Chapter 5

To avoid any more trouble from Chloe, I used the money she and Julian gave me to hire two private nurses.

On the third night, I booked a private medical transport and had myself transferred to a top private hospital in Boston.

It took six months for my body to fully recover.

A week ago, I finally contacted my dad.

Even though he was a feared mafia boss, reaching him wasn't hard.

He had a private number known only to the four of us in our family.

When I was a kid, he made me memorize it.

He knew he had too many enemies and feared we might get separated. He told me that as long as we were alive, we could always reach him through this number.

Stepping out of the JFK airport back in New York, the warm sunlight hit my face.

I finally felt alive again.

My dad's men were on their way to pick me up.

I was no longer a helpless orphan.

I was going to take back everything Chloe took from me, piece by piece, and become the one person in New York no one dared to touch.

"Mia? Why are you back in New York?"

A familiar, annoying voice broke my thoughts.

It was Ethan.

His face twisted with annoyance.

"We are over. Can you stop stalking me?"

Without warning, Ethan shoved me.

"Get out of here before Chloe sees you. She'll get jealous and start a fight."

"What is going on here?"

A sharp female voice shrieked.

It was Chloe. She marched over and shoved me hard, sending me sprawling to the ground.

"You cheap whore, trying to steal my man again..."

Chloe stopped mid-insult, squinting at my face. Then, she let out a loud sneer.

"Oh, it's you. You took my money and you dare to come back to New York to harass my boyfriend? Do you think I'm soft?"

She raised her hand to slap me, but paused, looking at the crowd gathering around us.

She immediately put on her elegant heiress mask.

A wicked grin spread across her face.

"Throw her into my van. I want to catch up with my old friend!"

Her two burly bodyguards immediately stepped forward, grabbing my arms to drag me toward her black Mercedes van.

But right before they could force me inside...

A fleet of dozens of luxury black SUVs pulled up in a perfect, intimidating line right at the airport curb.

Dozens of men in sharp black suits stepped out, marching straight toward us.