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Never in my life did I thinktalk to the Fedswould be on my agenda.

“You let my attorney do all the speaking,” Julian continues with a stony stare. “Don’t say a fucking word unless they ask you a specific question and my attorney okays it.”

I make a zip motion across my lips.

I wouldn’t know what to say to them anyway.

“Don’t worry about it, okay?” he adds. “I’ll keep you protected, Genesis.”

It’s notevery day you have to select an outfit to wear to an interview with the Feds who might think you were involved in fraud. My options are also limited since I don’t have a full closet any longer.

I went with a tan plaid pleated skirt, a collared white button-up, and flats.

Simple and not too flashy.

I stare at the New York skyscraper, where Julian’s attorney’s office is located.

Warren Gettinburg. I’ve heard of him.

He’s expensive as hell but notorious for winning high-profile cases. If you’re being charged with murder, he’s on the list of attorneys to hire. Prosecutors have publicly said they fear when he takes cases because it makes their job ten times harder.

I unbuckle my seat belt and peer at Julian. “Will having an attorney make me look guilty?”

“No,” he replies. “Even if it did, who cares what the Feds or the public has to say? Caring about people’s opinions won’t make you richer or happier. It’ll only make you miserable.”

I play with my purse strap. “That’s easy for you to say. Everyone fears you.”

He offers me a satisfied smile. “And that’s my goal. I don’t care if they like me.”

Julian has done well at staying out of the public eye. He’s not flashy with his money, nor does he care about the notoriety. Though, in his line of work, people know who he is and fear his name, but it’s not as extreme as the attention Antonio gets. Most eyes are on the bosses of Mafia families.

Four Mafia families run New York—the Marchettis, Lombardis, Cavallaros, and O’Connors.

Lately, the Marchettis have started building relationships with the other families. They arranged a marriage with Benny Marchetti, the son of Cristian Marchetti, who’s the boss of the Marchetti family, and Neomi Cavallaro, the daughter of Severino, who’s the boss of the Cavallaro family.

Most recently—and shockingly—Cristian’s daughter married Antonio.

That was a shit show and as arranged as I am a ferret. Everyone thought Cristian would murder Antonio at the altar. I attended the wedding, and Julian was there as well. I made sure to flirt with Cristian’s nephew, Luca, to make him jealous. It worked.

“All right, Gen,” Julian says, “you ready?”

He gives me a moment to take deep breaths.

I nod and grip the door handle. “Not really, but let’s do this, I guess.”

Emilio—another man who works for the Lombardis—is already at my door waiting for me to step out.

“We’ll meet with Warren first,” Julian explains when we’re in the elevator.

My nerves are on fire, and I’m thankful he’s with me.

And even though I’m throwing out attitude, I’m also grateful he rescued me from my father’s office last night.

“Hi, Julian,” the secretary greets, her tone too flirty for my liking, when we exit the elevator and enter the lobby.

Oh my God, am I already getting jealous?

I smile at her, telling myself to be nice.