They Called Her Worthless Because She Couldn’t Have Children—Until a Mafia Boss With Four Kids Said, “I Want Her” They did not sell Nora Hayes because she was beautiful.

Three months later, the Costa family stood united.

Nora stood on the balcony of the master suite, looking out over the expansive estate. The scars on her arm had healed into thin white lines. The scars on her heart had vanished entirely.

Arthur stepped out onto the balcony, wrapping a heavy wool blanket around her shoulders to ward off the chill of the Chicago autumn.

“The kids are asleep,” he said, pulling her against his chest.

“Even Leo?” she asked with a smile.

“He’s pretending to be asleep, but yes.”

Nora leaned her head back against his shoulder, staring at the stars. She was the undisputed queen of the underworld now. The syndicate respected her, her children adored her, and her husband worshipped the ground she walked on.

But peace in their world was always temporary.

Earlier that day, Silvio had intercepted a message from New York. The Five Families had heard about Arthur’s execution of Carmine Romano. They were nervous about Costa’s rapidly expanding territory. They were sending a delegate to Chicago to demand a meeting.

They wanted Arthur to bow, or they wanted a war.

“Silvio told me about the message from New York,” Nora said quietly into the night air.

Arthur tightened his grip on her. “I can handle them, Nora. You don’t need to worry.”

“I’m not worried,” she said, turning in his arms to look him in the eyes. Her gaze was fierce, unyielding, and entirely fearless. “They think you’re vulnerable because you have a family to protect. They don’t realize your family is your greatest weapon.”

Arthur smiled, a dark, lethal grin, realizing just how dangerous his wife had truly become.

“Let them come to Chicago,” Nora whispered, kissing him deeply under the moonlight. “We will show them exactly what happens when you threaten the Costas.”