, that I’d been on a completely different floor from her suite. He didn’t care. Two security guards dragged me into the main hall.

I kept to the back, head down.

“Who took it?” Elena’s voice cut through the room. “Come forward now, or you’ll end up feeding the fish.” I kept my head down and prayed she wouldn’t recognize me.

Somehow, her gaze landed on me anyway.

“You. Last row. Stand up.”

I didn’t move. The manager grabbed my chin and yanked my face up.

Elena smiled. “Well, look who it is. Natalie. It’s been a while.”

She walked over and stopped right beside me.

“Nico,” she said sweetly. “Isn’t this your little ex?”

We were done.